My fistala looks funny

[dwcrawford]

does part of it suddenly start bulging out?  Is it about to burst?  The long part barelyl shows








EDITED:Moved to general discussion area-kitkatz,Moderator

[Pam]

I got my fistula in Dec and have been using for 3 weeks. I does the same thing. Has a bulge on the end. It's checked at each seeion and no one has said a thing.
Pam

[dwcrawford]

whew.  thanks.  I don't go back till monday so I'll relax about it.

[dwcrawford]

I need more info about my fistala.... on Thursday I am scheduled for a Cardioversion.  I was concerned about the cath in the heart and a shock to the heart at the same time was was assured it is safe.  Now my concern is that they are not supposed to use my left arm for anything.  During the procudure they will have to give an IV and also maintain a bloodpressure cup.  How can they possible to both on the same arm??? right arm???  I'll ask on Monday but if anybody has an answer now I'd appreciate it.

[kellyt]

It sounds like your fistula is doing great!  Mine got big underneath, but never protruded outwards.  If I had to have started dialysis they would have made sure a nurse could hit it first, and if not the surgeon was going to go back in and move it closer to the surface.  And he did that originally when he created the fistula, but apparently he didn't move it close enough.

Oh, and they might do an IV in your neck or something during your surgery???  Blood pressure, I'm not sure.  They will have to figure that out.
Just tell them to mark your arm, or you do it yourself with a Sharpie, stating DO NOT USE THIS ARM FOR ANYTHING!!    And I am serious!  Mark your arm.

[Pam]

When I got my fistula I asked the surgeon about using fingers on Lhand for blood tests. He said no problem and that if needed they could put an IV in that hand. Just NO BP cuffs.

[kellyt]

I was told absolutely nothing to that arm.

I was getting iron shots for a while before transplant and when I went in they wouldn't even give me the shot in that arm - and they give the shot in the back of the arm.  Same thing when I was in the hospital for transplant.  They didn't use that arm for anything.  Not even blood sugar testing.

Actually, my fistula quit working shortly after transplant and I still refuse to use that arm even though they have now said it is usable again.  I'm just too scared.

[petey]

  During the procudure they will have to give an IV and also maintain a bloodpressure cup.  How can they possible to both on the same arm??? right arm???  I'll ask on Monday but if anybody has an answer now I'd appreciate it.

They can put an IV and a bp cuff on the same arm -- or at least, they've done this to Marvin thousands of times.  Also, the bp cuff can go on the lower leg -- Marvin's had that, too.  Or, an IV in the neck -- been there, done that with Marv, too.  Marvin's also had an IV in the top of his foot -- painful !

Kelly's right -- protect the fistula arm with all your might and strength and voice.  Write on it.  Make them put a sign on your chart, your bed, your forehead if you have to.  I have written on Marvin's fistula arm many, many times with a permanent marker -- DO NOT USE THIS ARM FOR ANYTHING !!

[Tinah1968]

i was told the same think Kellyt said ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ON THAT ARM.

[Rerun]

My fistula was in my left upper arm and so they took bp on my right arm and "hand stick" IV's on my right "hand".  Now that I still have my left upper arm fistula AND an new fistula started in my right arm they take BP on my right lower leg but still do hand IV on my right "hand" . 

[aharris2]

gee whiz guys...

DW, I have no particular insight, but a sudden change should be looked at,
Pam, don't trust that they are actually evaluating when they look. Ask them and that way you're sure that they've noticed the bulging and that it means development.

And now, let me pile on...
MARK YOUR ACCESS ARM WITH A MARKER WITH THE DO NOT USE MESSAGE ON IT. I cannot tell you how many times I have stopped them even though there's been a sign over the bed. 

[dwcrawford]

Wow.  Thanks.  I'll make sure they can read the notes of my left arm.  Didn't know they could do BP on the leg.  That'll lbe the way to go.

[kimcanada]

I am always surprised whenever I have a procedure , I always state not to use my right arm... some nurses understand, but most don't

I don't even allow them to but my bracelet on my right arm.

Nothing, zip, zilch, nadda I don't even like them to look at it

[lola]

Otto's bulges also, Dr's all LOVE his fistula. Also when we go to Hospital I take a Black PERMANENT marker and write on his arm DO NOT USE THIS ARM from his wrist to his shoulder as we found to many people wanting to do BP's and labs and the Dr's said that's a no-no. The Dr's always get a kick out of it

[kimcanada]

Lola I like your Chutzpah 

[dwcrawford]

Doesn't sound to sophistocated .. oh wait, this is dialysis.  It's even sophistocated here to pee in a measuring cup.

[G-Ma]

DW...I think it's more a """miracle""" to pee in a measuring cup.     

[dwcrawford]

But I only have one measuring cup!  Imagine what happens when I make my bisquits.....

[paris]

DW, for my infusions, they only use my right arm for both the iv and the blood pressure cuff.  No problem.  During the nuclear stress test, they iv'd my arm and used my leg for the cuff.   Just don't let them use your fistula arm for anything!   Use Lola's marker and write on your arm.     And, I am not eating bisquits at your house     

[esherman77]

]I agree, don't let them touch that arm  . Right now I have them taking blood pressures on my right foot. If I let them use the left food it causes a lot of pain because I have Charcoat food which is a diabetic condition that deteriorates the bones in my feet. Anyway, so all they have is my right foot to work on. Oh, and the reason they can't use any arm: I have an active graph in my left arm and a HeRO device in the right. Although we are using the right arm for dialysis we are trying to keep the left arm going (even though I only get about 40% clearance out of that arm.






EDITED: Took out color and size tags-kitkatz,Moderator

[RichardMEL]

totally! nothing on the fistula arm!!

Mine bulges out and throbs etc (which leads to some amusing comments best imagined since this is a family forum) but yeah that's quite normal Dan.. well it's funny to talk about "normal" when you've got kidney failure, but you know what I mean

[Rerun]

A bulge may indicate a Pseudo Aneurysm which is not good.  A Pseudo Aneurysm is a thinning of the vessel wall and they should not stick it. 

[Ken Shelmerdine]

I had my fistula needled for the first time yesterday. Today I have noticed a slight bulge just above where the needle went in. Don't know whether or not that's normal.

[serpico]

I call my left arm the Frankenstein arm!

[willowtreewren]

Insert Quote
I call my left arm the Frankenstein arm!

That's ripe. The kids at school love to touch my husband's arm.