I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: karen547 on July 14, 2008, 12:48:46 PM

Title: Fistula Question
Post by: karen547 on July 14, 2008, 12:48:46 PM

my fistula is sore today and I am waiting on hearing back from the NP, I am not sure whether I want to go to treatment and access my fistula or just wait until tomorrow and put ice on it for today. What do you think I should do?

Title: Re: Fistula Question
Post by: flip on July 14, 2008, 01:48:09 PM

I've always gone ahead with dialysis when mine was sore. If you put the Emla cream on it an hour or two beforehand you won't feel it anyway.

Title: Re: Fistula Question
Post by: Meinuk on July 14, 2008, 02:03:03 PM

Karen, first try to figure out why it is sore.  Here are some questions to ask yourself and talk to your nurse/Dr:

How old is your fistula?  Have you ever had pain before?
Did it hurt during treatment?
Is it swollen?
Is it sore to the touch?
Could it be infiltrated?
Can you feel the thrill in both sides (the venous and arterial)?

Go in, and you can address all of this with your dialysis nurse before treatment. (they may suggest that you come back the next day, or have a fistulagram, either way, you should go in and have them look at it)

In some cases, during treatment, the needle can go against the fistula wall and irritate it, or the needle could have hit a nerve when it was first cannulated.  Getting to know your fistula is part of being on dialysis.  Most important, make your unit aware of your pain, and make them do something about it. Dialysis shouldn't hurt excessively.  (needlestick being the initial ouch are generally the norm)

If the fistula is irritated, it may go easier on you to lower the pump speed for your next run.

Of course, my final statement is going to be to ask if there is any way that you can learn to self cannulate and use button holes.  (I was able to do that my lat month in center before I went home on NxStage)

When I was in center, I always had Tylenol in my bag.  Tylenol was my best friend during those days.

Good luck.  And I hope that your arm is feeling better.

Anna

Title: Re: Fistula Question
Post by: karen547 on July 14, 2008, 07:26:27 PM

Thanks everyone. I was given antibiotics by IV today. They think it may be slightly infected and I was running a fever, so they are being cautious. I was extremely tired today as well Hope everyone is well

Title: Re: Fistula Question
Post by: flip on July 14, 2008, 08:06:52 PM

cellulitis is always a danger but antibiotics usually wipe it out

Title: Re: Fistula Question
Post by: 2_DallasCowboys on July 15, 2008, 06:40:28 AM

Karen,

Sorry to see you have this worry- please
be careful with that fistula, I do hope it
is nothing.

Anne