I had a Hickman Line fitted 3 weeks ago and will need it until at least the end of the year.
I would appreciate any advice on showering and washing hair while it is fitted. My chemo nurses tell me that once the stitches are out I do not need a dressing but wonder if anyone covers the site whilst showering. Also how to keep the end out of the way under clothing? Marli x
Hi Marli,
I have a Groshong line which is similar to Hickman line.
I have my exit site dressed with a waterproof dressing once a week, the hospital insist on it. The District nurses do it at the same time as they do the weekly flush. The Heart Unit did tell me to remind the nurses to remove the silk stitches from the ‘exit buffer’ (as I call it) after two weeks, but I deliberately don’t bring it to their attention, I don’t want the stitches out. I had my first line fitted in Jan this year - the protocol then was to leave the stitches in for the duration of the line, but then in middle of Feb I had to have the line readjusted and they had changed the protocol and told me I needed them removed. The nurses in chemo are non the wiser as they never mention the stitches either. I read one person on here who had some pain after the stitches were removed, so I figure it can wait until I have the pain of the line removal in total.
I would advise, if possible you have the 3M Tegaderm I.V. Advanced, 3.5incH X 4.5 inch (ref: 1685) dressing - I have been told it is standard for Hickman and Groshong. They are completely waterproof and showering is a breeze.
Some people get their ‘dangly bit’ fixed to the dressing, but I prefer to pop it in my bra when dressed and sleeping and use tape provided by the chemo unit to fix to my chest when I shower.
The dressing is really no bother, in fact provides me with extra mental protection being covered 24/7 -especially with VERY bouncy big dogs, always keen to greet me when I get home, get up, come out of the bathroom etc etc etc.
Good luck and let me know how you get on.
Love Su
XX
I had hickman and also kept it covered with tagaderm.
I’ve had my stitches removed but still have a waterproof dressing put on at the chemo unit after every line flush, leaving the end but dangling. For baths/shower I stick the end of my line into a little food bag and seal it round the wire as best I can. I then use micropore tape to fix the bag over the dressing to cover it as best as I can, although I don’t worry too much about that bit any more. My dressing always looks well ready for a change by the time flush day comes round but I’ve never had any problems and I’ve had it for about 6 weeks now. There is a website somewhere where you can buy a Hickman line cover but the bags seem to work just as well.
Good luck x