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How, exactly does IV antibiotics work?
Just thinking ahead. If I had to go to IV antibiotics, how does all this work?
I know that I would need to travel a distance to get the PICC inserted. Do they do the first infusion at that time? I would need to be capable of driving myself home is why I ask. It wouldn't be so powerful to initiate some sort of massive herx, would it? I wouldn't be to sick to drive home would I? And I am assuming that, from there forward I would do my own infusions - right? Anyone have any experience with IV antibiotics? I am clueless! But I just want to be more prepared if it comes down to it.
Thanks!
I know that I would need to travel a distance to get the PICC inserted. Do they do the first infusion at that time? I would need to be capable of driving myself home is why I ask. It wouldn't be so powerful to initiate some sort of massive herx, would it? I wouldn't be to sick to drive home would I? And I am assuming that, from there forward I would do my own infusions - right? Anyone have any experience with IV antibiotics? I am clueless! But I just want to be more prepared if it comes down to it.
Thanks!
Just a note to say -- I think you're holding up fine -- from what I can tell at the other end of a computer cable. It's appropriate to be concerned about this stuff, but you do it in a reasonable way, not suppressing the concern, but not wallowing in it either. That takes character and maturity! Hang in there -- and keep plowing ahead. You're doing good.
Wow! Thanks a lot for the details.
I would obviously want to do them myself. So hopefully that IS an option. I doubt my insurance will pay for a nurse anyhow but even if not I have nurses in the family that might do it, if that works. My LLMDs office seems to be small from what I have seen of it. I am not sure if an infusion would be done there or not but it is quite a drive and not a straight shot (hard to get to and from).
Sorry if you mentioned it but how often are the IV infusions, do you know? And how long does it take for an infusion? So nervous, I just want to be prepared. But I am open to all the possibilities.
I would obviously want to do them myself. So hopefully that IS an option. I doubt my insurance will pay for a nurse anyhow but even if not I have nurses in the family that might do it, if that works. My LLMDs office seems to be small from what I have seen of it. I am not sure if an infusion would be done there or not but it is quite a drive and not a straight shot (hard to get to and from).
Sorry if you mentioned it but how often are the IV infusions, do you know? And how long does it take for an infusion? So nervous, I just want to be prepared. But I am open to all the possibilities.
I had a big conversation about it with my doc's PA a couple months ago. I'm avoiding it for now by doing Rocephin shots. They're not for the faint of heart (or rear), though. They are painful and leave me bruised and lumpy. My doc said I could get scar tissue, but I'm way past any dream of being a lingerie model, so I decided It'd risk the scar tissue over the PICC line. I'm lucky in that I have a husband who doesn't mind giving them to me... an upside to the reality that he's not usually the warm and fuzzy type. I do 4 shots in a row, then 3 days off. By the 4th shot in a week, I've really had enough and am grateful for the break.
A friend of mine did the PICC line and said it was great. She had no problems whatsoever with it, and found that she could even get the little portable infusion bottles and stick them in her purse if she needed to run errands during an infusion. My doc's PA said they have a fairly high drop out rate on the shots, and most patients prefer the PICC line as it's painless.
I had to drive myself home 50 miles after my first Rocephin shot. By the time I got home, I felt overwhelmingly exhausted. I just had enough time to call my car pool buddy to do pick up at school that day for me. I should have planned ahead for that. I stumbled through the rest of the afternoon and went to bed about 8 o'clock. I felt like my brain was shutting down. I have done them at night ever since. You'll have to figure out what schedule works best for you.
My big herxes on Bicillin and Rocephin were fatigue and rib pain. While the rib pain was quite uncomfortable and slowed me down, I could still walk and drive. Since a herx is usually an intensification of existing symptoms, you'll have to consider your own symptoms and whether or not you could risk being unable to drive safely.
You don't have to receive your first infusion when and where you have a PICC line put in. You can tell them you're concerned about your ability to drive home (fatigue is a well known reaction to receiving Rocephin) and that you want to schedule your first infusion at home by a visiting nurse or, at your LLMDs office, if it's closer to home. (My LLMD has an infusion room with a full time nurse, recliners, IV poles, and blankets to keep patients warm and cozy. )
If you want to do them yourself at home, you have to be trained. In my research, I spoke with one infusion pharmacy that said they required a nurse for each infusion or shot. I think that's more about their desire for more business and reduced liability than it was concern for patient safety. My insurance didn't require it and I didn't want it, and they had no exception process. I obviously went with a different pharmacy.
I think there are some pharmacies and insurance companies that require a nurse to change the dressing once a week. I think this is a good thing to help keep it clean and avoid infection. Just know you can't lift more than 20 pounds with a PICC line in, and you can't get it wet.
