Mighty Well
  • Shop
  • Home
  • Friends in the Fight
    • Friends in the Fight

      5 Tips To Help You Find The Mental…

      January 17, 2019January 17, 2019

      Friends in the Fight

      Mental Health Strategies from Emily Levy, our CEO

      January 16, 2019January 16, 2019

      Friends in the Fight

      Meet Mighty Model, Erika Young: Runner, Model, and…

      December 7, 2018

      Friends in the Fight

      Holiday Gift Guide for Friends Who Have Chronic…

      November 22, 2018December 3, 2018

      Friends in the Fight

      6 Things I’m Grateful as a CEO and…

      November 19, 2018November 19, 2018

  • Chronic Illness
    • Chronic Illness

      Coping Tips and Tricks for People with EDS,…

      January 29, 2019January 30, 2019

      Chronic Illness

      Caring For Your Whole Self: Conversations with Ali…

      January 28, 2019January 30, 2019

      Chronic Illness

      5 Tips To Help You Find The Mental…

      January 17, 2019January 17, 2019

      Chronic Illness

      Mental Health Strategies from Emily Levy, our CEO

      January 16, 2019January 16, 2019

      Chronic Illness

      Maintaining Healthy Relationships Despite Chronic Illness

      October 16, 2018January 16, 2019

  • Spoonie Community
    • Spoonie Community

      The Mighty Pack: Empowering One Story, One Adventure…

      February 5, 2019February 6, 2019

      Spoonie Community

      Caring For Your Whole Self: Conversations with Ali…

      January 28, 2019January 30, 2019

      Spoonie Community

      Holiday Gift Guide for Friends Who Have Chronic…

      November 22, 2018December 3, 2018

      Spoonie Community

      The Importance of Connecting with Community For People…

      July 30, 2018August 14, 2018

      Spoonie Community

      Top 10 Items for Your Friends in the…

      June 29, 2018July 20, 2018

  • General Wellness
    • General Wellness

      The Mighty Pack: Empowering One Story, One Adventure…

      February 5, 2019February 6, 2019

      General Wellness

      Mental Health Strategies from Emily Levy, our CEO

      January 16, 2019January 16, 2019

      General Wellness

      How to Practice Self-Love When You’re Always Hurting…

      December 14, 2018December 14, 2018

      General Wellness

      How to Get Better Sleep as College Student…

      September 27, 2018

      General Wellness

      4 Ways to Enjoy Dating When You Have…

      February 14, 2018July 12, 2018

  • Treatment
    • Treatment

      My Illness may have my body, but it…

      May 1, 2017July 23, 2018

      Treatment

      Once upon a Lyme … Disease!

