PICC Line Malfunctions

*Just a warning some of the pictures in the post will be somewhat nasty*

"The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in our unfailing love."

-Psalm 147:11

     I have a PICC Line. It is basically an IV that is inserted into my upper arm and is semi permanent. Because I have to have 24/7 access the PICC line was a great option for me. Last week during my dressing changed we realized I had started developing a reaction to the dressing, or tape we put over the line. My skin began blistering and draining, in all honesty it was miserable and gross. We were watching it closely for signs of infection but I never showed any. I never had a fever, my arm never swelled, the site never turned red it was just irritated. Well Saturday morning I looked at my site and it was super gross and nasty. This line leads straight into my heart. I was not about to take any chances on infection so I decided it would be best to take a quick trip to the ER. I should have known trips to the ER are never quick for me. 

That's what a blood clot looks like.
Terrible picture I know, but still
kinda cool.

     The triage nurse was extremely rude saying I was over reacting and it was probably just a skin allergy that was causing the drainage. I reminded her again that this line went straight into my heart and I wasn't willing to risk anything. She rolled her eyes and told me that I looked fine and they would probably send me home in a few minutes. I told her that would be fine if that is what the doctor decides is best. She also said that I should stop seeking attention by wearing a mask. I am immune compromised, I have ZERO immune system and I was not about to hang out in a hospital full of snotty flu humans without some sort of protection. Again, she rolled her eyes. 

     The nurse who has seen me before came and moved me from triage back to a room. The PA came in and looked at my line. She said it didn't look infected but she's also never seen a site with that much drainage. So she called over the ER Doc. I was worried because he's a new one I've never seen before. He took two seconds to look at it and said "something is definitely not right." He ordered several labs, cultures and lots of imaging. 

     First up was an ultra sound of my line. There was a student so it took quite a long time. We were chatting and then she went quiet and pointed to something on the screen. The actual ultra sound tech came over and typed something and then I was taken back to my room. That's when I knew something was wrong. The nurse came in to start a second IV he told me we were going to have to pull this PICC line which was fine with me at the time. They could find a vein to get a second IV they dug, I cussed, we all gave up. 

    The doc finally came in and told me it's confirmed two major blood clots. One was inside the line and wasn't occluding much, but the second was around the outside of the line so very little blood flow was getting past the clot which means the line had to go. Pretty immediately. The international radiologist came in to place a new PICC. He was the one that placed my very first one. He's the bestest. He pulled my old one and went to place the new one. They use an ultra sound to find the vein they are going to put it in. And even with ultra sound he could barely find the veins. That's when my once favorite IR Tech became my least favorite. He told me we had to place the new line WITHOUT lidocaine. He did it super fast but not without me cussing... a lot... like a lot a lot. 

     I was then started on a very high dose antibiotic Vancomyacin. It's biggest side effect was Red Man's Syndrome. Awful. That was over after an hour and we started a second one just to be sure. I was discharged later that night with an oral antibiotic and a very very sore arm. Thankfully I got news that my cultures had all come back negative which means the infection never reached my blood stream! 

     So that was my weekend. It was rough but I made it. 

With Love, 

Elizabeth <3