question about central line/catheters

[Riki]

As I'm sure I've mentioned a few times, I got my central line taken out about a month ago.  I had had it for almost a year and a half before it was removed.  I have noticed that since it's gone, I have a little bit of pain in the tunnel that was left behind. I can even still feel the tunnel, even though there is no tube there anymore.  I can feel it sometimes when I cough, or sometimes when I roll over on that side in bed, it feels as if the line is still there.

For anyone who has had one taken out, is this normal, and will it go away with time?  or is this something I should tell the dialysis nurses?

[sullidog]

I would tell the nurses, that does not sound normal, you will feel a small indent in the skin but as far as what you're describing, no I've had two removed no problems.
Troy

[Riki]

I had it in there so long, at first, I figured it was just scar tissue from having it there so long and that it would go away on it's own.  But, a month later, it's still there.  I can still feel the tunnel, which isn't as raised as it was when the tube was still there, but I can still feel it.

[KICKSTART]

Im no expert but do have one in right now and i should imagine things have been stretched and are also still healing ..give it time!

[Dianejt]

It will not hurt to mention it to the Doctor or nurse. You never know & the sooner it's looked at the better.

[VictoriaG]

my husband had his out in early may i believe. he has a very defined collarbone and in the area between his collarbone and neck where it went in you can still kinda see and feel where the tube was. he also has a very noticable, somewhat red scar. neither cause him any discomfort and i don't even think he would be aware of it if i didn't mention it. im ready to call the vascular surgeon if it so much as tingles though! however he is diabetic so he doesn;t heal as quickly and scars very badly.

if it causes you discomfort at any point or the wound oozes, anything definelty get it checked out! (Duh) 

[Riki]

it doesn't ooze or anything like that. I can just still feel the tunnel as if there was a tube still there

[natnnnat]

I had a laparoscopy in May, and I came out with four holes.  I could feel them healing, like four itchy tubes.  Not itchy around the outer hole, on my belly, on my skin, but itchy along the length.  Sometimes they felt, not itchy, but kind of ... stiff.   I've seen things living in holes in the sand on the beach, the outside of the hole is harder than the surrounding sand.  They felt like that.  I can still feel them sometimes.  Maybe like me, you have funny stiff hole syndrome?

[Riki]

Maybe like me, you have funny stiff hole syndrome?

  Sorry... I can be incredibly immature at times...

you could be right, though.. I figured it was probably scarring, after having it in for a year and a half, when I was only supposed to havei t for 6 months or so..

[natnnnat]

 

[JScott1753]

  Hi--
  I have had two tunneled caths., with one in now. Both times, I could feel the tunnel until it "collapsed," which happens in a week or two. I imagine that you could feel it for a while, depending how easily or not they were able to remove the cath. My first one was in for about a month, and when the doctor gave it a gentle pull, it came right out; I didn't feel a thing. The second one, which was in for two months or so last year, was more difficult; the  flesh below the skin grew around the cuff(designed to keep the cath. from coming out, at least easily, in an accidental pulling), resulting in the doctor having to do a little minor surgery to loosen the sticky points. It was like pulling teeth!  The tunnel went down in a week or so, but i have a couple small mound-like scars where the doctor did his work. No problems, but they do itch like mad from time to time!
Finally, I would say that if it shows any signs of infection or bleeding, go to your doctor.
  Jon

[Riki]

since it had been in for a year and and a half, the skin had grown nicely around the cuff, and it had to be cut, and I ended up with 2 stitches that had to be removed.  Once the skin was cut around the cuff, the line came out, no problems.  But the tunnel is still there. This is now about 2 and a half months later