PICC Pointers
Why a PICC?
This depends entirely on your situation. For me, I developed a kidney disorder that, unbeknownst to
me, worsened in pregnancy. As a result, I had to get IV infusions of the stuff my body was wasting
(and the baby was taking) in order to keep myself from having kidney failure/cardiac arrest. One of
the things I needed was potassium. Since I was getting such large amounts of potassium, they were
concerned about a) pain (it hurts like crazy via a regular IV), and b) blowing my veins (potassium
does bad things to smaller veins). Plus, since I was getting these all-day infusions 3 times a week,
a double lumen PICC was easier than placing an IV (or two) each time.
My first IV in this journey. Took them 4 tries to get it in a vein and then the potassium IV hurt so
bad, I cried. The PICC solved that!
Undressed PICC
Fancy event, decided to make it clear that I had a medical condition rather than wear
a polka dot cover.
At home, I usually went sans cover just to let it breathe a bit. I'd sleep in long sleeves just to be
sure I didn't catch it on anything.
I did NOT have the patience to do this business every day.
me, worsened in pregnancy. As a result, I had to get IV infusions of the stuff my body was wasting
(and the baby was taking) in order to keep myself from having kidney failure/cardiac arrest. One of
the things I needed was potassium. Since I was getting such large amounts of potassium, they were
concerned about a) pain (it hurts like crazy via a regular IV), and b) blowing my veins (potassium
does bad things to smaller veins). Plus, since I was getting these all-day infusions 3 times a week,
a double lumen PICC was easier than placing an IV (or two) each time.
Placing the PICC
When I got the PICC in, a couple readers told me they'd had PICCs and that it would be awesome
for me. How right they were! It does hurt (at least it did for me) for the first week or so while your
body gets used to it but after that, you can't feel it at all and it ends up being SUCH a blessing to
have one week of soreness in exchange for never having to have another IV placed. When the
PICC is placed, your arm is numbed and you're given pain meds so you don't feel them actually
put it in--just a wee bit of pressure. The first week, it feels a bit achy but that goes away and then
it's no big deal at all!
for me. How right they were! It does hurt (at least it did for me) for the first week or so while your
body gets used to it but after that, you can't feel it at all and it ends up being SUCH a blessing to
have one week of soreness in exchange for never having to have another IV placed. When the
PICC is placed, your arm is numbed and you're given pain meds so you don't feel them actually
put it in--just a wee bit of pressure. The first week, it feels a bit achy but that goes away and then
it's no big deal at all!
bad, I cried. The PICC solved that!
Dressed PICC
Covering the PICC
When I first found out I was going to have a PICC line, I kept thinking how dreadful it would be to
try and cover it. I live in South Texas so even though I had it during the winter months, I didn't want
to give up my short sleeves. Note: I am so thankful I had it in the winter since you're not supposed
to sweat with a PICC because you don't want sweat and germs to get in the dressing. I went on
Pinterest and saw lots of PICC covers that I didn't like (crocheted or really expensive). Originally,
I just went with the gauze-type cover the nurse gave me.
When I first found out I was going to have a PICC line, I kept thinking how dreadful it would be to
try and cover it. I live in South Texas so even though I had it during the winter months, I didn't want
to give up my short sleeves. Note: I am so thankful I had it in the winter since you're not supposed
to sweat with a PICC because you don't want sweat and germs to get in the dressing. I went on
Pinterest and saw lots of PICC covers that I didn't like (crocheted or really expensive). Originally,
I just went with the gauze-type cover the nurse gave me.
But when I went to work the Monday after getting the PICC placed, my sweet coworker had
bought me a bunch of little girl legwarmers for covers. I used those and loved them!
bought me a bunch of little girl legwarmers for covers. I used those and loved them!
But I found that since I wanted a wide variety, I ended up falling in love with
The Hair Bow Company since theirs are so much cheaper. Click on that link above and it
will take you to a post they wrote all about using their legwarmers as PICC covers.
The Hair Bow Company since theirs are so much cheaper. Click on that link above and it
will take you to a post they wrote all about using their legwarmers as PICC covers.
