fistula

[BRANDY]

I had my fistula done today. It doesnt hurt yet  it is still numb. By the bandage it is a small incision.  Are you supposed to feel or hear the thrill right away . As I donot  ,The doc used stethescope to hear it said it was ok.

[Chris]

I did not at first, but the fistula needs to mature also. Since it was just done, the don't expect to hear much yet, you'll probably feel pain first and then do not want to even touch it. When you lay down at night and all is quiet, you can hear it with your ear up next to it when it matures more.

I hope they advised you to do exercises soon with a squeeze ball to help mature the fistula.

Hope you do not have to much pain Brandy

[Tinah1968]

Hey your doing really well if you can type after your fistula. I slept for 12 hours from the medication. :-) i agree Chris she will feel the pain before the "thrill" Once you hear it and feel it it is pretty neat...  he's also right ask about exercising it to get it mature.

[staceyand joe92]

My fistula was very faint in the beginning. I did have some pain for the first few days.  After 6 weeks it is very easy to find.

[BRANDY]

I can hear it now  it is really neat to the sound it makes . I am doing ok  with it it is still numb. I dont know what she used but it is goood  no pain yet. I know   it will come when it wears off.  No the doc or nurses didnt say a word about a ball.  If it wasnt for the ihd and davita  people I wouldnt know about it .  SO  do I do a ball right away or wait till it heals in a few days,weeks or what.  that I really dont know.

[TwistedKitten]

congrats on getting the fistula...i used a stress ball right away...not for a long period of time as i didn't want to push it too fast. like a minute. and gradually increases it. and as the weeks went by i noticed the 'whoosh-whoosh' better. after a few weeks i could here it through a pillow...and the feel is kinda neat. you should be able to feel it, even slightly....my first surgery to create the fistula in my left arm...failed...i never felt anything on that arm. when they created the one i now have in my right arm...i could feel the buzzing right away...make sure to try and feel it everyday to make sure it's still working....but wait till the pain killers kick in lol....but yeah...i've only been using mine a couple weeks now..and i feel better than when i had my line...

good luck.
hope it works really great for you

[pelagia]

glad to hear it went well 

[Rerun]

Wait a couple of weeks before ball exercise.

[okarol]

Here's a related thread How do I take care of my fistula? http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=9772.0

[BRANDY]

Thanks okarol for the website Im going there now.

[paul.karen]

Good News Brandy.
I am glad you can hear it and i hope that it all works out well for you

Any pain yet?   hope not.

[BRANDY]

To my surprise Im having very little pain , I thought it was really bad but so far it is fine.  I have a small amount of bruising coming out from under bandage. Some swelling , but not as much as I would think.   I called to see when I can take off bandage ,  Am I wrong or is there suposed to be some kind of vibration to it .  If so  I havnt felt that yet. Everytime I woke up last night I would listen to wrist, I am amazed at it.

[BRANDY]

OOPS  since my last posting  I lifted my sleve and there it was. One large bruise coming in to play  I just thought I had it whooped. Hope pain doesnt accompany it. hahaha What next.

[paddbear0000]

You're very lucky to have so little pain and swelling. I'm a week out from surgery and I am still in a great deal of pain, have horrible swelling and now also have fluid build up from the incision in my inner elbow all the way to my fingers. I didn't have any bruising at all, but I sure would trade what I've got now for a completely black and blue arm! My arm barely fits in any of the sleeves of my shirts!   

[BRANDY]

paddbear-- Have you called your doc  if so does he say it is normal. I have just a hint of fever in what swelling I do have.  The pain is a little more than earlier but Im not taking  any pain meds. Hope I dont get an infection, thats what I worry about.  Oh well as they say  dont cry over spilt milk.  Sure hope you get to feeling better.

[paddbear0000]

My surgeon says it is normal and my nephrologist looked at it yesterday and said it was fine. So, I guess it is normal. I am miserable unless on double doses of Tylenol or have taken a vicoden! I constantly have my arm held up vertically just so I can move my fingers and wrist.

[Tinah1968]

Sorry Padd it shoud go away in about a week...

[BRANDY]

I took my bandage off and incision looks awful ,swelling is down more  I can feel my fingers about normal.  my incision is about4 to 5 inches is that normal length of an incision. ?

[pelagia]

I've seen some pictures here and I think that sounds about right on the length of the scar.