PICC line and Sports Activities

[Jack Odell]

After years of oral abx for Lyme/Bab, my llmd wants to do a PICC line with
IV abx. Exercise has always been a major component in my treatment and I'm
wondering how others have dealt with this issue. I suspect I will still be
able to ride a bike. But what about other activities like upper body fitness
machines at the gym, swimming, and golf? I have found golf very therapeutic
but can't imagine swinging a club with a catheter in my arm. My llmd says it
is possible. He wasn't sure how I could protect the PICC in a swimming pool.
Any experience or comments regarding these issues? I hate to lose what
little muscle tone I have during PICC time which may be many months.
--Jack

[Connie NC]

I was told that I needed to stay under 10 pounds with the arm with the
PICC line. But, truth be told, I did go above that. Just didn't do
what I would call "heavy" lifting. You might want to be careful with
things like weight training.

I am not a golfer, but I don't really see any reason why you couldn't
play. Just might not be as good at it.

Usually best to have the PICC in the non-dominant upper arm. It very
rarely got in my way.

There is a PICC line cover available through a co called Brown
Medical. It is a sleeve that slides up on the arm. And very tight on
the ends. They have an internet site, and I ordered one. Getting
ready to get my 2nd PICC, so may order another, so if you can't find
it, post again, and I will go ahead and look for it. Good for
showers, too. But do be careful with swimming. If you lose the seal,
can be disasterous. There is a very high risk of infection if you get
it wet. The Brown med site says you can swim, but I was never that
brave, and just used it for showers.

Post by Jack Odell
After years of oral abx for Lyme/Bab, my llmd wants to do a PICC line with
IV abx. Exercise has always been a major component in my treatment and I'm
wondering how others have dealt with this issue. I suspect I will still be
able to ride a bike. But what about other activities like upper body fitness
machines at the gym, swimming, and golf? I have found golf very therapeutic
but can't imagine swinging a club with a catheter in my arm. My llmd says it
is possible. He wasn't sure how I could protect the PICC in a swimming pool.
Any experience or comments regarding these issues? I hate to lose what
little muscle tone I have during PICC time which may be many months.
--Jack

[KFT333]

Jack:
Come on now--you can give up some activities to get better! I just got a pool
in when I had to get a picc line. Bummer!! There is no way to swim and keep the
site dry. I noticed exercise, yardwork or over lifting with the picc arm causes
some drainage and blood if you overdo it--so I guess one arm will look better
than the other. ha ha. I wouldn't golf with a line in, but there are lots of
other things to do to hold you over---walk and stretch and move all the things
you can. Run the vaccum with your free arm--ya know, fun stuff!!

[RMAgricola]

Jack, if you are well enough to do all the things you want to do and are
concerned about the PICC line why are you on IV in the first place? Are you
really that sick?

Martha A.

[RMAgricola]

Jack,

I did not mean to be so harsh in my response. There is no way I can judge how
sick you truly are over the Internet.

Martha A.

[Jack]

Martha,
I did not take your response as being harsh. Coinfections have taken toll on
all who use this newsgroup and I have no doubts that anyone who comments
here is truly suffering. While I haven't been able to exercise much lately,
I hope get back to a routine asap as it truly benefits the battle against
Bb. --Jack

Post by RMAgricola
Jack,
I did not mean to be so harsh in my response. There is no way I can judge how
sick you truly are over the Internet.
Martha A.

[Connie NC]

I generally have the experience that when I am feeling well enough to
exercise, it actually helps me a great deal. I have told the doc
several times that even when I am absolutely dragging as low as I can
go, if I can just muster up the strength to go out the door to take
that walk, I usually feel better as a result. Of course, it's not
always possible to do that, as I am pretty beaten up by this illness,
but do realize exercise is valuabe to me when I can do it. Hope to be
back there soon.

Post by Jack
Martha,
I did not take your response as being harsh. Coinfections have taken toll on
all who use this newsgroup and I have no doubts that anyone who comments
here is truly suffering. While I haven't been able to exercise much lately,
I hope get back to a routine asap as it truly benefits the battle against
Bb. --Jack

Post by RMAgricola
Jack,
I did not mean to be so harsh in my response. There is no way I can judge

how

Post by RMAgricola
sick you truly are over the Internet.
Martha A.

[Peter Grey]

As someone who was very athletic before Lyme and tried to be somewhat active
during treatment, I found the PICC line in the arm to be more trouble than
it was worth. I ended up (after two failed attempts with a PICC in the arm)
with a tunnel catheter in my chest. I don't know how long you anticipate
being on IV ABX, but the catheter was MUCH easier to deal with.

It was easier to clean the site alone, didn't get in the way of any arm
movement, was more comfortable, and was less visible.

Regards,

Peter

Post by Jack Odell
After years of oral abx for Lyme/Bab, my llmd wants to do a PICC line with
IV abx. Exercise has always been a major component in my treatment and I'm
wondering how others have dealt with this issue. I suspect I will still be
able to ride a bike. But what about other activities like upper body fitness
machines at the gym, swimming, and golf? I have found golf very therapeutic
but can't imagine swinging a club with a catheter in my arm. My llmd says it
is possible. He wasn't sure how I could protect the PICC in a swimming pool.
Any experience or comments regarding these issues? I hate to lose what
little muscle tone I have during PICC time which may be many months.
--Jack

[Jack]

Thanks, Peter, I've had the Picc line one week now without problems. I've
been riding a bike but haven't figured how to do arm activities yet. I
expect to be on the Picc for 6 months because of coinfection. Nice to know
you found a good alternative if the Picc doesn't work out. --Jack

Post by Peter Grey
As someone who was very athletic before Lyme and tried to be somewhat active
during treatment, I found the PICC line in the arm to be more trouble than
it was worth. I ended up (after two failed attempts with a PICC in the arm)
with a tunnel catheter in my chest. I don't know how long you anticipate
being on IV ABX, but the catheter was MUCH easier to deal with.
It was easier to clean the site alone, didn't get in the way of any arm
movement, was more comfortable, and was less visible.
Regards,
Peter

Post by Jack Odell
After years of oral abx for Lyme/Bab, my llmd wants to do a PICC line with
IV abx. Exercise has always been a major component in my treatment and I'm
wondering how others have dealt with this issue. I suspect I will still be
able to ride a bike. But what about other activities like upper body

fitness

Post by Jack Odell
machines at the gym, swimming, and golf? I have found golf very

therapeutic

Post by Jack Odell
but can't imagine swinging a club with a catheter in my arm. My llmd

says

Post by Peter Grey
it

Post by Jack Odell
is possible. He wasn't sure how I could protect the PICC in a swimming

pool.

Post by Jack Odell
Any experience or comments regarding these issues? I hate to lose what
little muscle tone I have during PICC time which may be many months.
--Jack

[ty]

I had a picc line for 6 weeks. I played golf everyday. The only bad thing is sweating too much and having to get the dressing changed too often.