Re: Nikki/central lines

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/1/02 7:36:24 PM Eastern Daylight Time, writes:

They wanted to do a hickman or a port-a-cath, but

apprently they do those with locals. I do NOT want to do that, since

I could feel everything with the PICC there is no way they are going

to cut me open and put that in while I am awake and can feel it. I

may be able to put up with a lot of pain, but I can't handle that.

Nikki,

I am so sorry that you are feeling so horrible. I will send some extra prayers for you to get through this crash soon.

As you may remember, I have a broviac, which is similar to a hickman, but slightly smaller. Before I got a central line, I had the exact same problem you are having with your veins spasming. The IV team nurses could never get a PICC line in me because my veins would just spasm as soon as the needle hit them. I would have to go to the ER too b/c none of the homecare nurses could get IVs in. I remember the exhaustion from getting stuck over and over, even in the ER. The one thing that did seem to help some was giving me versed when they put in my PICC lines. They would have to take me down to radiology to the flouro room and inject dye in my veins so they could see what was happening. The versed relaxed my veins enough that they didn't spasm so much. I would imagine valium would do the same thing.

Also, from personal experience, I like my central lines so much better than peripheral lines. I had my first central line placed when I was 16 and am only on my 4th line in 8 yrs. I have had this central line in for almost 5 yrs now with only one infection, over 4 yrs ago. ALL of my central lines (hickmans or broviacs) were put in in the OR with either general anesthesia or versed. I have never had a hickman/broviac put in under just local. This is generally the way surgeons do it and I honestly have never heard of any surgeon putting them in without some sort of sedation. The only time that they do it that way is with triple lumen central catheters, which are more temporary and are usually done in a more emergent situation. If you can tolerate sedation with versed or some general anesthesias, then they should definitely do this for you.

I would whole heartedly tell you to go for the hickman or a port.....mine has literally been a life saver in more ways than one. It may sound funny, but since I got one put in, my life has been so much better because I am getting the things that I need through it (which is TPN/fluids/IV meds for me).

I hope things get better for you.....

Hugs, Malisa