pros and cons of buttonholes

[lorna]

Im sure there is another post about the same thing i just cant seem to find it! I was just wondering what are you good/ bad experiences with button holes and if you have any advice? Im fairly new to hemo and many of my nurses are telling me i need to develop button holes but im not really thrilled with the idea. I have heard many peoples complaints about them and to be honest the nurse who would be developing them and needling me all the time is not one who i enjoy having! So any advice would be so helpfull! thanks!

[Bruno]

Button Holes are the way to go. You get to use blunts instead of sharps and they don't hurt nearly as much and stopping the bleeding at the end of your session takes 10 minutes instead of up to 30 minutes for each site.
My nurse convinced me by saying it was the same system you use to get your ears pierced.
I've never heard a single complaint...at my centre it's regarded as the Rolls Royce of access techniques and the exception would only be those who could not use it...goretex fistulas etc.

[monrein]

I've done both, and think that buttonholes are great as they help to avoid aneurysms that can develop with improper laddering.  Laddering with sharps can also be just fine as long as the same "easiest" spots aren't used over and over.  As hard as it might be to imagine right now, try to consider doing your own needling...that will give you the best consistency which is important for buttonholes and will eliminate the anxiety of depending on the good, the bad, and the inexperienced to stick you.

[Pam]

By all means get buttonholes!
With buttonholes there is very little pain, For me it is more of a pressure thing since they have to push a little harder wits time h the blunt needles.
At first my aterial alarms went crazy. My fistula is in my upper l arm. They had to insert my arterial needle down towards the wrist and once inserted it has to be flipped. Now it's smooth sailing. My Tech is the best and she can have me hooked up and running in about 7 min.When it is time to disconnect I hold both sites at once for about 10 min. When I take the dressing of there is never more than a pin prick spot of blood.
The worst part of the whole thing is the tape. That paper tape sticks to me like super glue!
Pam

[boswife]

Button holes     No cons!

[kitkatz]

We are just starting buttonholes on a brand new fistula.  I will update as to pros and cons and how it goes.

[tyefly]

I hate wait for a few months to develop buttonholes on my new fistula....but now that I have buttonholes and have been using the same two since I started early this year....  I have no complainants......  to me it the way to go...I have a upper arm  fistula and it takes me about 30 minutes get my needles in but .......  hey   I have never used a sharp.....and dont want to ......

[Desert Dancer]

I've recently finished developing my buttonholes and I can truthfully say I've found no cons whatsoever. Why weaken your fistula wall by poking it in 8,000 different places if you don't have to?

[lorna]

Thanls for all the positive feedback! Im still hesitant but am warming up to the idea, i certainly want to preserve my fistula for as long as i can! It is on my lower arm and have been using the cathlons because i swear after a run if they have used sharps by arm huirts  the next day. I have really small vessels and a very small arm haha and have had most people say what a great fistula it is and only one or two nurses say its not great and i need buttonholes ,so its kind of a he said she said but im considereing it and eventually your right doing it myself would be the best. I know as a diaetic i HATE when someone else tries to give me insulin!!