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

      Diagnosed With Diabetes… Now What?

      February 17, 2021February 17, 2021

      Friends in the Fight

      Body Positivity Month

      February 10, 2021February 11, 2021

      Friends in the Fight

      World Cancer Day: 5 ways to support someone…

      February 3, 2021February 3, 2021

      Friends in the Fight

      We Are Mighty Well

      January 22, 2021January 22, 2021

      Friends in the Fight

      Making the Invisible Visible

      December 16, 2020December 16, 2020

  • Chronic Illness
    • Chronic Illness

      Diagnosed With Diabetes… Now What?

      February 17, 2021February 17, 2021

      Chronic Illness

      Body Positivity Month

      February 10, 2021February 11, 2021

      Chronic Illness

      Diabetes Resource Guide

      February 5, 2021February 5, 2021

      Chronic Illness

      World Cancer Day: 5 ways to support someone…

      February 3, 2021February 3, 2021

      Chronic Illness

      Mighty Well Staff Picks

      January 27, 2021January 27, 2021

  • General Wellness
    • General Wellness

      5 Healthy Meals You Can Cook on the…

      February 24, 2021February 24, 2021

      General Wellness

      Spread love, not germs, this Valentine’s Day

      February 12, 2021February 12, 2021

      General Wellness

      New CDC Guidelines on Double Masking

      February 11, 2021February 11, 2021

      General Wellness

      Body Positivity Month

      February 10, 2021February 11, 2021

      General Wellness

      Looking Towards the New Year With Hope and…

      December 30, 2020December 30, 2020

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

      Diagnosed With Diabetes… Now What?

      February 17, 2021February 17, 2021

      Friends in the Fight

      Body Positivity Month

      February 10, 2021February 11, 2021

      Friends in the Fight

      World Cancer Day: 5 ways to support someone…

      February 3, 2021February 3, 2021

      Friends in the Fight

      We Are Mighty Well

      January 22, 2021January 22, 2021

      Friends in the Fight

      Making the Invisible Visible

      December 16, 2020December 16, 2020

  • Chronic Illness
    • Chronic Illness

      Diagnosed With Diabetes… Now What?

      February 17, 2021February 17, 2021

      Chronic Illness

      Body Positivity Month

      February 10, 2021February 11, 2021

      Chronic Illness

      Diabetes Resource Guide

      February 5, 2021February 5, 2021

      Chronic Illness

      World Cancer Day: 5 ways to support someone…

      February 3, 2021February 3, 2021

      Chronic Illness

      Mighty Well Staff Picks

      January 27, 2021January 27, 2021

  • General Wellness
    • General Wellness

      5 Healthy Meals You Can Cook on the…

      February 24, 2021February 24, 2021

      General Wellness

      Spread love, not germs, this Valentine’s Day

      February 12, 2021February 12, 2021

      General Wellness

      New CDC Guidelines on Double Masking

      February 11, 2021February 11, 2021

      General Wellness

      Body Positivity Month

      February 10, 2021February 11, 2021

      General Wellness

      Looking Towards the New Year With Hope and…

      December 30, 2020December 30, 2020

Mighty Well

PICC Line

PICC Line Complications: Common Issues and How To Prevent Them

by Ariela Paulsen June 22, 2018October 2, 2020
written by Ariela Paulsen
PICC Line Complications: Common Issues and How To Prevent Them

If you’ve been recently diagnosed to require a PICC line, it can be overwhelming. To avoid PICC line complications, it’s important to know how to take care of yourself while wearing a PICC line, such as keeping it clean and hygienic with PICC line dressing changes.

infection

The first thing to be wary of with your PICC line is the possibility of infection. The area where it goes into the vein is prone to infection, as the break in the skin gives germs access into your body. Most of the germs that can infect the PICC line come from your skin, so keeping the area around the catheter clean is paramount.

The PICC line will have a dressing to protect it from possible contamination from fluid, dirt, and germs. We recommend using IV Clear from Covalon as the dressing to use to keep your line clean, especially for people with sensitive skin. Your nurse or doctor will change the dressing for you, and this should be done approximately every seven days.

to help prevent an infection:

  • Be sure to practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands with soap and water, and using alcohol-based hand gels.
  • Your clinician should also do this. You should feel comfortable speaking up about this to your clinician if they are not following proper hand hygiene steps.
  • The line should also be kept dry at all times. Find the best ways to take a shower while keeping the dressing dry. If you get the dressing wet, contact your doctor immediately. And lastly, try avoiding touching the line, even after washing your hands.

PICC Line irritation
Should you see any redness, pain or swelling near the catheter site, or feel any pain or tenderness along the path of the catheter, this could be symptoms of a local infection. See your doctor without delay in such a case. If allowed to persist, this could result in bacteremia, a severe and possibly fatal condition where germs get into the bloodstream.

dislodging the cathether

One of the more common problems with PICC lines is getting it displaced, with the line coming out, or even breaking and splitting. To prevent this, you should avoid activities that stress the arm or involve a lot of arm movement.

You might want to go easy when you are in the gym and avoid lifting heavy weights. We don’t recommend abandoning exercise, but it should be light and don’t involve a lot of arm movement. 

If you’re a student, make sure to avoid carrying heavy backpacks as well.

In severe instances, the catheter may become damaged and even result in a catheter malposition, where the line no longer ends up going to the intended target. Should this happen, the PICC line will have to be removed and replaced.

getting air in the line

PICC lines usually have valves and caps at the end to stop air from coming in. The cap should always be closed when the line isn’t in use to prevent air from getting inside.

Air in the line can cause an air embolism, a potentially serious condition where air gets into the veins. While it takes a large amount of air (50 ml or more) to cause problems, it’s best to minimize risk. Simply avoid touching or manipulating the valves on your line, and this should be enough to prevent air from getting in. 