      April 25, 2017July 23, 2018

      Treatment

      Spoonie Stories: How You Can Raise Money for…

      October 12, 2016July 9, 2018

  • Shop
  • Home
  • Friends in the Fight
    • Friends in the Fight

      5 Tips To Help You Find The Mental…

      January 17, 2019January 17, 2019

      Friends in the Fight

      Mental Health Strategies from Emily Levy, our CEO

      January 16, 2019January 16, 2019

      Friends in the Fight

      Meet Mighty Model, Erika Young: Runner, Model, and…

      December 7, 2018

      Friends in the Fight

      Holiday Gift Guide for Friends Who Have Chronic…

      November 22, 2018December 3, 2018

      Friends in the Fight

      6 Things I’m Grateful as a CEO and…

      November 19, 2018November 19, 2018

  • Chronic Illness
    • Chronic Illness

      Coping Tips and Tricks for People with EDS,…

      January 29, 2019January 30, 2019

      Chronic Illness

      Caring For Your Whole Self: Conversations with Ali…

      January 28, 2019January 30, 2019

      Chronic Illness

      5 Tips To Help You Find The Mental…

      January 17, 2019January 17, 2019

      Chronic Illness

      Mental Health Strategies from Emily Levy, our CEO

      January 16, 2019January 16, 2019

      Chronic Illness

      Maintaining Healthy Relationships Despite Chronic Illness

      October 16, 2018January 16, 2019

  • Spoonie Community
    • Spoonie Community

      The Mighty Pack: Empowering One Story, One Adventure…

      February 5, 2019February 6, 2019

      Spoonie Community

      Caring For Your Whole Self: Conversations with Ali…

      January 28, 2019January 30, 2019

      Spoonie Community

      Holiday Gift Guide for Friends Who Have Chronic…

      November 22, 2018December 3, 2018

      Spoonie Community

      The Importance of Connecting with Community For People…

      July 30, 2018August 14, 2018

      Spoonie Community

      Top 10 Items for Your Friends in the…

      June 29, 2018July 20, 2018

  • General Wellness
    • General Wellness

      The Mighty Pack: Empowering One Story, One Adventure…

      February 5, 2019February 6, 2019

      General Wellness

      Mental Health Strategies from Emily Levy, our CEO

      January 16, 2019January 16, 2019

      General Wellness

      How to Practice Self-Love When You’re Always Hurting…

      December 14, 2018December 14, 2018

      General Wellness

      How to Get Better Sleep as College Student…

      September 27, 2018

      General Wellness

      4 Ways to Enjoy Dating When You Have…

      February 14, 2018July 12, 2018

  • Treatment
    • Treatment

      My Illness may have my body, but it…

      May 1, 2017July 23, 2018

      Treatment

      Once upon a Lyme … Disease!

      April 25, 2017July 23, 2018

      Treatment

      Spoonie Stories: How You Can Raise Money for…

      October 12, 2016July 9, 2018

Mighty Well

Living Mighty WellTreatment and CareWellness Wear

PICC-ture Perfect with Covalon IV Clear™

by Brittany Gaume June 1, 2017August 3, 2018
written by Brittany Gaume June 1, 2017August 3, 2018
PICC-ture Perfect with Covalon IV Clear™

Brittany has tried one too many dressing changes available for PICC line patients, but IV Clear™ from Covalon is the only one that has given her nothing but “clear picture perfect skin”. Brittany shares her experience before and after using IV Clear™ because she knows the discomfort and pain that comes from using the wrong dressing change for your skin. If you are having issues yourself and want learn how Brittany can take joy in smooth and beautiful skin around her PICC site, read her blog below: 


I FIRST BECAME ILL IN 2010 AND I HAVE BEEN TO MORE DOCOTORS THAN I CAN COUNT. 

I have had many diagnoses and many misdiagnoses. But in May 2016, I began to treat my illness with IV therapies and had my first PICC line placed shortly after. After a few dressing changes, it quickly became apparent that I was allergic to the Chloraprep. No biggie, we just switched to betadine and alcohol swabs to clean my dressing site each week. After a few more weeks with more blisters appearing under the dressing, it seemed as though I had developed an allergy to the Tegaderm dressing. No biggie, we switched to the Sorbaview dressings. The IVs seemed to be making a huge dPICC-BG-1.pngifference. I was back on my mountain bike, I was eating some solid foods. I could work a full day without falling into bed the moment I got home. Everything seemed copacetic. Little did I know…I had that first PICC for 5 months when with much sadness, I lost it due to three deep veins in my PICC arm becoming completely clotted from my wrist up into my neck. The PICC was pulled out even though I begged desperately to be able to keep it. However, I did continue getting my IV treatments by getting stuck each week.

AFTER THREE WEEKS OF MULTIPLE STABS TO GET AN IV STARTED, THE NURSES HAD LOST THEIR PATIENCE WITH TRYING TO GET A VEIN, SO MY SECOND PICC LINE WAS ORDERED.  

My second PICC seemed great for about a month. But then, the blisters returned. My nurses tried their best to move the dressing as far off the dressing site from the previous week so that some of my skin could get a rest. My skin was starting to disintegrate under the dressing and each week was worse, so we decided it was time to switch things up again. This time I tried the IV 3000, supposedly the best for hypo-allergenic (maybe for those who are allergic to some extent and not severely allergic). I should mention that this whole time I was chowing down on Benadryl like they were TicTacs.

THE IV 3000 DRESSING AGAIN SEMMED TO WORK FOR ABOUT A MONTH UNTIL ONE DAY, DURING WORK, MY ARM FELT LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE. 

It was so painful, but I tried to keep working and ignore it as much as possible. As soon as my meeting was finished, I went to the restroom to check out my line, as unfortunately, I was not wearing a shirt that I could just take a peek at it. It was a fiery horror show, like some sort of hamburger meat looking thing. There was so much seepage from the blisters that my dressing was barely hanging on. Like one of those cats in the posters, ‘Keep hanging in there,’ I thought. I called every urgent care in town and not one had a PICC Line Dressing Change Kit. I steeled myself for a long wait at the ER.

