I’m having a PICC line fitted tomorrow ready for my second course of chemotherapy. The first course which ended in December has destroyed the veins in my hands so this is to make it easier this time round.
I’m suddenly having a bit of a panic attack about it today and want to know if it hurts having it fitted and how much of a pain is it to have something hanging out of your arm for a few months?
Any advise please?
Debs
x
Hi Debs
I had my picc put in about six weeks ago now but had delayed it because was worried about the procedure and having it dangling out as you say!. I do wish now i had not delayed, all in all having it put in plus the x ray to check it is in the right place took about 45 mins. Its put in under ultrasound and local anaesthetic and i honestly never felt a thing. Since that day its never caused me any pain or discomfort. I have it covered with a clear dressing then i put tubi grip over this, i honestly dont notice it is there most of the time , i can sleep on that arm and do everything i used to do.
Hope this helps, if you want to ask anything then feel free,
Best wishes, Sal
Hi Debs,
I am a total wimp with zero pain threshhold & I can honestly say that i felt nothing on insertion or removal & it totally made the whole chemo/blood tests thing so easy.
When i was having it fitted i told them that i was a wimp so they gave me extra local & honestly all was fine.
Sarah.xxx
Ps make sure you buy a waterproof sleeve from boots as makes bathing/showering so much easier.
Buzzy/Debs,
You and me both!! I’m having mine fitted on Thursday before my 1st FEC and am very happy with my decision to have it but am actually more nervous about the line going in than the chemo!!!
Glad to hear the reassuring posts back. Will think about you and would you come back on here and tell me how it went please!!!
Wandyx
Thanks ladies. I’m not so worried now x
Yes Wandy I’ll let you know how it goes x
Just wanted to second what the others have said: It was really easy having it put in, and even easier having it taken out. I had mine done before I started the chemo, and I’m so glad I did - it makes everything much quicker, not least meaning that I could have bloods taken on the chemo ward when I saw the onc. before each new dose - so no hanging around down in the overcrowded waiting rooms where everyone else has bloods done. And I can’t think what it’s called…lol.
I kept a loose tubigrip around mine, and it really was no problem. My OH was shown how to flush it, which he did once a week, and they sent us home after the first chemo with a massive bag of dressings/spare valves/saline etc etc.
I was in the ‘theatre’ for maybe 45 minutes having the line inserted, and a good 25 mins of that was for them all to gown up - the actual line going in took hardly any time at all.
Sophie xx
Ohh Trip, that is soooo reassuring! Can’t tell you how nervous I have been about the line…haven’t even been thinking about the chemo!
Looking forward to meeting you on Wed!
Wandyx
it takes less time to have the picc line fitted than it does to have the chemo. It does not hurt having it put in and you soon get used to having it.
It is so much easier to have bloods taken so if you have no veins you will have no worry on that account.
I wish they has showed my husband how to flush it as it would have been easier. The district nurse came every week to flush it but if I was having bloods done I usually got them to do that in the chemo suite and they flushed it at the same time. Some hospitals check your blood on the same day which is far easier, my hospital always wanted the blood done a day before.
When the time comes to have it removed you would not know unless they told you, its far easier to remove.
Try and stay calm, you really do not have anything to worry about and the calmer you are the quicker it will be fitted.
Anne
I am having a picc fitted tomorrow too and i didn’t sleep last night as so worried about it. I was wondering how long it all took as on the internet it says allow 4 - 5 hours for it to be done ! My appointment is at 11 and i was panicking about picking the kids up after school and about driving afterwards.
Also which arm is everyone having it in ? my chemo nurse wants to put it in my arm that i had nodes removed from but i am not happy about this - surely they must be able to find one decent vein in my other arm even though it is very sore.
Mel xx
Mel, I can’t imagine how it would take 4-5 hours for a PICC to be fitted. Possible delays: waiting for the x-ray to make sure it’s correctly positioned at the end or waiting for someone to take you to x-ray in case you’re a bit wobbly and x-ray is elsewhere; or difficulty in finding a suitable vein. The only other thing I can think of would be having a general anaesthetic rather than a local.
The nodes issue may depend on whether you have had a clearance or whether you still have some nodes and how many.
Otherwise I second what Sophie said: they may give you something like a soft tubigrip to put over it just to avoid the fittings catching on clothing or bedding, but in warm weather some people just wear loose short sleeves. I cut a large sized tubi-grip into sections just long enough to cover that area, 1 layer only.
The longest part for me was the x-ray part. There was a long wait for a porter to wheel me to x-ray as I was a bit dizzy when I stood up afterwards, and in the end someone walked me over when the dizziness had gone. They sent someone with me just as a precaution.
Cheryl
Wandy - I’ve just stuck a post on the southern ba thread, saying I’ve got a limbo sleeve (which will cover your arm in the shower, and works brilliantly), which I obviously no longer need - and I can bring it over on Weds (providing I can remember where I put it…). If you want it, stick an answer on the southern thread, first dibs and all that!!! They’re only a few quid, but it seems silly to bin it when someone else could use it!
Sophie
I was lucky when I had mine done, as they had an ultrasound type machine directly over the ‘bed’ where they were inserting the line - so it was all over and done with very quickly - again, shows how much nhs trusts differ in their facilities!!!
I also only had to take off my top half, and wore jeans throughout the procedure, and I know others have had to strip off down to knickers. Strange. The funniest part for me was walking from the waiting area, in jeans and a hospital gown, to the theatre, and realising that I no longer had to keep an arm over my chest to stop my left boob jiggling as I walked! My remaining right boob has always been much smaller, and that could cope fine with no bra… it was almost liberating!!
Sophie
Hi Wandy
Everything went well today. It was very quick and I didn’t feel a thing. I was quite tense though and they kept having to tell me to relax! I had a bad dream about a general anaesthetic last night so I must have been more anxious than I thought!
There was no need for stripping off. Only when I went through for the xray because my t shirt had sparkly bits on!
Its a bit sore now but that will pass and I guess it will become my friend over the next few weeks!
Good luck with yours
Debs
x
Glad it went well, Debs. Did they tell you to use a hot water bottle or something similar if you have any pain over the first day or so, along with paracetamol? I hope you won’t need it of course.
Cheryl
I have taken some paracetemol as it was aching a bit when the anaesthetic was wearing off. They also told me to put a hot water bottle or heat pad on it 3 times a day for 10 minutes as this helps prevent phlebitis
Buzzy,
Thanks for letting me know how you got on and well done you!! Bet you’re glad its all over now. Will let you know how I go on on Thursday.
Wandyx
Just wanted to say I have just returned from having my PICC line, and it does not hurt! Most of the time you are there is due to the “faffing” as my nurse told me. The painful bit for me was when they had to adjust it slightly after checking the x-ray. The adjusting wasn’t painful, it was the removal of the plasters!!
Hi girls
Also getting mine on Thursday! Was meant to get it before my 1st FEC but they couldnt find a good vein (can only use right arm due to node clearance) so am back on Thursday to get it done further up my arm under ultrasound! Glad to hear it is OK cos I was freaking out the first time round! 2nd FEC on Friday and hope it is as OK as the 1st - no bad side effects to report (so far!) fingers crossed and all that!! Best wishes to all in the same boat! Lynne 
Lynne & Wandy, How did the PICC line fitting go for you? When do you start your chemo?
Debs
x