I used the legwarmers day-to-day and if I had a formal event, I would just use that
medical tape stuff you can buy from CVS. In those instances, I preferred it to be
clear that I had a medical issue and didn't just enjoy wearing a random skull & crossbones
sleeve on my arm.
medical tape stuff you can buy from CVS. In those instances, I preferred it to be
clear that I had a medical issue and didn't just enjoy wearing a random skull & crossbones
sleeve on my arm.
a polka dot cover.
sure I didn't catch it on anything.
Showering with the PICC
I did a lot of research on how to shower with a PICC. The nurse told me about the easy method
of Glad Press N Seal + Nexcare tape but after two weeks of trying to wrap my arm each day
and occasionally finding out that it had leaked a bit once I got out of the shower, I decided to
invest in a good cover.
of Glad Press N Seal + Nexcare tape but after two weeks of trying to wrap my arm each day
and occasionally finding out that it had leaked a bit once I got out of the shower, I decided to
invest in a good cover.
I knew I was going to have my PICC for at least 6 months (so long as I could keep it uninfected)
and I was spending a fortune in that tape alone. So I bought the DryPro Waterproof PICC line cover.
It's basically a sleeve that you pull onto your arm and then use a little air suction device to get a
watertight seal. You buy the proper size (I think I bought a medium or a large--just follow the sizing
guidelines) and you can cut the plastic a bit to make it fit properly. By the end of my pregnancy,
my arms had gotten quite a bit fatter and it was starting to get a bit too small but it was definitely
worth every penny. I liked it because I could bend my arm a bit more in the shower than I could with
the Press N Seal + Tape combo. There were a couple times when it leaked ever so slightly but those
were always times when I didn't have it sealed properly or I bent my arm too much in the shower.
And even with those few leaks, I still managed to keep my PICC dry and uninfected for the 6 month
stint. If I ever had another PICC placed, I would absolutely buy another DryPro.
and I was spending a fortune in that tape alone. So I bought the DryPro Waterproof PICC line cover.
It's basically a sleeve that you pull onto your arm and then use a little air suction device to get a
watertight seal. You buy the proper size (I think I bought a medium or a large--just follow the sizing
guidelines) and you can cut the plastic a bit to make it fit properly. By the end of my pregnancy,
my arms had gotten quite a bit fatter and it was starting to get a bit too small but it was definitely
worth every penny. I liked it because I could bend my arm a bit more in the shower than I could with
the Press N Seal + Tape combo. There were a couple times when it leaked ever so slightly but those
were always times when I didn't have it sealed properly or I bent my arm too much in the shower.
And even with those few leaks, I still managed to keep my PICC dry and uninfected for the 6 month
stint. If I ever had another PICC placed, I would absolutely buy another DryPro.
Cleaning the PICC
Your nurse has told you this but I can't stress it enough: you HAVE to keep that sucker clean! You
want it cleaned by the nurse once a week. More than that and you open it up to air and the possibility
of infection. Less than that and you are looking at an old dressing that can result in germs building
up and leading to infection. Be sure that when it is being cleaned, you look away so that you don't
breathe on it. Be sure that anyone cleaning it is using a very sterile environment and wears a mask
while cleaning it and changing the dressing. Be sure caps are switched out regularly (mine were
switched out 2-3 times a week). Finally, don't hesitate to ask them to clean it for a long time.
Dressing change day was my favorite day because that area of my arm had absolutely no touch on
it for the six months it was covered/dressed. The one day a week that they took off the dressing and
used that alcohol swab to clean the area felt like a massage! I had one nurse that would spend at
least 5 full minutes just wiping down the area with that cleaning wand thing. Man, it was glorious!
Your nurse has told you this but I can't stress it enough: you HAVE to keep that sucker clean! You
want it cleaned by the nurse once a week. More than that and you open it up to air and the possibility
of infection. Less than that and you are looking at an old dressing that can result in germs building
up and leading to infection. Be sure that when it is being cleaned, you look away so that you don't
breathe on it. Be sure that anyone cleaning it is using a very sterile environment and wears a mask
while cleaning it and changing the dressing. Be sure caps are switched out regularly (mine were
switched out 2-3 times a week). Finally, don't hesitate to ask them to clean it for a long time.