I went to tell my boss that I needed to leave because I was having an allergic reaction to my dressing. When I told him that I was headed to the ER, he said to let him call in a favor with his friend the fire chief. So, I was sent over to the fire house. The firefighters kindly picked up a dressing change kit from the hospital, and then I very embarrassedly, stood in my bra (that damn shirt that wouldn’t just go up over my bicep) while all the hunky firefighters (is it mandatory to be hunky to be a firefighter?) stood around in a circle learning how to change a PICC dressing. My face was redder than my allergy ridden arm. At this point, I just needed to have anything new put on that would keep my line sterile, so I grinned and bore it, and sucked in my belly a bit. The generic brand dressing that came in the kit did not provide much relief but it seemed good enough that I could try and go back to work.

That night I went to the ER to get another new dressing put on because in only 4 hours the blisters had soaked the firefighter-applied dressing, and again, it was hanging on by a thread. “I called my IV supply company and talked to many different nurses. They all said I had run out of options. That they didn’t know of anything else I could do. I ended up wearing just gauze for a couple of weeks, which was super sketchy due to the risk of infection. It looked like I was going to lose my PICC line.

I COULDN’T BEING TO IMAHE FUNCTIONING WITHOUT MY IVS AND I DESPERATELY DID NOT WANT TO GO BACK TO THE “PARTIAL” LIFE I WAS LIVING BEFORE STARTING IV TREATMENT. 

I called every infusion center in town hoping someone would know of a better dressing. I talked to every nurse I knew. I scoured the internet. I finally remembered that someone on Instagram had said something about IV Clear™ by Covalon. Bingo I thought.

I typed it into the internet, but unbeknownst to me, misspelled as Cavalon. I didn’t find anything. I was heart-broken. I spent hours going through Instagram trying to find the comment that mentioned this ‘other’ IV dressing option. Finally, I found it. It was Covalon (spelled correctly). I typed ‘Covalon IV Clear’ into the search engine and minutes later I had ordered one dressing to give it a try.

IT HAS BEEN THREE MONTHS NOW WEARING MY COVALON IV CLEAR™ DRESSING AND EVERY WEEK MY INFUSION NURSE SAYS, “I CAN’T BELEIVE HOW GOOD YOUR SKIN LOOKS.” 

 
I have had no itching, no blisters, nothing but clear picture-perfect skin. I sometimes even forget that my PICC line is there.

I don’t know why people don’t know that it exists but I have been telling every PICC person I know. If you have had any issues with your dressing changes, this is the go-to option. I wouldn’t have been able to keep my PICC without it, so I am forever grateful that it does exist and that it is easily accessible on the Covalon website.

MY MOUNTAIN BIKE IS STILL MY FAVORITE THING, BUT THIS DRESSING COMES IN A CLOSE SECOND.


We also know first hand the impact that it can have in your daily life when you use the right dressing change for your PICC or the right PICC Line Cover to protect it . Every person and skin type has its own needs and preferences, so we are grateful that Brittany shared her experience with us. Comment below if you have issues with your current dressing change or if you have more tips to quell discomfort for other people using PICC lines! 

 

Got more questions about PICC Line?  Join us in our Friends in the Fight Group to connect with our community. 

How to Care for your PICCLiving With a PICCMisdiagnosedPatient advicePICC Line Dressing Change
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Brittany Gaume

previous post
How My Business Helped My (and others’) Lyme Disease
next post
Being Ill in Any Way Is Better When You Are Not Alone

You may also like

Making a Choice: Picc vs. Port

July 20, 2017

The Mighty Pack: Empowering One Story, One Adventure...

February 5, 2019

Insider Tips for PICC Patients from PICC Nurses

November 1, 2016

Making a Choice: Picking a Sascular Device That’s...

October 27, 2017

Perfect Presents – PICC Style

December 14, 2016

6 Tips for Soaking up the Sun with...

August 10, 2017

5 Lifehacks for Better Living with Chronic Illness

January 4, 2018

Pulse Therapy: A New Approach for Treating Lyme...

July 10, 2018

Living Mighty Well with a PICC Line

July 11, 2017

Mental Health Strategies from Emily Levy, our CEO

January 16, 2019

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

About Us

Hi, We're Mighty Well.

