I was frightened to have you. It was daunting at first.
The gut-wrenching panic whilst fearing the worst.
But you were essential to beat this disease,
So, I put all my faith in their expertise.

The insertion was painless, it was done in a jiffy,
Then covered with Tubigrip. Not what I’d call pretty.
Sent off to X-Ray to check your position,
Then back home for tea with my newest addition.

You had to stay dry. My lifeline to protect.
But how would I shower without getting wet?
So, I wrapped you in clingfilm as a temporary solution,
Which allowed me to have my daily ablution.

I soon came to realise you were nothing to fear,
But you were ugly as hell and looked so severe.
And my one piece of Tubigrip was now looking bleak.
It wasn’t what I would call terribly chic.

You needed a cover to make me feel normal.
Lightweight and fun, or even more formal.
So, when I went out, you’d be covered discreetly,
All, of your bits and bobs tucked away neatly.

But search as we may, there were none to be had
Within the UK and that made me mad.
I made me a promise that I would achieve,
A quality, comfortable, affordable sleeve.

So PICC-Me was born out of sheer frustration,
To deliver a product to service our nation.
Proud to be British. I’m grateful I’ve had,
A PICC-Line experience. It was not all that bad!

Caring for your PICC Line

Dressings

Try not to get your dressing wet as this may cause an infection which you don’t want. There are many different waterproof sleeves on the market. Those with a neoprene seal usually works well for showering.

It is possible for a member of your family to change your dressings and flush your line with the right training, which your community nurse can provide.

The one thing that is very tricky; they will be required to wear disposable gloves for hygiene. The clear dressing is, to paraphrase Rowan Atkinson in Blackadder Goes Forth, “Stickier than Sticky the Stick Insect that’s got stuck on a sticky bun”, so will easily stick to the gloves. However, the nurses are experts and can show them what to do.

Blood clots

It is well established that blood clots can occur with PICC Lines, ^{(1, 2)} so look out for painful and/or swelling of your hands, fingers, wrists and arms. Let your healthcare professional know immediately if you develop any of these symptoms.

I was advised not to take Ibuprofen as it can hide the signs of clotting by reducing pain and swelling. Again, discuss this with your healthcare professional if you have any concerns.

References:
(1) Jones D, Wismayer K, Bozas G, Palmer J, Elliott M, Maraveyas A. The risk of venous thromboembolism associated with peripherally inserted central catheters in ambulant cancer patients. Thromb J. 2017 Sep 19;15:25. doi: 10.1186/s12959-017-0148-y. PMID: 28936124; PMCID: PMC5604407.

(2) Guys & Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust: OVERVIEW: PICC lines (peripherally inserted central catheters) https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/health-information/picc-line