Hi
does anyone have advice on the hickman line as Iam dur to have mine on Wednesday just an hour before chemo 4
joanne
Hi Joanne, I had a Hickman line put in a number of weeks ago, and it’s made a huge difference to my treatment. I didn’t particularly enjoy the installation, it was a bit uncomfortable but so worth it for the ease of chemotherapy. You have to have it cleaned every week but it is all so worth it! I would definitely recommend having this done, I was a little nervous myself but it has made a huge difference.
Hi Joanne
I have finished all my chemo now and on herceptin. I had a few problems with last couple of chemo’s which caused my veins to collapse dreadfully. As a result phlebotomist said they would be unable to administer the herceptin through my veins and a hickman line would be best option - and I was terrified lol. I hate medical procedures of any sort, and when I was told that it would be fitted under a local anaesthetic I was even more terrified!
However, the procedure itself, though uncomfortable, was bearable. The nurses, and the surgeon, chatted to me all the way through, and apart from a bit of pushing and pulling I didn’t feel a thing.
Yes it can be a nuisance ie I now have to go to hospital every week, instead of just every 3 weeks, because the line has to be flushed through and dressings changed, and showering was a nuisance initially, cos I had to tape a plastic bag over the line (they have now changed my dressings to plastic ones though, so showering is a lot easier!).
But oh my goodness what a relief to not have to sit while they try and find a vein that’s useable - everything is done through the line, bloods, treatment etc and it is sooo much easier.
Hope everything goes ok for you
Margaret x
Hi Joanne,
I echo what all the other ladies have said.
such a relief from the needles. I don’t put anything over mine when showering, just swish it gently over with aquasept which they gave me in the department when I had the line put in. As time goes on you will get more confident about “living with it”. I hardly notice mine now.
kind regards,
Kay x
An absolute godend, as it makes life so much easier-I feel sorry for people who don’t have them! Initially I found sleeping a bit uncomfortable (but mainly as I sleep face down), but I scarcely notice it now.
The procedure to insert it is strange, but not painful. Good luck with it all.
Hi Joanne,
I have lousy veins - an hour just to get needle in for 1st Chemo. Six hours, 2 Nurses, a phlegbotamist (?sp - blood nurse), 2 Drs and 12 stab-holes (including my feet - ouch!) - when I went neutropenic & needed IV antibiotics in Hospital…
The Hickman line is well worth it! I was dreading having it put in - being “awake” too - but the Drs & Nurses were fantastic & apart from some pulling & pushing I didn’t feel a thing & it certainly wasn’t painful.
Initially I had the District Nurses to come in & “flush” the line twice a week and change the dressing & bio-connector once a week, but now my Husband has been trained to do it - he’s fab! I’m still quite squeamish about touching it & the thought that it’s into a major vein, but then I remember sitting in that Hospital bed from 11pm - 5am just waiting for the next person to attempt getting a canula into me. It really is a brilliant thing to have. Only disadvantage is you can’t go swimming or have a deep bath - showering is ok (I have waterproof dressings - clear “plasters” about 6"x4") - & I find laying on that side gives me a funny feeling (not sure if it slows the blood flow or what). But I definitely recommend a HL.
All the best,
Joanne,
Just wanted to say I am thinking of you and hope it goes well on Wednesday. At least you won’t have that terrible trouble with your arm again. I have mine through a port which was a general op but buried so no cleaning at all just part of me now. It is annoying that you cannot sleep on them but hey us guys get used to anything they chuck at us don’t we? At the end of chemo it will just come out and be one more scar.
Good luck
Lily x
Hi ladies
Well got it in a day early. And hurt like hell doc said I was sensitive lol. Still in bit of pain and cant move my neck to good but does that ease off how long did it take. get my first chemo through it tomorrow so will let you know how it goes.
But I’m just glad i don;t have to go through all the pain of trying for my vein which have decided to hide for the duration wish I could join them.
Joanne
Hi,
my bu…er of a surgeon covered the wound with clear dressing that sticks like super glue, but did not put my neck straight first or extend it. So could only look left and not up at all!!! It made my muscles go onto terrible cramps. I was totally stuck down in the on the table position and had to beg a nurse to rip it off. Hope this story gives you a chuckle, I laugh about it now but at the time. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. I could not have been awake I would have talked all the time!! I think the neck was about 5 days to feel lots better and also had some weird feelings where the tubes were inside, like they were a bit big for the vein and pushing other body parts. I had 2 cuts and where he tunnelled under my collar bone was the worst I think. It will be better very soon and at least you don’t have to be stabbed through the skin like me for chemo. hope it improves very soon and won’t we be looking forward to having the cr@ppy things out afterwards!! One final op at the end for us!
Is your fella still away? You need breakfast in bed, grapes, strawberries, flowers and champagne and lots of tlc
Lily x