Why are Central Lines put in the neck or chest instead? Do they also go to the heart? JEAN
"If we give all, but don't have love, we gain nothing"
>----- Original Message -----
From: mm.hammond@att.net
To: "Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS" <adhesions@mail.medispecialty.com>
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2001 10:54 PM
Subject: Re: Karla's Home/Triple Lumina /questions from Sally
Jean,
A central line is different from a picc line. I have had both, but can never have a picc line again. The picc line goes in through the anticubital in the crook of your arm. It is much easier to have put in then a central line. But, it also can cause blood clots...which I had a problem with when I had mine. All of my central lines go into either my upper chest or into the neck. They can be a very painful procedure to go through...but if the doctor knows what he/she is doing all you will feel is pressure. Unfortunately, the number of doctors who have done the procedure correctly is very small...thus it is not a good memory for me. If you are having a central line put in there is no need to experience any pain...make sure the doctor takes care of that for you.
Love, Karla
> Karla & Sally,
> I also had the central line (Picc Line) with 2 ports, one for my IV Antibiotics
> and one for drawing blood. I had it in the inner side of my upper arm and it was
> in for 6 weeks.
>
> Karla.....Sorry to hear you were in the hospital but I'm so happy to hear you
> are doing so well now....about time someone helps you.
> I guess your trip out there was a blessing in disguise beside a vacation!!
> Have a nice vacation,
> JEAN
>
> "If we give all, but don't have love, we gain nothing"
>
>> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Karla" <mm.hammond@att.net>
> To: "Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS" <adhesions@mail.medispecialty.com>
> Sent: Monday, July 16, 2001 9:00 PM
> Subject: Re: Karla's Home/Triple Lumina /questions from Sally
>
> Sally,
>
> What you are speaking of are triple lumens. When people have poor IV
> access or need long term access they will place what is called a central
> line. That is usually where they will go into the chest or neck area (I
> have recently heard more of the groin area) and place a direct line in.
> The term triple lumen only means that there are three ports that they
> can access. I also know of double lumen..single lumen I would assume
> would be just like a regular iv. I have the multiple lumens so that
> they can access my blood through one port and give me antibiotics, and
> other drugs through the others. They cannot risk doing the blood and
> the drugs through the same port as the blood tends to clot off the port
> making it inaccessable. Normally I have not left the hospital with my
> central lines in. I have left with groshong catheters which are very
> similar, but different....the differences I do not understand.
>
> As you can all see, I am home from the hospital. I have to say that
> this hospitalization was a WONDERFUL experience for me. I arrived out
> here on Tuesday with the low output of urine. That improved a little
> bit on Wednesday, but the pain did not. The pain was very severe and
> even though it felt like the same exact pain that I get when my bowels
> are partially obstructed, the pain did not go away when I had bowel
> movements...which it has done in the past. Friday morning I went to the
> VA clinic here on Travis Air Force Base not knowing how they would
> handle me since I did not have an appointment. I was told that they
> could not treat me, but that if it was bad enough they would send me to
> the VA Hospital in Sacramento. When they began to triage me they found
> that my blood pressure was again in hypertensive crisis. Therefore they
> could not send me all the way to Sacramento. They had to send me over
> to the hospital on the Air Force Base.....the best thing that could have
> ever happened to me. I spent the entire day sitting in the ER where
> they tried to get my blood pressure down. They repeatedly observed that
> if they were successful at treating my pain the blood pressure would
> come down to normal limits, but if the pain was out of control so was
> the blood pressure. I was admitted. I was given a wonderful group of
> doctors that were very aware of pain management. They immediately
> doubled my dosage of msContin from 30 to 60 and from two times a day to
> three. That did not totally take care of my pain so they added liquid
> morphine to be taken in between dosages when my pain was not controlled.
> Since doing this my blood pressure sits at 115/65....as good as it gets.
>
> I had a long talk with these doctors regarding the unavailability of
> adequate pain treatment. They have provided me with all of the support
> materials I will need when I get home....I suspect that my doctors will
> not like my drug therapy program and will balk at it. Now I have all
> the data I need and I finally feel that I am in control over my
> situation. God Bless you all! Perhaps now I can enjoy my vacation!
>
> Love,
> Karla
>
> At Sat, 14 Jul 2001, PositiveThought7@aol.com wrote:
> >
> >Sally,
> >I have a tremendous amount of adhesions and, thankfully, doctors who
> >recognize the pain. When it gets really bad (usually after a week or more of
> >such intense pain it causes vomiting and near dehydration) I am hospitalized
> >for IV fluids and pain meds. The pain meds most successful for me is
> >Demerol. I had a colon resection surgery and a 2nd surgery for an intestinal
> >blockage. During both of these, adhesions were removed. After the 1st
> >surgery I got C Difficile Colitis (a very nasty infection). The Triple
> >Lumina is till in my neck for IV meds and will be changed every few days by
> >the visiting nurse. The IV pump & I have become good friends and it even has
> >gone with me out to the mailbox! Thankfully, I am at home and not stuck in
> >the hospital for a long stay.
> >Thank you for your interest and we know NOTHING is nosey in this forum.
>