Nadia Gets a PICC Line
June 8, 2009I introduced you to Nadia a little while ago, a high school girl who’s gone through the whole struggle with Crohn’s colitis. Recently she had a hiccup in her recovery from j-pouch surgery. They discovered she was iron deficient and needs iron infusions several times over a three month period. Instead of poking her with needles every time, they decided to give her a PICC line.
Watch this video as she shows–in graphic detail–what it takes to insert a PICC line. For those who don’t know, a PICC line usually goes from the upper arm into the chest and down near the heart. Close to the heart is where the largest arteries are, so that when fluids and medicines get pumped into the body they are diluted instantly.
This girl is notable for her courage in going through this procedure and showing it to the world. If you have any comments for her message her on her YouTube channel.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
Question: Have you ever had a PICC line? What was your experience like? Reply to this post!
Over the first year following my colectomy I had three PICC lines (upper arm), a Central line (neck), and a Hickman Catheter (chest, near clavicle). My initial surgery did not go well and I had multiple follow-ups each of which took more and more of my small bowel. In order to get the nutrition I needed they put me on TPN which is very hard on your veins and therefore requires a central line placement.
In comparison to everything else you go through with colitis a PICC (or Hickman) placement is fairly mundane.
These lines are easy to maintain, and they sure do make life a lot easier if you are on a long term infusion treatment. The only down side is that they do get infected easily.
[...] Nadia Has Picc Line Complication August 31, 2009 You may remember a few months back I showed this video from Nadia about the insertion of her picc line. Well, a few months later, she developed a blood [...]
I had a PICC line for a few months following surgery to remove a pancreatic tumor in 2003. It’s funny, I have Crohn’s disease and if not for my initial major flare up when I was 18 they never would have found the tumor. Anyway, I ended up contracting MRSA and needed IV Vamcomycin and other antibiotics twice daily so they gave me a PICC line. It actually wasn’t bad, I was able to connect the antibiotics myself after a while; it was pretty easy. All of this was made much more bearable by my infectious disease doctor who was absolutely amazing. A wonderful man who did so much for me and my family including seeing me for free because my insurance wouldn’t cover him outside the hospital.
i was diagnosed with colitis and or crohns when i was 12. I am now 24 just had my colon removed about a month ago. I was really sick. I was in the hospital just over a month (just this last time), not only do i have really bad veins but they wanted to give me tpn so I got a picc line. I have had pic lines on several occasions i dont think that they are very bad at all they hardest part is the lido which isnt bad at all. If only the disease was that easy! I have also had the iv that goes in your neck which the placement isnt that bad its more annoying with all the tape and stuff you cant turn your head. and when they put the tape on your hair gets caught in it and you have to like rip your hair out..not fun..still cant sleep love the website ..just found it today!