The most common symptoms of an air embolism are a sudden onset of breathlessness, nausea, and shoulder or chest pain. Should you experience any of these symptoms, you should see your healthcare provider immediately.

blood clots

A blood clot may form in the vein; this is a condition known as thrombosis. These clots can lead to an inflammation of the veins, or phlebitis. If you notice swelling in your arm where the line is inserted, or redness and tenderness, this could be a formation of a blood clot.

Superficial thrombophlebitis, while it sounds quite scary, isn’t a serious condition and can be resolved with home treatment such as warm compresses and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen, but it can be painful. Your doctor may give you medication to treat the blood clot. The bigger risk is when the clot occurs in a deep vein, where the clot may embolize or break off and travel to the lungs. 

You can minimize the risk of a blood clot forming by ensuring proper circulation in your arms. If you are sedentary for long periods of time, make it a point to stand up and move around every couple of hours, and keep yourself hydrated drinking plenty of water. 

Living with a PICC line isn’t convenient, but with a little care, you can go about your normal life with little incident. With proper information and care you can minimize the risk of complications, so be sure to talk with your doctor and discover what works best for you.

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


0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Ariela Paulsen

Ari struggled with a wide array of health problems for decades before being diagnosed with EDS/POTS/MCAS/etc at age 25. She began writing as a way to heal while spreading information and helping others through their own journeys. She loves being part of the Mighty Well team, sharing the stories and strengths of spoonies everywhere!

previous post
Meet Friend in the Fight, Calyx Duff: A Phlebotomist with Lupus
next post
Top 10 Items for Your Friends in the Fight Essentials Box

You may also like

Spoonie Stories: How You Can Raise Money for...

October 12, 2016

What happens during PICC line placement?

July 30, 2020

Plot Twist: Navigating Cancer Treatment with a PICC...

February 6, 2019

Learning to Love Your Tube

June 20, 2017

Top 5 Reasons Why People Love Their PICCPerfect...

February 13, 2017

How to Change Your PICC Line Dressing

March 25, 2019

Experiencing PICCPerfect With Skin Sensitivities

October 2, 2020

Creating Meaning and Purpose While Living With Chronic...

December 5, 2016

Health is Wealth

July 13, 2017

Spoonie Stories: Join the Lyme Community!

October 12, 2016

4 comments

Terry Archibald August 19, 2020 - 7:38 am

Recently got a picc line and I’m very careful but infection seems quite frequently plus the tegaderm is causing water bubbles around the area as well

Reply
Ariela Paulsen August 28, 2020 - 12:40 pm

That sounds so tough! I hope your doctor / home care can find solutions soon. If you would like a community of people who’ve been there, feel free to share with the Friends in the Fight group. Sending Mighty Well Wishes 💚

Reply
Pat November 24, 2020 - 2:05 pm

I’m hating my PICC line because I’m more than a little squeamish about it, but it’s better than wrecked veins. The one activity I have been told not to do is knit because of the repeated, identical, tiny movements which can apparently twist the tube internally and that’s very frustrating since knitting has always been a stress reliever for me. But needs must. My PICC-Perfect cover makes it more comfortable and looks good too.

Reply
Ariela Paulsen December 1, 2020 - 2:54 pm

I’m so sorry to hear that your PICC line has been tough! Crafting gets me through hard times, so that would be very sad for me as well. I’m so glad to hear the PICCPerfect cover is helping though! By the way, if it would ever help to be heard / ask for advice in a space with people who “get it,” you’re always welcome to join the Friends in the Fight facebook group. When my chronic illnesses flare, it helps me to connect with others who’ve been there. Good luck with your PICC!

Reply

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

No images found!
Try some other hashtag or username

Recent Posts

  • 5 Healthy Meals You Can Cook on the Road with a Kitchenette

    February 24, 2021
  • Diagnosed With Diabetes… Now What?

    February 17, 2021
  • Spread love, not germs, this Valentine’s Day

    February 12, 2021
  • New CDC Guidelines on Double Masking

    February 11, 2021
  • Body Positivity Month

    February 10, 2021

Categories

  • Adaptive Wear
  • Chronic Illness
  • Featured
  • Friends in the Fight
  • General Wellness
  • Healthy Work Environments
  • Lyme Disease
  • Medical Devices
  • Mightier Together
  • Mighty Models
  • PICC Line
  • Popular Posts
  • The Undefeated
  • Treatment and Care
  • Uncategorized

Tags Cloud

Active Lifestyle Adulting Best Fit for Your Lifestyle Be Your Own Advocate blm Chronic Illness coronavirus coronoavirus covid-19 Diabetes Disabilities Dysautonomia Family Feeding Tubes Fibromyalgia Gastroparesis holidays invisible illnesses Living Mighty Well Living With a PICC Living with a Port LLMD lyme disease Lyme Into Lemonaid Lyme Literate Doctors MedPlanner mental health Mental Illness mighty mask Mighty Pack mighty well mask Misdiagnosed Mom with Lyme New Years Organization Tips PICC PICC line cover PICC Line Dressing Change PICCPerfect POTS Prevention Self-love Support Systems TPN trans black lives matter

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

  • 5 Healthy Meals You Can Cook on the Road with a Kitchenette

    February 24, 2021
  • Diagnosed With Diabetes… Now What?

    February 17, 2021
  • Spread love, not germs, this Valentine’s Day

    February 12, 2021

Join the Fight

Mighty Well's Facebook Page

Find Us on Instagram

No images found!
Try some other hashtag or username
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Mighty Well © 2018 All Rights Reserved


Back To Top