The mission of Mighty Well is to help patients and their caregivers turn sickness into strength. We are leading the global charge that changes the perception of patients from victims to fighters. We do this by improving the experience of being a patient. We create the products we wish we’d had: functional and stylish apparel and accessories that you can wear with confidence - and content that can help you get through the good times and the bad. It’s wellness you can wear.

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Instagram

  • At the the start of this year we spoke tohellip
  • We dont know about you but we are dreaming ofhellip
  • You are STRONG!   MightyWell YouAreMighty FriendsInTheFight LiveMightyWell Undefeatedhellip
  • Adventures look different for all of us but when wehellip
  • In honor of tomorrow being NationalDonorDay we are featuring ModernFamilyhellip
  • Relationships with chronic illness are like taking on two fulltimehellip
  • We have been sharing tips over the last few weekshellip
  • Life is One Big Adventure Featured Product The Mighty Packhellip
  • Today is RandomActsOfKindnessDay Share the love by tagging someone belowhellip

Recent Posts

  • The Mighty Pack: Empowering One Story, One Adventure At a Time

    February 5, 2019
  • Meet Mighty Model, Max Logan: Athlete, Lyme patient, & Mighty Well Intern

    February 4, 2019
  • Coping Tips and Tricks for People with EDS, and Other Illnesses: Adventures of a Spoonie Zebra

    January 29, 2019
  • Caring For Your Whole Self: Conversations with Ali Moresco

    January 28, 2019
  • 5 Tips To Help You Find The Mental Light from Your Friends in the Fight

    January 17, 2019

Categories

  • Chronic Illness
  • Featured
  • Friends in the Fight
  • General Wellness
  • Living Mighty Well
  • Lyme Disease
  • Medical Care
  • Medical Devices
  • Mighty Models
  • Picc Line
  • Popular Posts
  • Sickness into Strength
  • Spoonie Community
  • Spoonie Stories
  • The Undefeated
  • Treatment
  • Treatment and Care
  • Uncategorized
  • Wellness Wear

Tags Cloud

Advocate for Lyme Become a Lyme Warrior Be Your Own Advocate Boss Lady Central Lines chronic disease Chronic Illness Courage Courageous Woman Dysautonomia Embrace Your Illness Feeding Tubes Fighter Gastroparesis Healing Lyme with Love How The PICCPerfect Cover Helped Me How to Care for your PICC Insider Tips invisible illnesses Life with Lyme Living Mighty Well Living With a PICC Living with a Port Living with Chronic Ilnesses Love your PICC lyme lyme disease Lyme Disease Awareness Lyme Symptoms Lyme Warrior Misdiagnosed Patient advice PICC PICC Lines PICCPerfect Positive Attitude Positive Mind POTS Protect your PICC Share Your Story Sickness Into Strength Spread the Awareness Support Systems TPN Treating Chronic Illness

Our Story

Mighty Well - Founder - Emily Levy - Our Story

 

It all started with a cut off sock, a cute hockey player, and an 8 AM finance class. Oh, and a PICC Line. That moment inspired us to launch our first product, the PICCPerfect PICC Line Cover.

 

We know it stinks to feel defined by a diagnosis or feel like just a name on a doctor’s chart. Sounds like you? Read how our founder turned sickness into strength.

Recent Posts

  • The Mighty Pack: Empowering One Story, One Adventure At a Time

    February 5, 2019
  • Meet Mighty Model, Max Logan: Athlete, Lyme patient, & Mighty Well Intern

    February 4, 2019
  • Coping Tips and Tricks for People with EDS, and Other Illnesses: Adventures of a Spoonie Zebra

    January 29, 2019

Join the Fight

Mighty Well's Facebook Page

Find Us on Instagram

  • Today is RandomActsOfKindnessDay Share the love by tagging someone belowhellip
  • Life is One Big Adventure Featured Product The Mighty Packhellip
  • We have been sharing tips over the last few weekshellip
  • Relationships with chronic illness are like taking on two fulltimehellip
  • In honor of tomorrow being NationalDonorDay we are featuring ModernFamilyhellip
  • Adventures look different for all of us but when wehellip
  • You are STRONG!   MightyWell YouAreMighty FriendsInTheFight LiveMightyWell Undefeatedhellip
  • We dont know about you but we are dreaming ofhellip
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Mighty Well © 2018 All Rights Reserved


Back To Top