Your Questions Archives

Covering your PICC Line – Your Questions Answered: We understand that the majority of our customers are just at the start of their PICC line journey. It’s new, it’s very scary and your head is somewhere else. We’ve been there, we get it. So, here are the answers to some of the questions we are regularly asked:

What are the benefits of using PICC line covers?

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In short: Confidence, Coverage and Comfort.
Let us explain:

Confidence:

PICC lines typically come with one or two ‘ports’ – these allow attachment to an IV line for drug infusion and for blood samples to be taken. The advantage of a PICC line is that normally you only need to have the insertion procedure once and no longer need repeated injections everytime you have a chemo session.

Some chemo drugs are aggressive and can cause inflamation of the smaller veins in the hand or lower arm. Having a PICC line overcomes this problem but at the expense of having trailing connectors and tubing in the upper arm. These can get caught on clothing while dressing or simply moving about. At worst, there is the risk that the PICC line could be pulled out accidentally.

The first job of a PICC line cover is to protect the free ends of the line to prevent them from getting snagged. With a cover, you can get dressed more easily and go about your daily life with more confidence.

Coverage:

The majority of our customers prefer discretion regarding their treatment and so cover their PICC line dressings with our sleeves in a solid, neutral colour. However, others want to make a statement, so we have a range of bold, bright prints for them too. The fabrics for our lace sleeves are carefully chosen to ensure good coverage, to help obscure the PICC line and dressings, while being lighter and more feminine.

Comfort:

A PICC line cover should always be comfortable. The fit should be snug to avoid slippage but without causing any discomfort of the upper arm. Our fabrics are carefully chosen to have good stretch characteristics along the length and width of the sleeve ensuring a comfortable fit. We recommend that you should choose the smaller size if your arm measurement is on the boundary of two sizes. Always measure before ordering and do not rely on your usual dress or shirt size. For those who want to stay more active, we have our ACTIVEWEAR range with additional elastic support in the upper seam.

What materials are commonly used in PICC line covers?

PICC line covers typcially come in various fabrics. The most common are:

Nylon/Elastane
Polyester/Elastane
Cotton/Elastane

It is the Elastane (tradename Lycra) that give the fabric it characteristic stretch and is usually around 15% of the overall material.

Cotton based fabrics tend to be heavier and have less stretch than the lighterweight synthetic fabrics. Synthetics usually have stretch in both length and width and will conform more closely around the upper arm. Synthetics are usually easier to handwash and will dry quickly in an airing cupboard. In hotter weather, lace sleeves offer a cooler option.

PICC-Me prefers to use nylon/elastane for its stretch sleeves and polyester/elastane for our lace sleeves. The exact material details can be found in the individual product information section on our website.

Where can I find high-quality sleeves for PICC lines?

Here at PICC-Me. Our sleeve designs are based on our personal experience of having a PICC line. Founded in 2018, PICC-Me designs and manufactures all their products in the UK.

We are a phone call away with advice and assistance based on our own expereince. We understand first hand what our customers, who are typically at the start of their PICC line journey, are going through. PICC-Me offers easy and secure on-line ordering along with our simple returns policy.

How do chemotherapy accessories improve patient comfort?

PICC-Me provides a range of products aimed at making life a little easier at what we know is a difficult time. Our PICC line sleeves offer a simple, practical solution to the problem of snagging those trailing tubes and ports. Our Chemo Bag Sets are designed specifically for those patients who are discharged with a ‘take home’ infusor pump. The bags with securing flap are belt mounted (included) and to help keep both pump and tubing tidied away and reduce the risk of snagging.

How do I choose the right chemotherapy accessories for my needs?

You need a company that has personal experience of covering, caring for and living with a PICC line over many months. That’s us. PICC-Me was founded in 2018 after Connie’s treatment for cancer. All of our products are UK designed and made to specifically support PICC line users.

If you need help or support, contact us for advice on 07931 854003 or email us at customercare@picc-me.co.uk. See our Patient Information guides to help you get the correct size of sleeve and for Care & Wear Instructions.