PICC lines can be wonderful things for patients, nurses, and doctors.
They let you have your blood drawn without getting stuck again and again.
They allow you to have IV medication without the troubles that can come from having an IV.
With the exception of a maintenance dressing change that comes about every week, they are often trouble-free.
All it takes is a little care when it comes to washing up and being mindful about lifting more than you should.
PICC lines come with a few tradeoffs that most willingly make.
Itchiness
One problem that comes up with people who have PICC lines installed is itchiness. It can be bothersome, even interrupting sleep.
Some itchiness can’t be helped, especially if you live in a hot climate. You can’t help sweating. The clear dressing over your line traps the natural moisture your skin produces—leading to itchiness.
The abbreviation “PICC” stands for Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter.
Try to do as little as possible that’s going to cause you to sweat, if you can. Keeping a cool environment even in the middle of summer will go a long way toward decreasing the amount of sweating that you do, and thereby your itchiness.
Besides keeping cool, there are a few other things that can be done when it comes to itchiness.
Alternate dressings
Most of the time, most facilities, nurses, and technicians who install PICC lines are going to use a clear dressing like Tegaderm. Most people aren’t allergic to Tegaderm.
If you are one of those unfortunates, there are alternate dressings available. Ask your nurse about them if you suspect that this might be the case.
Proper line maintenance
If you’re not someone with a lot of different allergies, another thing to consider is making sure that the fluid being used to clean the site is fully dry before the clear barrier is put down. If it’s not, if the line dressing change is done too quickly, then the fluid can be trapped under the barrier and that can result in itchiness.
Taking a systemic antihistamine like diphenhydramine usually won’t do anything for an area itchiness problem. That’s another thing you could try, however.
Let your nurse know that the site for your line is itchy and if it’s keeping you up at night. Doing so lets him or her start troubleshooting a solution to lead to a restful night.
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James Cobb, RN, MSN, is an emergency department nurse and the founder of the Dream Recovery System. His goal is to provide his readers with simple, actionable ways to improve their health and maximize their quality of life.
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