Pain in the fistula

[ChickenLittle56]

Last week Monday when the PCT was inserting the arterial needle I had a lot of pain. She was going into a old site. I had no problems with the arterial needle in months if not years. After that day I gave instructions to insert the needle on the very edge of the old site. Even that produced pain but not as intense, On wendsday I had a nurse who was training to be a dialysis Today I was having problems with the needle again even with the use of a tourniquet.

The Neph was doing his rounds today so I asked him about it and he said he will write an order to use a smaller needle. I will try that but if I am still having problems when he comes around next Monday I will request a fistulagram.

[Joe Paul]

I'm sorry to hear of your pain. I pray your fistula is OK 

[Stoday]

I used to have trouble with my venal buttonhole. I think it must have been near a nerve because if you slipped a little off the fistula when inserting the needle, I got a sharp pain that shot all the way down my fistula.

Eventually, I got a new venal site and stopped using the old one. No problems now.

[boswife]

Im sorry for your probs with fistula..  I wish at least they didnt give us probs ever!  Sure hope you prob is temporary

[YLGuy]

I used to have trouble with my venal buttonhole. I think it must have been near a nerve because if you slipped a little off the fistula when inserting the needle, I got a sharp pain that shot all the way down my fistula.

Eventually, I got a new venal site and stopped using the old one. No problems now.

Same here.  Moving the site really helped.

[ChickenLittle56]

I went to D yesterday and had a hard time getting the nurse to approve the change of needle size. I told her that the Neph had approve the smaller size nnedle for the next couple of treatments. She kept on saying that my BFR will be lower and I told her that I knew that, Its not like I'm new to this. She gave me all kinds of other excuses and for each one I told her understood them. Any other nurse I wouldn't have this much grief. She said with a huff that she was going to document on the computer that I demanded  to use the smaller size.
 
This time I didn't have a lot of pain when the PCT stuck me. It felt so much better this time. I ran with a BFR of 360 and I ended up with a KT/V of 130. Monday day is Lab day so when I get the results later in the week I'll know how much the change of size will be on my labs.

Earlier this year if this would have happened there would have been 2 other more experienced PCTs that I would have trusted to find a place where to insert the needle with the minimal of pain but one moved out of town and the other is out on sick leave. She wont be back until her foot heals. Some of the new PCTs that are here may take months if not years to get that magic touch of needle insertion and thats with a more experienced  PCT guiding them.

[Pam]

I'm glaad they found a spot with no pain. Is it possible to start a buttonhole there?
Pam

[sullidog]

I was having similar issues with my graft, my last shuntogram they suggested smaller needles which the center agreed to.
So far no problems but we'll see how it affect my labs.

troy