Has anyone discovered a way to effectively waterproof a PICC line so you can swim and keep it dry?
I’ve been out of the water for weeks and I’m going nuts not being able to swim. Still a few more weeks to go with IV infusions through the PICC.
Dr. says stay out of the water....as Dr.s will say...
The doctor is probably worried about two things: one, the whole infection piece. You do have a hole in your skin leading directly into a vein, after all. Two, the risk that the line will dislodge during exercise - swimming requires repeated motions of the arms, stretching and bending, which does increase risk that the internal portion of the line may get kinked, blocked, or unseated.
Basically, yes, it's maddening, but it's way better to go these two weeks now rather than mess up the placement or get an infection and need to have the PICC in for even longer.
The doctor is probably worried about two things: one, the whole infection piece. You do have a hole in your skin leading directly into a vein, after all. Two, the risk that the line will dislodge during exercise - swimming requires repeated motions of the arms, stretching and bending, which does increase risk that the internal portion of the line may get kinked, blocked, or unseated.
Basically, yes, it's maddening, but it's way better to go these two weeks now rather than mess up the placement or get an infection and need to have the PICC in for even longer.