If you have kids who weigh more than 20 lbs but who still need to be picked up to be put in car seats, to prevent them from running into the street, etc., than that could be an issue for you. My little one was a runner, and I occasionally used a wrist leash even when I didn't have a PICC line! We used the "backpack bear" (harness) at crowded public places a few times, but she loved it, so it worked out well. If your kids are past the need for car seats or big enough to climb into car seats by themselves, you could make it work.
The first week is usually the toughest, so plan accordingly. I found on Bicillin and Rocephin that the fatigue eased up after that. On Rocephin, I can't say I started feeling better until about week 6 or 7. Some are faster, some take longer. You might feel worse at first too, or you might just slowly start to feel better. The blogging LLMD has decribed patients who felt nothing for the first 3 months, then started feeling better.
Don't latch on to much to someone else's story. You will have your own story. But it's good to know what the possibilities are. I'm glad you're considering the big guns. It's a scary step, but I hope for you that it's a good one.
A friend of mine did the PICC line and said it was great. She had no problems whatsoever with it, and found that she could even get the little portable infusion bottles and stick them in her purse if she needed to run errands during an infusion. My doc's PA said they have a fairly high drop out rate on the shots, and most patients prefer the PICC line as it's painless.
I had to drive myself home 50 miles after my first Rocephin shot. By the time I got home, I felt overwhelmingly exhausted. I just had enough time to call my car pool buddy to do pick up at school that day for me. I should have planned ahead for that. I stumbled through the rest of the afternoon and went to bed about 8 o'clock. I felt like my brain was shutting down. I have done them at night ever since. You'll have to figure out what schedule works best for you.
My big herxes on Bicillin and Rocephin were fatigue and rib pain. While the rib pain was quite uncomfortable and slowed me down, I could still walk and drive. Since a herx is usually an intensification of existing symptoms, you'll have to consider your own symptoms and whether or not you could risk being unable to drive safely.
You don't have to receive your first infusion when and where you have a PICC line put in. You can tell them you're concerned about your ability to drive home (fatigue is a well known reaction to receiving Rocephin) and that you want to schedule your first infusion at home by a visiting nurse or, at your LLMDs office, if it's closer to home. (My LLMD has an infusion room with a full time nurse, recliners, IV poles, and blankets to keep patients warm and cozy. )
If you want to do them yourself at home, you have to be trained. In my research, I spoke with one infusion pharmacy that said they required a nurse for each infusion or shot. I think that's more about their desire for more business and reduced liability than it was concern for patient safety. My insurance didn't require it and I didn't want it, and they had no exception process. I obviously went with a different pharmacy.
I think there are some pharmacies and insurance companies that require a nurse to change the dressing once a week. I think this is a good thing to help keep it clean and avoid infection. Just know you can't lift more than 20 pounds with a PICC line in, and you can't get it wet.
If you have kids who weigh more than 20 lbs but who still need to be picked up to be put in car seats, to prevent them from running into the street, etc., than that could be an issue for you. My little one was a runner, and I occasionally used a wrist leash even when I didn't have a PICC line! We used the "backpack bear" (harness) at crowded public places a few times, but she loved it, so it worked out well. If your kids are past the need for car seats or big enough to climb into car seats by themselves, you could make it work.
The first week is usually the toughest, so plan accordingly. I found on Bicillin and Rocephin that the fatigue eased up after that. On Rocephin, I can't say I started feeling better until about week 6 or 7. Some are faster, some take longer. You might feel worse at first too, or you might just slowly start to feel better. The blogging LLMD has decribed patients who felt nothing for the first 3 months, then started feeling better.
Don't latch on to much to someone else's story. You will have your own story. But it's good to know what the possibilities are. I'm glad you're considering the big guns. It's a scary step, but I hope for you that it's a good one.
I'm sorry I haven't gotten back to you but I developed a horrible head cold and my attention span has tanked! I have started on what you want to know but I want to write something that's factually correct and yet doesn't inundate you with stuff. Later. (Cough, cough)
Your funny Bob!! From searching around, it seems like most people do it themselves.
Yeah, I was actually thinking of all the goodies I could put in there. HaHa. Just kidding, I wouldn't do that. Even though I would probably feel a whole lot better.
Yeah, I was actually thinking of all the goodies I could put in there. HaHa. Just kidding, I wouldn't do that. Even though I would probably feel a whole lot better.
Doing it yourself would be all too easy, and cut the system out of some money. So that's probably not likely to be allowed. I know some IV drug users who would love to have a PICC line!
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