Hickman line

[Guest user]

Thankyou Sadie,

How low down does the Hickman line go? and what do you mean by sedated? does it mean you are high has a kite? lol..

K xx

PS ..Pamela181, i dont think your comment's have come up in the box, it's blank, unless it's my laptop. I have noticed on a few threads where the boxes are blank...

[Guest user]

We are all different. I love mine!! Low tops are not a problem as the dr drew on me where my low top came to nd put it below the line!! I've had it for 16 months now nd I am pleased the 'hunt the vein' is not a routine event. If you do not really need it, that's fine. But if you do, it's really not that bad. And to anyone else reading this - lots of sedation nd then the insertion is fine and I would swing for anyone who suggested taking it out now.

Sadie Xx Xx

[Guest user]

Thanks Violetta,

The thing is, if they can find a vein asap then there really is no need to have one. I fully understand the benefits of it and part of me is thinking should i go for it but i dont like the idea if the procedure and i really dont want anything stuck in my chest. xx

[Guest user]

Thanks AmysMum,
Well, even before i was about to go in for surgery they found a vein straight away when they put the vodka (anaesthtic) in lol.. i will just have to see how it goes the further down the line...xx

[Guest user]

Hi Karen. Wishing you all the best whatever unfolds.I won't go into details about how I arrived at having mine in because all the good ladies above have pretty much covered the important points. I had one in eventually and although there were a few downsides the benefits far outweighed them. I kept mine in for the majority of treatments including many doses of Herceptin. The only thing I would add is that I didn't feel able to go on holiday or abroad with it in. It finally blocked just before my final Herceptin which I discussed carefully with the Herceptin nurse and we decided to miss that final dose. I am really glad I had it in and would do it again right from the beginning if the occasion arose.( I really didn't want it in the first place for the same reasons as you). It is amazing what you can do when your back is against the wall!!!

[Guest user]

Hi
Glad to hear your first chemo went OK.
I had (have?) dodgy veins. It took the anaesthetist 3 goes to get a canula in for me mx and then the nurses 3 times (in the same 3 places) for my first chemo. As this meant my first chemo had to go in my wrist, they could tell that they would likely run out of arm before #6. As I wasn't having Herceptin, they "just" gave me a PICC line, which went in on the inside of my elbow (where you give blood). It was inserted in the little curtained-off bay in th chemo unit. I did get a mild infection, but it cleared up quickly with AB's. I also got Phlebitis (swollen vein) for a couple of weeks after insertion, but after that, I got on just fine. It is alot less invasive (I think) than a Hickman line, but did mean there was no game of "hunt the vein" at each chemo session.

[Guest user]

Hiya again ladies,
well they did say that in some hospitals, hickman lines are standard procedure. Birmigham hospital only use them.I dont want one because 1. it scars, 2. its stuck in your body with a tube hanging out and you cant wear low tops etc. 3. the procedure of inserting it scares me as its inserted near the heart. i shall avoid it until its absolutely neccassary..

K xx

[Wolsty]

Hi Karen. I was offered a Hickman line and sought advice like you. I decided that I would keep going with my veins for as long as possible as I didn't want another scar. So far so good and I have had 5 chemos. I have to have Herceptin too so will see how long my veins last but I have been told I can have a line put in at a later date so will do that if necessary.

Good Luck

Jane

[Guest user]

Always good to keep your options open on this one Karen. My first Chemo went in just fine but second was more problematic and then the veins I was originally told were 'good' started to collapse and tighten & affect the movement of my arm.
I was offered a Hickmann line and wish I'd had it from the beginning. It was inserted under sedation just before FEC3 and from then on everything was just so easy. I flushed the line myself at home as they sent me home with all the necessary equipment and it just saved so much time when having bloods taken etc. Chemo also was quicker.
It's like everything in this journey, it's all down to personal choice but be prepared to compromise at times if it makes things easier for you along the way.
I finished Chemo & Rads Feb 2011 but I send my best wishes to you as you start your treatment.
Karen x

[Guest user]

