Yeaaaaaaaah Buddy! And into the breach (okay, fistula) we go!

[justjen321]

 

That banana dance looks perfect for this post.

My husbands fistula was done months and months ago, as a back up to his PD cath. I -swear- to all that is holy and not that the surgeon told me he had to use a graft because the distance was too great. No big deal to me at the time. He also mentioned it was pretty deep. (Hubby has a big arm).

Then we decided to go to home hemo. So I start, in typical fashion, reading everything I can find, and I'm bummed because I believe we can't use buttonholes. Apparently, with a graft, you can't.

So in talking with his Neph, our Wellbound nurses, and calling his surgeon, it has been determined that he does NOT have a graft. It's possible the surgeon used something down below where we'll be sticking him (the nurse used a very technical term for the area where his actual scar is, but I promptly forgot it while doing the above banana dance), but that is not a graft.

His 'thrill' has always been strong, but I noticed it's spread much higher up his arm, which I'm told is a good thing. Makes sense, as it means, to me, that vein is doing it's job, growing big and fat, and patiently waiting for needles.

Soooooooo. Yesterday, we had to go in for IV iron. Neph suggested a good way to see if his fistula was working was to use it for that. So his first fistula stick was yesterday. (Again, concern that it would be deep and need lifted.) In like buttah. Smooth as silk, shallow, not too uncomfy for him, and a lovely flash immediately. So YAY for what seems to be a working fistula that won't require surgery, or two foot needles!

That is all.

Jen

[lmunchkin]

That is "Awesome" news, JJ.  It will make your transition to home D massively eaiser.  I cannulate my J, and I do not do bottonholes, I use the ladder method.  I could do the buttonholes, but have found the ladder method easier for me.  You just have to find what works for you/him.  Is he going to stick himself?  It would be best if he could do it, with you as back up.  My J is right handed and his fistula is in his right arm.  He tried once, but found it very ackward, so he just lets me.  His eyesight is bad too, so that kinda throws selfcannulation out the window.

I really do not mind though.  He tells everyone that it is my way to "stick it to him".  Lol.  Its like second nature after awhile.

lmunchkin
 

[justjen321]

Like your J, my husband doesn't have good eyesight (diabetic retinopathy) and his coordination skills are... well, they aren't. So, I'll get to be nursey and stick him.

Jen