button holes and "scabs" and venal

[fuzzyL]

my button hole is starting to mature, wondering about tips for removing "scabs"--also having trouble getting blunt in venal--any tips on that---thank you

[YLGuy]

I have dialysis at 10 in the morning.  I shower 1 hour before.  As soon as I get out of the shower I put EMLA cream on.  I cover each buttonhole with a tiny piece of Saran Wrap and a piece of tape.  It gets the scabs nice and soft and they pick right off with the pointed cap at the end of the needle. 

[KatieV]

I dialyze at home with NxStage.  My buttonholes seem to scab up very hard, very quickly.  I put EMLA cream on with a tegaderm over it (thanks to whoever suggested ordering them on Amazon!) about 3 pm.  I get home from work about 6 pm and get on NxStage ASAP.  Because the EMLA is on for 3 hours, I don't get the numbing, but my scabs dissolve nicely.  I also take a 2x2 gauze, soak it with water, and apply dish soap (with antibiotic in it) directly over each site for about 15 minutes. 

If I don't do that or am late putting EMLA on, my husband (the needle-stabber) can tell the difference.  Besides having to really poke at the scabs, he feels the track is tougher.

About the venous - is it deep?  Mine sometimes moves deeper and we have to use a 1.25" needle.  We also take off the tourniquet after getting the arterial needle in.  If we happen to forget, the venous does not go in!  Also, try different arm positions - my arm has to lay in a certain way with my palm up. 

[big777bill]

 I do the same thing as Katie. The only difference is that I use triple antibiotic cream. The scabs are nice and soft when the bandaids are removed!

[fuzzyL]

Thank you all !!!! for your help