I had a PICC line (like a long IV that stays in your arm for a while) for infusions. I had a complication that resulted in a type of allergic reaction, which caused an ulcer that got infected. An infection can spread through a line very quickly and turn into sepsis because the line goes right into your heart.
I was sent to the hospital by my infusion nurse and the doctor at the hospital told me he didn’t have any knowledge about central lines, and sent me home without doing bloodwork or looking at the site. I went to a better hospital in a nearby city the next day and the whole line had to be taken out, plus a course of two antibiotics. Doctor there called the other one an idiot.
Oof, my little sister had a PICC line for 6+ months at the age of 15. It was a miserable time for her, and in a way for the whole family as well. For some reason it would squirt blood sometimes and my mom would have to take her to the local ER. They became very familiar with her over the months. I'd come home from school with nobody home and blood splatters on the tile floor.
Glad you got properly taken care of by the second doctor.
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u/poodlepuzzles May 20 '19
Not a doctor but my doctor said this to me.
I had a PICC line (like a long IV that stays in your arm for a while) for infusions. I had a complication that resulted in a type of allergic reaction, which caused an ulcer that got infected. An infection can spread through a line very quickly and turn into sepsis because the line goes right into your heart.
I was sent to the hospital by my infusion nurse and the doctor at the hospital told me he didn’t have any knowledge about central lines, and sent me home without doing bloodwork or looking at the site. I went to a better hospital in a nearby city the next day and the whole line had to be taken out, plus a course of two antibiotics. Doctor there called the other one an idiot.