I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: BillSharp on March 03, 2011, 09:54:11 AM

Title: Painful fistulas
Post by: BillSharp on March 03, 2011, 09:54:11 AM

Does anyone else have painful fistulas? Mine are on the inner right arm, under my bicep. The bottom buttonhole really hurts when I'm cannulated, the top not so much. After D is over, I have an uncomfortable feeling in my fistula all the time; not real severe pain, but more an itchy burning sensation. I've had an angioplasty in my fistula, so I know its not clogged. Anybody else?

Title: Re: Painful fistulas
Post by: Stacy Without An E on March 03, 2011, 11:45:29 AM

No two fistulas seem to be the same, even if they're inserted by the same surgeon.

When they first placed the fistula in my upper left arm, I had very little pain after needle insertion.  But after a few months, it started to burn incessantly.  For the first time ever, I had to shorten a few treatments it had gotten so bad.  One item to look for is your pump speed.  I run at 300 now, which the doctor's don't care for, but the pain lessens when its set at that number.

I had an angioplasty too and I felt like I wasted their time because there were no clots and the flow was really good.

I know its a minor bit of advice, but I hope it helps.

Title: Re: Painful fistulas
Post by: tyefly on March 03, 2011, 06:34:29 PM

I with Stacy    slower speeds   better fistulas.......

Title: Re: Painful fistulas
Post by: monrein on March 04, 2011, 04:38:52 AM

You may also be going through a nerve with that one buttonhole.  My venous, which was deep, went right through a nerve which was annoying as I cannulated it but I got used to the sensation and it worked well so I didn't bother starting a new one.  The feeling afterwards might be from the irritation of the nerve which never gets a chance to fully rest before another session comes along.
Is it worth trying to establish a new site for that needle?

Title: Re: Painful fistulas
Post by: sullidog on March 10, 2011, 04:02:18 PM

My graft hurts a bit when running at 450. That's where my doctor wants it though and what I say he could give two craps about.

Title: Re: Painful fistulas
Post by: BillSharp on March 11, 2011, 09:44:32 AM

Dr. gave me the option of starting a new buttonhole, so I'm thinking about it. My flow at 400 is pretty darn good, so I'm torn. (I need the 400 flow to get good Kt/v.)

Thanks for responding.

Title: Re: Painful fistulas
Post by: Stacy Without An E on March 11, 2011, 11:54:19 AM

There was a period a few years ago (during Year 3 & 4 of Dialysis) where I was taking massive amounts of Vicodin to evade the pain.  I've paid the price now because I've lost some of my hearing.  Doctor Goddess (my goodness is she freakin' beautiful) prescribed Gabepentin to lower my nerves sensitivity.  It makes me dizzy, so I wait until two hours before treatment to dose myself.

Dialysis is horrible enough; you shouldn't have to suffer the entire time.