lost my fistula yesterday

[stringbandbeth]

Please don't think about getting a permacath out of choice. It is NOT a  Recommended long term access . Plus you can kiss that nice long relaxing shower goodbye. They are used when there is no way to create any other access. They can be very dangerous and the risk of infection is so much greater. Bear almost died from an infection that was lurking in the tunnels the cath is fed through.   Once again ...THE CHANCE OF INFECTION IS MUCH GREATER WITH A PERMACATH...and the treatment of  these infections is much harder.
   It will save your life and buy you quite a bit of time to get a working Fistula or Graft but you really need to be VERY cautious with them.   
Plus, unlike a PD cath, You can't get it wet at all.

[jeannea]

It's called a permacath not a permanent catheter. It's the kind they put in your chest rather than your neck. They surgically put it in so that it goes directly into your veins. Usually they only like to use them for about 6 months but technically they can stay in as long as they don't get infected. I know someone who cannot get a fistula to work so he has had a series of permacaths. The risk of infection is greater than a fistula but this person must have been very careful and avoided infection.

[dharam85]

hi guys
my moms vein r very thin and doctor says gettin a fistula done is imposible now my doc is sayin the only option left is permacath
my doc is sayin permacath has some cuff mades which acts like barrier to infection
plz suggest me is permacath good and wht r its pro and cons

[sullidog]

You say permcaths are cause for less infection? I'm thinking you are mistaking that for a hero catheter which is fairly new, it's a graft and a catheter that go under the skin, it's used for people who have no other access choices, however a select few surgeons have been trained to put these in, there is a site that will give you a list of surgeons in your area that put these in but I can't remember what it is.

[Lillupie]

oh ok. Yeah I wouldnt want t perma cath at all. I dont consider that permanat either. A fistula is more permanant.

PD for me then.

Lisa

[YLGuy]

I am sorry. 

How did it clot?

[dharam85]

thnks for the information
can u plz gimme some more information for hero cath

[Rain]

I have low blood pressure and near the end of my run my blood pressure dropped and clotted the fistula.

Anyways I decided against another access (fistula or graft) for a few months.  The doctors thinks that I will be getting a transplant soon so they don't think I need to get a long term access and risk loosing another access.

I am only 29 and a person only has so many access sites.

[stringbandbeth]

Just finished learning about the Hero Graft. Very Interesting. Seems like a combination of a graft and Cath. Nothing outside the body and cannulations done with a needle. It does sound like a HUGE improvement to the Permacath for infection controll and can be used for a long time. Bear is on D for the rest of his life. Nice to know new access options if there is ever a problem with the fistula.
  Thanks IDH once again for educating me!