**Graphic Picture! Scroll down at your own risk***
***I promise I won't post too many more gross pics***
Yesterday morning I wasn't sure how much more my arm could take. My blisters were oozing through my bandages and I was sleeping with towels under my arm. Barf, I know! So when I went to get a dressing change and the nurse said my arm looked worse than before I thought I was going to cry. Then came even more bad news. She noticed it looked like the external part of the PICC was longer than it was supposed to be. Sure enough, it was supposed to be 8" and it was 16". I knew at that moment my PICC was coming out. She called my Dr and of course he told her to pull the PICC. Part of me was so relieved that my arm would finally get a chance to heal. Part of me was terrified for my lungs. When I got home and assessed the damage of my arm I realized that I am so grateful for the fact that my line came out because my arm looked horrendous.
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| Obviously, I feel super attractive at the moment! |
Later in the evening I started to notice my forearm was starting to swell. I pulled out my PICC packet of potential problems and the symptoms seemed to point to a blood clot. At this point I was pretty freaked out. After all the pain and trouble with my skin I couldn't imagine a blood clot. And of course my skin was almost non-existent so I couldn't even imagine how they would do an ultrasound over the open sores. I called the on-call pulmonolgist who told me to try warm compresses and to call the doc in the morning. By 2am I woke up (because I was hungry actually- good sign that I am feeling better) and noticed my swelling was pretty much gone. I think the swelling in my upper arm was draining (because of gravity) to my lower arm which was causing the swelling. My arm was a little red, but it is also itchy and irritated. So for now I think my PICC troubles are over and I just have to hope my lungs received enough antibiotics to be okay and that my arm will heal...eventually.
Good god that is horrible!! I can't believe they let it go that far. You poor thing and you have to look after you babe! Must be super hard, especially trying to have a proper cuddle. I really hope this is the end of it for you and you can just focuss on recovering. It always sucks when you have more trouble with the PICC than with the infection!!
ReplyDeleteIt has been very interesting trying to keep my arm away from Kaylee who has no idea not to touch or grab it. And yes, this PICC was much more trouble than the infection. I am kinda scared for the next time I need a PICC!!
DeleteHOLY HECK!!! I cannot believe all this.......Please tell me your arm doesn't look like this anymore? I hope to God that your meds are working and you no longer have to worry about going on a PICC for sometime.
ReplyDeleteWhen this was going on did you ever show this to a dermatologist? They may have been able to help or at least reduce the allergic reaction. But did anyone ever say maybe the meds we are giving you are causing this?
Wishing you all the best IH!!!
My arm looks a little worse actually, but I think that often happens when things are healing.
DeleteI have been having reactions to PICCs for a while now, but they keep getting significantly worse. After my last reaction which I thought was horrible (but nothing compared to this) I saw a dermatologist who gave me creams to calm the skin, but I am waiting for the wound to heal before I apply them.
As far as the meds being the cause, that is a good theory, but we did test strips of different types of tape and I reacted to almost all of them with hives and redness. Not nearly to the degree my arm is because it wasn't on as long, but it looks like my skin HATES adhesive!
gosh that looks so sore! i hope it heals soon xx
ReplyDeleteLuckily, it looked way worse than it felt. I am 99% better after both topical and oral steroids. Unfortunately, I am scared to get another PICC line!!
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