Started Using my Fistula the Other Day

[GraphicBass]

It's been a little over three months since it was created and I got the sign-off to begin using it, which we did this past Tuesday.

That try didn't work out, as the nurse felt "resistance" to the test draw, and pulled the needle out very carefully to avoid scraping the walls of the fistula. "We'll try again in a few days," she said.

Couple of days later we did a "1 and 1", where they had one line going to the fistula and one to the catheter. Worked just fine; they used the smallest needle (14 gauge) and ran at a slow speed (250).

Today, we ran one needle again, a slightly larger size, and all was well. They pronounced it a "good access".

Next week we work our way up to two needles at the regular size, running at the normal speed. I can feel the fistula getting stronger just with the couple of times we've used it (or this may be my imagination visualizing the fistula working out with handbells to get BIG AND STRONG!...).

The needles actually looked scarier to me than they felt. No worse than an I.V. in the hand. Good techs and nurses help with this, I think. They're very respectful of a new fistula, and seem to take great care to locate it and not tear it up.

So in a week or two I'll be able to get this darned perma-cath out of my chest and finally take a looooon, HOT shower (without feeling guilty about)!

Making progress and feeling great.

gary

[boswife]

this is so good to hear!!!  It's amazing that such a short time ago (little over a year and a half) we were going through that with hubbys and things have been good with it since.  and God willing it will for a long time.  I "think" for you not to be too anxious to get that cath out too soon (not that they would do sooner than they should anyway) just to make sure that all is well.  Boy oh boy though, it sure was nice to see my hubbt slip into that shower without worries ..hehe   Glad things are comming along for you! 

[GraphicBass]

Glad to hear things are going well. Same here. I consider my self very fortunate to have had a good experience with dialysis, even if it is a life-support measure. It sure beats "laying-in-a-hospital-bed" type life support!

Thanks very much, though, boswife. Believe me, as "hot" as I am in to get in that shower, I'm not "deluging" my doctors too badly with demands to "wash" my "plumbing" "down the drain" — so to speak. (Sorry, got on a shower metaphor there; brain blanked out!

I know they want another week, perhaps two, to fully acclimate the fistula to the needle, plus little margin — just in case. Once the cath is out, I am sure it's no easy task to put one back in....

My wife shares your anticipation of getting a hubby that's squeaky clean all over!

g

[galvo]

Sounding good, gary!

[Cordelia]

Good luck! Does anyone know how a perma cath is taken out? A nurse told me they just "pull" it out. Is there any freezing involved? Can anyone tell me please?

I wish you the best with your fistuala!

[GraphicBass]

My vascular surgeon said much the same thing, that they just "pop" it out. A nurse educator was warning me about accidentally pulling it out. I can't imagine wanting to do that — wouldn't you, like, BLEED!

I'll ask when I got into the center on Tuesday, since I've been wondering the same thing.

gary

[boswife]

g you cracked me up    And yes, squeekie clean is good..  Blessings to you both