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Caring for the IV site (Hickman catheter)
Hi...I am writing here to see if anyone has answers to my questions on care of the hickman site. I have the catheter inserted into my right chest and have had it for over one year now with no major problems. Last summer I was in treatment and inside in air conditioning most of the time, so did not sweat much. This summer it has already heated up here in Pennsylvania and I am exercising more, so I sweat much more. I have been changing the bandage covering the hickman site once a week. But now with the heat and more showering due to exercise, I start to notice moisture building up under the bandage.
Do I need to change the bandage more often? Does sweating inside the bandage cause bacteria to build up? Can anyone offer any information about this?
Thanks,
Maggie
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Maggie (56 year old woman) diagnosed with severe AA in January 2006. Treated May 2006 with High Dose Cytoxin, Nov.2008 had BMT, both at John Hopkins. WBC & Platelets now normal, RBC near normal, still high ferritin level.
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