My entire life, PICC dressing changes have been EXCRUCIATINGLY painful. To the point that even to this day, after 21 years, I scream and sob and shake when it’s done.

I recently had my first stay at a new hospital and the nurse changing my dressing there was so shocked at how bad my reaction was. She said she’d never seen anyone else react that way.

Does anybody else have this problem? I was honestly surprised to hear her say that because none of my other nurses throughout my life have mentioned it, aside from things like my childhood doctor telling my mom I just wanted attention.

I know nothing can be done about this. They’ve even tried to give me meds to relax me and they didn’t help. I’m just honestly curious if anybody else has such an extreme reaction.

Note: I know a lot of people have ports now. I’ve made the choice for the foreseen future to not get one. I don’t enjoy the idea of something permanently in me - I already have my gtube to deal with lmao