Sorry Don't If It Is An Infection

[jennyjoan]

Hickman or Pickman - you know the little thing when you get chemo they put this thing somewhere and you receive the chemo.

I have been concerned re friend who just got this inserted last week - she rang me tonight to tell me she is in hospital from last Sunday that the above has got infected.


Now I know quite a number of people in the last 5 years has got this thing and they have went infected. One acquaintance ended up in Intensive Care. Why (are the nurses who inserted not clean etc etc.

One of my friend's cousin ended up in intensive care.

Friend has told me (via her mobile phone) she is going to be kept in for another 10 days. (must be serious as you all know nobody is kept in for that length of time for nothing)

[Mamyalynne]

It can happen that a central line site gets infected and of course whilst undergoing Chemo your body's defences are lowered so an infection strikes easier.

Sounds like bad luck you have known so many.

My Husband was very fortunate in that his never caused an issue.

[jennyjoan]

thanks Mamy - I have had 5-6 friends in the Cancer Unit but whatever happened I didn't visit them in the unit they got home before.

this friend is unmarried and so I am a little anxious to see her tomorrow - particularly all of my deceased family have died through Cancer.

Very much nervous. !!!!!

[Mamyalynne]

I understand Jenny, it's a horrid disease and not many of us haven't been through it with someone.

Hope things settle a bit for your friend.

[Peter Pedant]

There is quite a lot about Hickaman lines here
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/information-and-support/treating/chemotherapy/being-treated-with-chemotherapy/central-lines.html#tcm:9-45758

I dont think you should worry about it too much

if you wanna punish yourself read this
http://bestbets.org/bets/bet.php?id=1976

and that puts a number on the idea of " leave a hickman in long enough and it will get infected" This accounts for you knowing a lot of people with hickmans who got infected
and it is 1 per 100 catheter days
so if three patients had one in for a month ( 3x 30) you would expect one hickman infection in that time.

strikes me as being kinda high to be honest

getting one within seven days of insertion sounds like bad luck as well

anyway I think you need to wait and see and not get too worried

[silliemillie]

I had an infection in my line when I was in hospital for my Cancer treatment, they to take it out but the infection soon cleared up.

[jennyjoan]

thanks all - will be visiting her later today.

[murraymints]

hope your friend is a wee bitty better Conne xx

[jennyjoan]

thanks murray - when she rang me from hospital yesterday - compared to our last conversation - she wasn't sorta short-tempered - definitely seemed to be a bit calmer. Probably knows she is in the right place and happy that she is getting attention which she wouldn't get at home - since she lives alone.

[murraymints]

you are a good friend Conne xx