At Home PICC Line

What is a PICC Line you may ask? This is basically a fancy IV. I am very allergic to this medicine called Cipro. This is an oral antibiotic often used to treat infection. When I have a lung infection, this is the medicine most doctors want to prescribe to me. I am allergic to it, so we result to IV antibiotics. When doctors want to give you IV antibiotics from home, you get a fancy PICC line so you can do it yourself.

So for the past week or so, I have had one. I was pretty bummed out about it at first. I had to flush it out with saline and heparin everyday. I also had to wear a fanny pack around everywhere to keep my IV medications in it, and believe it or not the fanny pack just does not match my outfit most of the time. But BRIGHT SIDE is I got to leave the hospital. I got to go back to class and to work. I currently work as a physical therapy aide. I absolutely love it and I find it so fulfilling. Having to take care of this PICC line has showed me how strong I am. I usually pass out at the thought of needles, and now I am able to give myself treatment all on my own. The first few days were rough, but eventually it got easier. I was more than thrilled to get it removed.

When I was 10 I also had a PICC line and it was a very traumatic situation for me. I have never addressed my PTSD when it comes to the hospital, because I never realized how bad it was. I felt crazy for having a panic attack while getting my PICC line inserted this time. Me, a 21 year old, coming completely apart at the seams over such a short procedure. It is important to know that PTSD is real and it is okay to panic. My doctor told me "do not let other people poo poo your feelings". As in, don't let other people tell you to stop feeling the way you feel ESPECIALLY when it comes to a situation like this. Some people have certain things in their lives that send them into a panic, for me it is PICC Lines.

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