Hello ladies,
Thank you for your feeedback. Well since i sent this post i have had my first chemo session. Basically the nurse found a vein straight away. When i went for my pre assesment they told me that my veins were rubbish yet when i had my first chemo the nurse said i had good veins!!lol..wish they'd make their bloody minds up. She got the canulla in straight away and she also said that my veins were that good that it only took half n hour for chemo to go through my system. She also told me that having a hickman line is a pretty invasive procedure. I certainly do not want a tube sticking in my chest of which i would have to keep in there until treatments are finished.
I do agree with what you are saying about the it makes its easier access for chemo and blood tests etc but i will avoid one if i they can manage find a vein each time. So i have declined having a hickman line at the moment. If they have problems in the near future then i might consider having one..

K xx

[Carolann7]

Hi Karen
I had a hic manline in 14 years ago when I hand AML, did not hurt to much but the fact that when you have blood or antibiotics go through a lot quiker. Some times when having chemo it can damage your vains, I find it made life with chemo was a lot easer. I now have BC and the first thing I asked when I new I was having chemo I asked if I could have a hicman line, Its not all ways done but they have given me a smart port, which is the same but completely under the skin, so I can go swimming.
Hope this helps Karen,
best wishes Carolann.

[Cackles]

I got to love my Hickman apart from the insertion. Have as much sedation as possible and think of England,..... what freedom it gives . No more traumatic canulas etc.....bliss

[Cackles]

I got to love my Hickman apart from the insertion. Have as much sedation as possible and think of England,..... what freedom it gives . No more traumatic canulas etc.....bliss

[Alto]

Hi Karen,

I had a Hickman line put in half way through chemo when my veins gave out and all I can say is that I wish I'd been offered it at the start.

I won't gloss over it - having it put in was not pleasant - if they offer you sedation or to be completely out, then I'd go for it . It's usually done in theatre to keep it sterile. My veins were small which was why they gave out but that also made it hard to get the line in. However, once it was in it was simply brilliant. No more having them search for a vein and try umpteen times to get blood, no waiting ages for chemo to go in through a vein that was really too small.

Chemo was far quicker and totally pain and discomfort free. I had no trouble at all with my line - no infection and no pain once the initial slight discomfort at having it there had passed after a few days and the stitches were out. I was very careful to keep the skin around it clean and my hospital's sterile procedure for flushing it and dressing it was absolutely top notch. I was given dressings to change myself mid-week if needed and I was very careful never to touch that area so it stayed sterile. I was able to shower as normal as I had waterproof dressings.

I was worried about catching the loose end of the line in my sleep and pulling it so I bought a couple of soft, stretchy breast feeding sleep bras and wore one at night with the loose end tucked away inside and that worked a treat.
So, despite it not being a nice experience having it put in, if (God forbid) I ever have to have chemo again, I'll be hammering on the hospital door demanding another Hickman line, so I think that says it all!

Oh, and having it taken out (three weeks after my last chemo in case I had an infection, so they could have used the line to give intravenous antibiotics if needed) was totally painless and very quick.

Good luck - I hope you love your Hickman as much as I did mine!

Jane xxx

[Lost_4_Words]

Hi Karen

I can't help with the Hickman line other than to say I didn't have one and chemo has left me with damaged veins, it's left me with an indented line all the way up my arm which my onc says will probably be permanent. As treatment goes on it's getting more and more difficult to find a vein (I'm also having Herceptin) so if I'd been given the option (and perhaps with the benefit of hindsight) I think I would have had one. On one occasion it took 8 attempts to get the cannula in! If you decide not to have it, a tip my nurse gave me was to wear a glove and keep it on until they were ready to start, helps to plump up the veins.

Hope it helps
L4W

[Guest user]

Hi all,
The hospital have advised me that I have to have a Hickman line put in my chest because they say it will be a struggle to find a vein in my arm when they give me chemo. I'm not really sure I'm happy about this. I would very much like to hear from anyone who's also had to have this procedure and give me some feedback on this.

Many thanks

Karen