Fistula Questions?

[MooseMom]

This is weird...I was thinking about some sort of fistula fashion thing the other day.  I have an upper arm fistula, but since I haven't used it yet, it's not that big even though it feels enormous.  My mother's fistula became very pronounced, so I have an idea of what mine will probably look like eventually.  Anyway, I was thinking of some sort of stretchy flesh-colored nylon sleevelike thing that could have a design on it, like a lace motif or something.  Maybe sequins or beading or something like that as long as it is not so tight as to mess up the fistula's blood flow.  You could bedazzle your fistula!!

[sammiejo23]

This is weird...I was thinking about some sort of fistula fashion thing the other day.  I have an upper arm fistula, but since I haven't used it yet, it's not that big even though it feels enormous.  My mother's fistula became very pronounced, so I have an idea of what mine will probably look like eventually.  Anyway, I was thinking of some sort of stretchy flesh-colored nylon sleevelike thing that could have a design on it, like a lace motif or something.  Maybe sequins or beading or something like that as long as it is not so tight as to mess up the fistula's blood flow.  You could bedazzle your fistula!!

Bedazzle it!!!  I think we have a winner!!! Hahaha.

[monrein]

SJ, as one of the patients who always did their own needles, I strongly encourage you to try.  It gives you control, gives your fistula the consistency of the same person doing your sticks and if you ever travel to a new unit someplace it takes away the anxiety about a new person who doesn't know your fistula possibly messing up.  I did the ladder technique for 5 years the first time I was on D and did buttonholes the second time for about a year.  Once you master sticking yourself, you'll not let anyone else at it afterwards. 

[billmoria]

Like most people I never liked needles. I am a diabetic and have been giving myself insulin since 1985. You must watch yourself and after time it just becomes something you due 2 times a day. When I started using my fistula, I could certainly feel the needles going in but I never used anything as whatever pain results is almost always just a few seconds. I now have buttonholes and mine have been wonderful from the start. I can't feel the bottom needle going in. The Venus needle is different, I can feel it but only for a couple of seconds. I sometimes look and sometimes do not. I always look when they test it to see that the blood is flowing well.
Good Luck   

[FindingNeverland]

This is weird...I was thinking about some sort of fistula fashion thing the other day.  I have an upper arm fistula, but since I haven't used it yet, it's not that big even though it feels enormous.  My mother's fistula became very pronounced, so I have an idea of what mine will probably look like eventually.  Anyway, I was thinking of some sort of stretchy flesh-colored nylon sleevelike thing that could have a design on it, like a lace motif or something.  Maybe sequins or beading or something like that as long as it is not so tight as to mess up the fistula's blood flow.  You could bedazzle your fistula!!

I actually have a bedazzler, lol, I'm into arts and crafts so one year my mom got it for me. I only used it once to put studs in my dog's collar. I was thinking of finding different kids of fabrics and making them long enough to wrap around the arm and have velcro on the end to make it stay in place, and also easy to put on and take off. I should get my sewing machine back out, I was making these mini carrying cases for like cell phones/MP3 players/Makeup/Money/etc. but I put it away to make room for Christmas stuff, of course now that Christmas is long over I should get it back out.

Fashion for your Fistula!   

[galvo]

My "inner galvo" is rumbling.

[rsudock]

It is hard to be young and female and deal with your vanity as a dialysis/transplant patient. I do not care about the fistula being seen but I am worried that a huge bump will develop I just pray that since I use button holes it won't. When I first got a transplant I was very worried about the physical side affects (ie-weight gain, hair growth, enlarged gums, moon face, ) yes it was a little difficult but I just surrounded myself with caring people and considered daily what my life could be like without the kidney. helped me get through it mostly...but ummmm I did adjust some of my own prednisone doses as a I got sick of dealing with the side affects....     just take it own day at a time.... like MOOSEMOM says as you get older you let those things go...guess it won't matter how I look if I'm dead right?

xo,
R

[Genlando]

Sammiejo, I just started using my fistula a couple of weeks ago.  I want to switch from in-center to NxStage, so I'm establishing buttonholes.  I let a tech do the sticking the first couple of times while I built up the nerve to stick myself.  The first time that I tried to stick myself, I didn't think I'd have the nerve to do it, but I managed to get the needle in.  I was surprised that there was almost no pain--as opposed to when the tech did the stick. I'm still using the sharp needles, but after 2 weeks, cannulating myself is almost routine.  I'd recommend that every dialysis patient learns to stick themselves!