fistula clotted

[iketchum]

my fistula clotted last friday. I noticed it wasnt right when i took the bandaids off that night. I told the center saterday morning and was told nothing was to be done untill monday morning, the would tell me when and where. its sunday night and i have heard nothing. are we supposed to put dialysis on hold untill someone decides to help us?

[willieandwinnie]

iketchum, I'd be going to the emergency room. Did you get dialyzed on Friday? I hope you get this resolved quickly. Let us know. 

[iketchum]

i was dialysed friday. they were "challanging" my dry weight. I got really sick to my stomach and then passed out in my chair. they said this is how they find your dry weight. why do i feel like a guinea pig?

[monrein]

I agree with W&W that a problem fistula should be seen as soon as you notice no thrill or bruit.  Any delay only makes a bad situation worse.  As awful a prospect as it is to go to the ER I think I would in the hope that it could be rescued.    Please let us know how this turns out.  I'm sorry your centre is so inept.

Dropping your dry weight and consequently your BP CAN create problems for a fistula.  Crazy clinic.

[Rerun]

Those "dumb asses".... your blood pressure got too low and you clotted.  My god, I would tell your Nephrologist!!  You can challenge dry weight with out passing out.  If they wait too long to try a declot then you will be looking at revision surgery. 

So sorry this happened to you.   

[Lucinda]

Yep....definitely go to the ER.  The longer you leave it, the less likely they will be able to fix it without doing a revision surgery which means a temporary access and you want to try and avoid that.  My graft has blocked four times - and I am not even using it yet and the first two times it happened I had to have another graft.  But with the last two they got to it really quickly and were unable to unblock it.  Sorry you are having such a bad time. x

[kitkatz]

They told me when I got my graft, if I ever feel it stop working, get me to an emergency room quickly.  You run the risk of a clot breaking off and going who knows where in your system.

[iketchum]

The four hospitals in my area did not have anyone available to look at my fistula. I went to one of the bigger hospitals in Portland monday and they fixed my fistula. even there no one was available on a weekend.

[lruffner]

Umm, I suppose none of these facilities know what "on call" means?? There should always be a vascualr surgeon on call, considering all of the risky vascular problems people have.   

[iketchum]

the center had a dr on call, he called and said "see you monday". I want to be a dr so i can ignore my illness each weekend.

[lruffner]

the center had a dr on call, he called and said "see you monday". I want to be a dr so i can ignore my illness each weekend.

Oh, how thoughtful....buttwipes! I don;t know about anywhere else, but here in KY you can demand a consult with whatever specialist that you need. Some ER's don't like it much, but they cannot refuse, and a speciialist HAS TO COME and SEE YOU. Maybe you can check that out, just in case it happens again. I am never afraid to let any medical professionals know what their job duties are, even if I have to "wing" it. I was probably the most hated/ feared advocate for my mom at the hospitals, but I got so sick of her being neglected and you can bet your ass they get-r-done now!    In saying that, I have a great relationship with most of them, because they know it was all in concern for my mother's life and I am the only one helping her. I probably won't have the inner strength to do the same for myself.