fistula issue

[babycake]

i have a question
to ask
i saw my fistula doc
last week
which he had talked prior about
refixing my arm for i have
a annirisum (however you spell it)
which he had talked about puting
a graft in
so meaning i would need a chest caft
which i dont want
so he was saying that he would give me a choice
by doing part of the surgery, where i can use the top
part for my dialyis. and then when the other part gets healed
i can go back in surgery to get the other part done
in order to avoid the chest caft
has any of you had this done
or would u go for the chest caft for 3 months

and i was talking
to the nurse at dialyis today
and he said i admire  your decision
for you dont want the death cath.

i said death.... huh
i never heard it called that
he said it causes to much infections
well yea i know that
so they cal it the death cath
that wasent a good thing to hear

but any how on my decision
was that a good idea

[Vt Big Rig]

While I have had my issues with my fistula. (just had surgery for one in the other arm) I would do what is needed to avoid a catheter.

I am told those in the industry call them "white death" because of infection issues. Also hard to shower , no swimming, etc.

I know there are folks on here that have them and use them but I think it takes a much higher standard of care.

[iolaire]

While I have had my issues with my fistula. (just had surgery for one in the other arm) I would do what is needed to avoid a catheter.

I am told those in the industry call them "white death" because of infection issues. Also hard to shower , no swimming, etc.

I know there are folks on here that have them and use them but I think it takes a much higher standard of care.

I see a lot of more feeble patients with catheters.  I wonder if part of the problem is that the people who get them are less able to care for them correctly?  Do the  stronger patients who are better able to care for the catheters do better?  That being said I've very happy I was able to start dialysis on my fistula and skip the catheter.

[babycake]

i have never had a cath
but i have seen others
and my son had one
when he was on diaylis ( his though was a emergency)

a friend of mine  is about to start her
diayis in a few months
and she went to  the class
the other day
and there was a guy there
that has had a chest cath for 8months
he states he loves it and wouldnt want anything else
crazy  huh

[babycake]

While I have had my issues with my fistula. (just had surgery for one in the other arm) I would do what is needed to avoid a catheter.

I am told those in the industry call them "white death" because of infection issues. Also hard to shower , no swimming, etc.

I know there are folks on here that have them and use them but I think it takes a much higher standard of care.

thats the thing
i love water, so not able to
get the cath wet would be a problem

and the other is
i might end up having
to stay at my mom
for help
which i dont really want
to do
i can tolerate her so much
but dealing with my older sister
thats another story

[casper2636]

I've had a chest catheter twice, and I was not the best patient. I abused the heck out of it. I'm very surprised that I didn't get an infection. Through the abuse, I did keep it clean and had no problems. The man that said he loved his was right. Chest catheters are a lot easier to get dialysis. They don't have to stick you, and you can move your arms during the session. Getting a catheter is not a date with grim death, but does take due diligence to keep it clean. As for showering (like I said, I abused my catheter) I put an I.V. cover-er (sticky, clear, large square of clear plastic) over it and stayed out of the direct stream of water. I am not suggesting you do this! But know that a chest catheter is not too bad for just three months.

[Simon Dog]

I had a cath for several months out of necessity.  Although there was no stick, it was much more sensitive to alarm that my fistula.  Fortunately, I remained a vision of perfection free of infection for the duration.  I used the Korshield for showering and it worked very nicely.