Do all home users use the buttonhole technique on your fistula?

[Neo]

I have a fistula that has never had any problems. I had it put in when i was 19 dialysed a year, was transplanted for 4 years, and back on dialysis the last 5 years so I just turned 30 and the fistula has had absolutely no problems at all. So if I start doing home treatments i will probably dialyse 4 or 5 days a week at 6 hours per at night. I do 3 now at 6 hours a pop at night. So my question also is do you think I should go the buttonhole route? And is that the norm for all people with fistulas on the home hemo? Sorry for all the posts but I'm quite nervous about changing, and one of the main reasons I want to change is because I could use 1 extra treatment and thats about it per week, i feel great usually except for the weekend when i get my treatment Friday night and have to wait all the way til Monday night. And I know it would make a huge difference if I could just get one extra treatment like on Sunday because by the time Monday morning roles around I am so full of toxins its basically a waste of a day cuz i cant do a thing.

[swramsay]

I do home hemo - usually 6 days a week. Sometimes 7, sometimes 5. Just depends on whats going on. I will NEVER EVER go 2 days again without dialysis. The 'weekends' incenter were horrible. Now that I don't have that any more and I know how much better I feel being able to dialyze whenever I want, I really know how bad I felt. But you just suck it up and deal with it when you don't have a choice.

I do buttonholes and have for a couple of months now. They are great! I was hesitant because I had one of those rare vascular surgeons who were agaisnt them but I realize now she saw the exceptions. It is so much easier and my arm looks a lot better than it did with fresh sticks all the time.

I can't wait for you to be able to dialyze more often. You deserve to feel good and you will feel great. Being able to dialyze as much as I want is like having Christmas every week.

[Wallyz]

Yeah, its standard.  It's easier too.

[skyedogrocks]

Rob doesn't, he never liked them.  He uses a 15 gauge needle each session.  He's at the point where he doesn't even feel the needle go in unless he hits a nerve. 

[cherpep]

I tried doing the buttonholes, but they never took.  Tried for months, using the same spot, but the blunts never would go in, no matter how hard I pushed.  I guess I'm justa super-fast healer (except when it comes to kidneys)

[silverhead]

Sharon is like Cherpep, we use the same site every time, but have to use sharps, but it works for her.......

[petey]

Buttonholes for my husband Marvin -- next month, we will have been using the same buttonholes for two years.  Works for us.

[lola]

Buttonholes for Otto, although he has to still use sharps a lot. They say it's better for the life of the fistula

[willowtreewren]

We don't use button holes yet. I'm going to push for them at our next appointment. We just ladder up the fistula.

Aleta

[ddawson77]

I went to button holes, it took a looong time for mine to take.  I think you are supposed to used sharps for a week or two, I used them for probably 6-8 weeks.  Even then it seemed like it wasn't going to work.  I think they big thing with button holes is just patience.  Once they do take I think they are great because now even though I went off home  hemo and back to incenter I still stick myself and don't have to worry about someone having a bad day and not getting it.

They also say it doesn't hurt as much, but apperntly I am just a big baby because I never noticed a difference.

[funnygarcia]

My DH uses buttonholes, but he has problems occasionally.
He keeps sharps on hand to create a new site, takes a couple weeks to form a really good track before using the blunt needles.

It's funny how "best practices" change over the years and from one area of the US to another.

We lived a year in California, in-center insisted on developing a buttonhole. Moved back to Minnesota, the techs had no clue how to use a buttonhole .. they were just learning the procedure... thankfully by then he did his own sticks.   An older nurse said long ago they used buttonholes routinely, wish they had started this 13 years ago.. maybe he would have less scar tissue and nerve damage from years of bad sticks!