I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: Home Dialysis => Topic started by: TexanSummer on March 24, 2011, 06:25:37 AM
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I was wondering, hubby has his appt (finally) on 3/29 to get his fistula done. He asked his center about taking the home hemo training & they told him that he would have to change centers (they don't have the staff for the training - I understand that part) & that he would have to wait until the fistula matures before he can start the training. Is that right? I can't go with him to D so I can't ask any questions other than through hubby....& we all know how relayed info gets lost in translation down the line (no offense to my hubby!!). I know the training can last for a bit depending on how you retain the info so we were kinda hoping to get a head start on it, but I guess we can't....
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We had to wait for home training until the center got Carl's needles up to 15 gauge. So, he did in-center hemo from June 29 until August 11. Our training took a bit longer than the usual 3 weeks because I got a nasty MRSA infection in my left hand and couldn't cannulate him for a while.
Of course, his fistula had already matured for a year before he needed to start dialysis (we had pleeeeenty of warning).
Aleta
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The fistula development should take a month or two, the scar has to heal and they have to make sure the fistula is working. They will give you a rubber ball to squeeze - this helps develop the fistula, then you will need 2 to 3 months of training to become familiar with the machine and make your arterial and venous access points ready. In my case that involved a progressively larger sharp needle up until a 15 gauge until the tunnel was developed enough to use a 15 g blunt and you are ready to fly.
But don't worry, you should get plenty of help and this site is a real asset.