When the needle goe sinto the vein there is a backwash into the needle, they call this a flash. You can tell when the tech sees it they change the direction of the needle from an angle to straight so they can stay in the fistula area or graft area.
Maybe you are doing it wrong? Just KIDDING, Epoman. Don't get yer panties in a wad!
Quote from: kitkatz on July 22, 2006, 11:29:30 AMMaybe you are doing it wrong? Just KIDDING, Epoman. Don't get yer panties in a wad!No, I'm just saying, I WISH I got "flashbacks" that way I would know if I am in.
Quote from: Epoman on July 22, 2006, 11:34:18 AMQuote from: kitkatz on July 22, 2006, 11:29:30 AMMaybe you are doing it wrong? Just KIDDING, Epoman. Don't get yer panties in a wad!No, I'm just saying, I WISH I got "flashbacks" that way I would know if I am in. How come you don't get one? I would have thought everyone did.
Quote from: angieskidney on July 22, 2006, 11:48:45 AMQuote from: Epoman on July 22, 2006, 11:34:18 AMQuote from: kitkatz on July 22, 2006, 11:29:30 AMMaybe you are doing it wrong? Just KIDDING, Epoman. Don't get yer panties in a wad!No, I'm just saying, I WISH I got "flashbacks" that way I would know if I am in. How come you don't get one? I would have thought everyone did. I was told that when your fistula is as big as mine, flashback is not as common, it has to do with the space inside, you get flashback when the fistula is small and there is no room for the blood to flow except in your needle. But when the vein gets so big the blood can move around the needle instead of going in it. Make sense? I know sorry.
With my buttonholes I can tell I am in even if I didnt get a flashback (I do though). You can just feel that its in there. I do get clots though, so I withdraw about 5ml of blood before I flush with diluted heparin.
The main thing I find painful is taking the scabs off, but thats just because I use the local after doing that. With the cream you wouldnt have that problem. I dont really find the local painful. If you are like others angie, you may not even need the cream at all if you are doing buttonholes.
A couple of times when I first started hemo there was no flashback until I had a look under where the tubing connects to the wings, where there was a small flashback.
Quote from: angieskidney on July 27, 2006, 10:00:29 AMI worry about when I will do buttonhole because I have troubles with my fistula (it is still new but also very "snakey" and rolls a lot as well) but am surprised that you worry so much. You seem to be such an informed person that sometimes I forget that you just like the rest of us. I hope things get better for you. I have a high pulse too and I don't know if it is because the heart and fistula don't want to share all that blood (I read that somewhere) but worry can't help your pulse at all. Good luck with it all. And I hope the nurses keep cooperating with you!Angie, my fistula is snakey as well, and it moves around. If you start having problems with a buttonhole, you can just make another one in a better spot. I have had to move mine around a few times. I am now back to using the 2 original buttonholes. I also have a high heart rate, which Ive had since I first started getting rejection, but no one can tell me why. It has settled down a lot now and I think it usually hangs around 80-110 resting. Occasionally I have noticed it lower than that, but to be honest I don't really take notice of it. I mentioned it to the doctor yesterday (they actually did rounds at the home in-centre!), and she mentioned something about the high blood flow in my fistula. I think she also said something about a HR monitor, but as usual they don't talk to you directly, so I didn't hear what she said. I'll soon find out.
I worry about when I will do buttonhole because I have troubles with my fistula (it is still new but also very "snakey" and rolls a lot as well) but am surprised that you worry so much. You seem to be such an informed person that sometimes I forget that you just like the rest of us. I hope things get better for you. I have a high pulse too and I don't know if it is because the heart and fistula don't want to share all that blood (I read that somewhere) but worry can't help your pulse at all. Good luck with it all. And I hope the nurses keep cooperating with you!
Epoman: Are you using a tourniquet while cannulating?No, I NEVER used a tourniquet, only the first couple of times.If so you have a flash, visible or not. Mine's very small, and used to be invisible. Blood pressure is also a consideration; I think someone with high blood pressure would have more of a flash compared to someone with lower blood pressure (assuming both fistulas are the same size).When my pressure is 250/150 = No Flashback, when my pressure is 90/50 = No FlashbackPhysics tells us that if there's less pressure inside the needle than there is in the fistula (which has to be true) there will be a flash, or some backwash of blood as the pressure equalizes. The fact that the blood travels down the tube after you release pressure at the other end confirms this.Of course there is a flashback, but we are talking about a VISABLE flashback, arn't we?It could be though, that there isn't much of one, and it remains invisible, as it isn't traveling far enough up the tube to be visible. Your large fistula probably explains this, as the pressure inside your fistula might be considerably lower than someone else's smaller fistula.Yeah, that's what I said earlier.
Of course there is a flashback, but we are talking about a VISABLE flashback, arn't we?
Of course there is a flashback, but we are talking about a VISABLE flashback, aren't we?Indeed, but with the importance of posterity here, I thought it important to make clear to those now (or in the future) who aren't familiar with what we're talking about that you are indeed flashing, you just aren't seeing it.I would hate for someone to think something's wrong with their access just because they couldn't see the flash that all of the folks online were talking about.
I Hate Dialysis Message Board
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