Dressing change day was my favorite day because that area of my arm had absolutely no touch on
it for the six months it was covered/dressed. The one day a week that they took off the dressing and
used that alcohol swab to clean the area felt like a massage! I had one nurse that would spend at
least 5 full minutes just wiping down the area with that cleaning wand thing. Man, it was glorious!
Never hesitate to call out anyone touching your PICC that doesn't have clean hands, seems sick, or
doesn't properly clean the caps before starting an IV or flushing it. This puppy goes straight to your
heart and you need to be an advocate for yourself to make sure it's being cared for properly.
doesn't properly clean the caps before starting an IV or flushing it. This puppy goes straight to your
heart and you need to be an advocate for yourself to make sure it's being cared for properly.
Flushing the PICC
Nothing too noteworthy here...just make sure you do it! I didn't think I needed to flush my PICC
at home since I was in the hospital having it flushed for me three times a week. But after 3 blocked
PICCs, I started flushing it one time a day and eventually twice a day to keep it from getting blocked.
Just get a prescription for some saline flushes and be sure your nurse shows you exactly how to do it.
One thing I learned is to only flush 9 CCs at a time. Apparently that last CC going in causes a bit of
a vacuum and can open up the "flap" at the end of the PICC near your heart. By doing that, you can
get a build up of red blood cells which can cause a block.
at home since I was in the hospital having it flushed for me three times a week. But after 3 blocked
PICCs, I started flushing it one time a day and eventually twice a day to keep it from getting blocked.
Just get a prescription for some saline flushes and be sure your nurse shows you exactly how to do it.
One thing I learned is to only flush 9 CCs at a time. Apparently that last CC going in causes a bit of
a vacuum and can open up the "flap" at the end of the PICC near your heart. By doing that, you can
get a build up of red blood cells which can cause a block.
A Blocked PICC
For me, a blocked PICC was actually quite terrifying. For most people, it's an easy solution: get an
infusion of TPA. TPA is basically a "clot buster" that goes into the PICC and dissolves any blockages
in your line. The idea is to draw it back out via syringe after it's been sitting for a couple hours inside
the line. My fear came from my two doctors (my OB and my high risk OB) disagreeing about whether
the TPA was safe for my unborn baby. I was absolutely terrified the first time I had it done because
everything I read was either unsure about the effect it would have on my baby or strongly suggested
that pregnant women not have TPA administered. Because I HAD to have these infusions to keep me
and my baby alive, we went for it. But then I spent the next few months scared about the impact it
may have had on my baby. I had to get TPA two other times and I was always a mess. Luckily, my
baby is fine. But that didn't make it any less terrifying at the time. If you're not pregnant, TPA is
awesome and does a great job of keeping the PICC clear. I was able to reduce the blockages by
diligent and regular flushing of the PICC. I wish I would have done that earlier on though and
maybe I would have been able to avoid getting TPA and all the worry that came with it.
For me, a blocked PICC was actually quite terrifying. For most people, it's an easy solution: get an
infusion of TPA. TPA is basically a "clot buster" that goes into the PICC and dissolves any blockages
in your line. The idea is to draw it back out via syringe after it's been sitting for a couple hours inside
the line. My fear came from my two doctors (my OB and my high risk OB) disagreeing about whether
the TPA was safe for my unborn baby. I was absolutely terrified the first time I had it done because
everything I read was either unsure about the effect it would have on my baby or strongly suggested
that pregnant women not have TPA administered. Because I HAD to have these infusions to keep me
and my baby alive, we went for it. But then I spent the next few months scared about the impact it
may have had on my baby. I had to get TPA two other times and I was always a mess. Luckily, my
baby is fine. But that didn't make it any less terrifying at the time. If you're not pregnant, TPA is
awesome and does a great job of keeping the PICC clear. I was able to reduce the blockages by
diligent and regular flushing of the PICC. I wish I would have done that earlier on though and
maybe I would have been able to avoid getting TPA and all the worry that came with it.
Me and my baby boy--both happy and healthy thanks to my PICC line. No more PICC
these days, just a little heart tattoo to remind me that even seemingly terrible situations
often have a way of working themselves out for good.
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