Fistula problems

[kidneysblowingchunks]

 
Today, my tech told me that my venous and arterial pressures were high and that I mayl need to get it scanned.

In the past 4 weeks of twice-a-week 3.5 hr treatments, I have developed a "nipple" of about 1/2" in diameter on my arm. This area has been used for needles. There is no redness or tenderness.

 I was told that there may be a narrowing of my vein or artery. The possibility exists that a stent may be put in.
Has anyone else had anything like this happen? I have only been using this thing since march or so.

Thanks,
Kidneysblowingchunks
Sarasota, FL

[jamoman]

if they put a stint you should have no more problems. they just balloned mine & that was good enough,going on 2 years with it, mine was under developed. good luck with it.

[kidneysblowingchunks]

Thanks for the quick reply!

My fistula seems to be pretty well developed. It was installed on 10/18/09 or so.
My arm looks like there is a triple-A battery under the skin next to the "nipple" I mentioned before.

L8R...
KBC

[chiefsfan301]

I had a fistulagram with balloon in January and last week my fistula was laying on top of my arm like a rubber hose, I had spots sticking up like you describe, had fistulagram with balloon on Monday now I have bloodflow of over 2000 and it lays flat on the arm.

[Rerun]

You need to make an appointment with your vascular surgeon and have him take a look at that nipple.  SOON!

[sullidog]

I had to have one in my old graft, and it fixed it then a month later the graft just plain shut down for no reason. The surgery is rather simple, lot less pain then the fistula surgery itself.
Troy

[Tracy]

I have a lump about the size of an egg next to my fistula.  It is very tender to touch and it hurts to move my arm.  I have only used it 4 times ever and this last time is when it swelled up.  It hurts like crazy.  I'm not sure what is wrong. I go to my second in center treatment today and am not looking forward to it.   There doesn't seem to be any heat to it or redness, just swollen and pain.  Is this normal?

[tyefly]

Tracy    sounds like the you.......  which is where blood flowed into your tissue and it swells up and turns into a burise....      I did that several times when I was fisrt using my fisula....   Your vein needs to toughen up .....like a callus on your hand ......  over time   ( mine was just a few weeks of use ) it will toughen up and that wont happen anymore....... If you can get the same person  to stick you untill your fistula gets more mature..... I know that is hard to do with some centers........  pay attention and learn to do this your self........   then you will be doing the same thing each  time your your own fistula.......

[RightSide]

Yeah, two of my fistulas failed.  One clotted, the other one stenosed (narrowed).

Stenosis is the result of neointimal hyperplasia--the abnormal growth of the intima, the innermost lining of the blood vessel.

http://www.vascularweb.org/professionals/Research/Basic_Articles/Neointimal_hyperplasia_clowes.html

What causes neointimal hyperplasia?  Oxidative stress (those pesky free radicals) have been implicated.  But trials of antioxidants have been disappointing.  Radiation can stop the growth of this tissue, just like it's used to stop the growth of cancerous tumors.  But radiation has nasty side effects.

Basically, we're stuck with it.

[bountyhunter_ga]

I guess we have all Had problems with our fistula. Within 17 months I have Had 3 operations One major . The last ballooning I had no anaesthesia, my vein collapsed, it wasn't all that bad,after you have endured enough pain its not so bad.