I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Introduction => The IHD Family - Our Members => Topic started by: kitkatz on October 02, 2010, 09:56:32 PM

Title: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: kitkatz on October 02, 2010, 09:56:32 PM
I had surgery on Tuesday to move the fistula to the top of the upper arm.  It hurts but I am okay. Here are a few pics of it.

My arm pics. 52 staples from elbow to armpit!


Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: okarol on October 02, 2010, 10:09:41 PM
 :o Holy Crap!!
You really gotta stay out of the ocean! How many shark attacks can one person survive??
Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: murphy on October 02, 2010, 10:19:27 PM
I will never complain about how my fistula looks again, sorry kitkatz
Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: Jean on October 02, 2010, 11:36:49 PM
Not too much to say, except, glad you got thru it okay.
Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: natnnnat on October 03, 2010, 05:50:06 AM
Ayah!  Jeez! 
Now you have to heal again.  You've gotta be getting sick of this routine KK or you're a certified saint.
Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: Pam on October 03, 2010, 06:05:56 AM
She is a Certified Saint!
I'm glad I only had stitches. They didn't leave any scars.
Are you going to be able to do buttonholes nnow?
Pam
Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: Rerun on October 03, 2010, 06:10:25 AM
I'm supposed to have the same thing done to my right arm someday.  He started the fistula a year ago with plans to bring it up to the top, but my left arm keeps chugging along (knock on wood).

Heal fast Kit.  What are you using for an access now?

  :cuddle;
Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: boswife on October 03, 2010, 09:46:15 AM
wow!!!!!!  and, once again im learning something.  I 'thought' that the fistula was a simple thing,,,,,,THIS does not look simple.. We must all be thankful for what ever we get, but im even more thankful now..  GEESH!!
Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: jbeany on October 03, 2010, 10:36:22 AM
Your poor arm!  Hope you get back to swing that big stick very soon!
Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: monrein on October 03, 2010, 11:41:45 AM
 :grouphug; :grouphug; AND  :cuddle; :cuddle; :cuddle;  So sad you've gone through so much.
Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: ClarkWard on October 03, 2010, 02:30:30 PM
It looks like a shark bit you!  :bump; I'll bet you can make up some great stories, and I hope you feel better fast! :waving;
Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: vcarmody on October 03, 2010, 07:23:35 PM
Wow, that is some surgery, I'm hoping that moving it closer to the surface works for you.  I guess my husband was very lucky with his fistula surgery.  I attached photos of just after it was done and what it looks like today a year and a half later. 
Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: kitkatz on October 29, 2010, 05:16:28 PM
I am cleared to start using the fistula tonight at dialysis with one needle.  Here is hoping all goes okay. I have EMLA cream to put on the arm tonight.  I hope it works.  They are to start buttonholes on me. I hope they work, too. I am full of hope tonight!
Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: boswife on October 29, 2010, 09:20:22 PM
hope this went great for you tonight  :flower;
Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: natnnnat on October 30, 2010, 05:18:38 AM
Hope you had an easy night KK.
Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: lola on October 30, 2010, 07:44:18 AM
Kit how did it go???? Hope it all went well....Luv you Girlfriend :grouphug; :grouphug;
Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: thegrammalady on October 30, 2010, 09:29:37 AM
hope you're feeling better. no surgery is fun. i'm surprised they're going to start using it so fast. hope all goes well.
Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: kitkatz on October 30, 2010, 10:50:18 AM
It hurt last night  for most of the night.  I was pretty miserable.
Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: boswife on October 30, 2010, 12:22:00 PM
doggone it!!  Did it work well at least?  Hopfully day by day it will be better.. Sorry  :(
Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: Mimi on October 30, 2010, 03:07:21 PM
Hope the Doc gave you some pain pills.  My Doc handed me a prescription
right after the surgery.  For some the op is a piece of cake.  But for others it is a pain in the ---.
Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: kitkatz on October 30, 2010, 10:10:38 PM
The entire thing has been a large pain in the a_ _ ( arm, but I likethe way you think!).  The arm worked good, but boy did it hurt last night.  My friend who has had two fistulas says it will hurt for around two weeks.  God help me.  Tylenol with codeine is my friend!
Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: MooseMom on October 31, 2010, 12:05:16 AM
Oh man, what a palaver.  At least the damn thing is working better.  Are the pain pills pretty effective?
Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: kitkatz on October 31, 2010, 10:40:29 PM
No one tells you it is going to hurt, least of all the doc and the nurses, otherwise why do it?  So here I am back ont he pain killers.  The arm aches but not as bad as Saturday.
Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: kitkatz on November 23, 2010, 11:01:17 AM
"This damn thing" is out!  Yes, after seven months and three different catheters, the final catheter was finally taken out this morning.  Eouchie!  It took the PA and anther doc to find it all and get it out.  Once the scar tissue was gone, it slid out.  I hope to sleep reasonably comfortably tonight. Back to the Tylenol with codeine for a few days.
Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: Darthvadar on November 23, 2010, 11:31:05 AM
Great news, Kitz... Anything that shouldn't be there is good to get rid of...

Hope you feel well really soon....

Love,

Darth...
Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: M3Riddler on November 23, 2010, 01:33:42 PM
I had surgery on Tuesday to move the fistula to the top of the upper arm.  It hurts but I am okay. Here are a few pics of it.

My arm pics. 52 staples from elbow to armpit!

Kitkats,

Thanks for sharing the photos. It looks like it has been almost two months since the transposition. Would you be able to post some photos of what your fistula looks like now after it has had a little chance to heal? 

Do you know how deep the veins where?  Also, how long after the original fistula surgery did they do the vein transposition to the top of the surface?

thanks,

///M3R
Title: Re: Kitkatz's fistula surgery
Post by: kitkatz on November 23, 2010, 05:19:41 PM
I have no idea how deep it was, but on me the veins run deep. I am a difficult stick to begin with in regular veins because they run deep.  I had the graft removed in April, the fistula placed in July, and it was transposed September 28.  The center started using it around three weeks go with one needle for two weeks, then moved on to two needles.  It is doing all right now.