Was supposed to have a picc line fitted today but they couldn’t do it as veins have had it 
- now i have to have a hickman done.
Has anybody had one of these fitted - if so what was it like - did it hurt? How long did it take ?
Any advice or information would be so gratefully received.
Thankyou Mel x
Hi Mel,
I have to have one fitted on 3rd June, just before my FEC3. I have been asking the nurses why I had that instead of a PICC and they said it is actually easier to use and easier to keep sterile. When do you get yours? I was told it can take anything from 15 mins to an hour, depending upon the ease/difficulty and that I will have to stay a few more hours after that to have an xray, to check it is in the right place.
Sue. xx
Hi Mel,
I’ve had one in since half way through chemo and it’s coming out tomorrow.
I’ve recently given someone else the info about this so to save typing it again I’ll copy and paste from my message to her.
"A Picc line was never considered for me because like you my veins were too messed up by chemo - they couldn’t get blood anymore and I couldn’t straighten my arm after FEC3.
It was done in theatre on the day ward - it has to be done in a sterile environment and is a bit more complex than a Picc line. I won’t hide it - having it put in was fairly traumatic but I was a bit unusual. Apparently my veins are unusually small and in peculiar places so it took a long time and the surgeon needed to try in four different places. It actually took almost two hours but in most cases only takes about 15 minutes.
It’s usually done just under local, possibly with sedation. My surgeon doesn’t like to use sedation but he did give me some near the end as I was getting distressed, so if you’re offered it, I’d take it!
Usually they make an incision below your collarbone and put the end of the line into your vein and feed it up, through to just above your heart. This is done using ultrasound and was the part they struggled with on me as they couldn’t find a decent vein. In the end they had to put in part way up my neck (!) The other end is then tunnelled under your skin and comes out at the top of your breast. This is the end they use for chemo. You’ll have quite a long tube coming out and it’s held in place with a stitch. They then stitch the first hole closed (the one that they used to put it in).
After it was in I had an X Ray and they had to move it a bit.
The stitches in the entry hole are taken out after about 10 days and the one where the tube comes out after about 3-4 weeks. That’s to allow the skin a chance to knit onto the cuff that is on the line just inside.
My neck was stiff and the exit site was sore for a few days but it settled down quite quickly. It doesn’t bother me at all now and I hardly know it’s there.
It varies from unit to unit but I’ve had clear, thin, waterproof “opsite” dressings on mine and have been able to shower as normal. I’ve always been given a spare dressing so could change it myself midweek if I needed to. I have to go in once a week to have the line flushed with saline and some anti-clotting agent put in. At this point they also change the dressing and check it looks healthy, take a swab etc.
The line is just left dangling and I tuck it into my bra. I didn’t want it to get caught at night so wore a bra for a few days then got a couple of soft Mothercare sleep bras to wear (from Ebay) so I could tuck it away. I was then told about someone whose line got pulled out when her husband lay on it in his sleep so I was glad I’d taken precautions!
My line was used the next day for chemo and it was absolutely fantastic. I can honestly say that it was the best thing I could have done despite my experience of having it put in, and if (God forbid) I ever need chemo again I’ll have one put in straight away (but will insist on sedation first!) It’s been no trouble at all and has made chemo so much easier and quicker.
It’s had to stay in for three weeks after chemo finished just in case I came down with an infection after my final chemo or needed bloods taken etc. Having it out on Tuesday will be my sign that chemo is finally over!!
I’m sure you’ll be glad when you’ve had it done and it will certainly save your veins from getting any worse. My arm is now a bit better although not brilliant - I wish I’d had the line in first."
I hope it all goes well for you - trust me, it’s well worth it!
Jane xxx
Thank you both so much for posting. Mine is being put in hopefully before my next (3rd) chemo, Sue i will let you know how it goes xx
I had a Hickman line put in half way through FEC and wish I’d had it done from the start.
I didn’t find having it put in as traumatic as Alto and didn’t suffer with any soreness or stiffness afterwards. I went into the Day Ward to have it fitted and was sedated and I think it was all done within half an hour. It went in just above my collar bone/bottom of neck and came out in the middle of my chest just at the start of my cleavage so it wasn’t too noticable either.
Once I was shown, I flushed the line myself each week (or one of the family did it coz they all ‘wanted a go’) which saved a journey to the Hospital and having bloods done was just such a doddle!
I tucked it into my bra during the daytime and taped it to my boob with surgical tape during the night-time as I couldn’t wear a bra in bed.
As with Alto I had to wait about three weeks after my last Chemo in case of any complications and having it removed was nice and quick, although a little uncomfortable.
It really took a lot of stress away from the blood tests and the actual Chemo. I think you will be glad you had it.
Karen
Thank you Karen - you have put my mind at rest over the whole thing x