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Author Topic: Got My Fistula!  (Read 6941 times)
BASSMAN
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« on: September 25, 2009, 07:52:40 AM »
Hello all!

I had my fistula built yesterday.  So far everything is great.  I have very little pain today.  Just a little soreness.  I can hear the bruit and feel the thrill.  It sound good and strong.  I just pray the vein cooperates and matures like it is supposed to.  I will keep you posted.

Peace out!!
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Membranous Glomerulonephritis confirmed by biopsy in  April 1989
currently Stage IV CRF
GFR 18
Creatinine 3.9
AV fistula (radiocephalic) placed September 24, 2009
Began transplant evaluation November 11, 2009
Completed transplant eval and approved for transplant February 10, 2010
Received confirmation letter I am on the UNOS list February 18, 2010
Wife began donor testing March 1, 2010
Received living donor preemptive transplant from spouse July 22, 2010

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/phillipjohnsen
willowtreewren
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My two beautifull granddaughters

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« Reply #1 on: September 25, 2009, 08:29:13 AM »
Good news. Start exercising it when your surgeon tells you to. That's really important.

Aleta
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Wife to Carl, who has PKD.
Mother to Meagan, who has PKD.
Partner for NxStage HD August 2008 - February 2011.
Carl transplanted with cadaveric kidney, February 3, 2011. :)
KICKSTART
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« Reply #2 on: September 25, 2009, 08:34:03 AM »
Well done you! Was it bad? Asking cause ive yet to get mine made !  :pray;
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OH NO!!! I have Furniture Disease as well ! My chest has dropped into my drawers !
Zach
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« Reply #3 on: September 25, 2009, 08:40:17 AM »
 :2thumbsup;
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Uninterrupted in-center (self-care) hemodialysis since 1982 -- 34 YEARS on March 3, 2016 !!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No transplant.  Not yet, anyway.  Only decided to be listed on 11/9/06. Inactive at the moment.  ;)
I make films.

Just the facts: 70.0 kgs. (about 154 lbs.)
Treatment: Tue-Thur-Sat   5.5 hours, 2x/wk, 6 hours, 1x/wk
Dialysate flow (Qd)=600;  Blood pump speed(Qb)=315
Fresenius Optiflux-180 filter--without reuse
Fresenius 2008T dialysis machine
My KDOQI Nutrition (+/ -):  2,450 Calories, 84 grams Protein/day.

"Living a life, not an apology."
maritza0486
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« Reply #4 on: September 25, 2009, 11:53:20 AM »
Congrats and do not worry, it will keep working. Just listen to your docs and don't sleep on it, don't lift more than 5lbs (i wouldnt lift anything on it at all), and try not to lean or sleep on it. Everything should be fine. Good luck!
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~Diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease at age 17 (a month before turning 18)
~Kidney Transplant from sister February 10, 2005
~Transplant failed December 2008
~Began Dialysis for my very first time May 6, 2009
~Put on Transplant List on June 5, 2009
~Miraculous phone call from Montefiore about potential kidney August 31, 2009
~2nd Kidney Transplant!!! September 1, 2009
~Sep. 6, 2009 Creatnine 1.1 ---- Sep. 11, 2009 Creatnine 1.5 --- Sep. 18, 2009 Creatnine 1.3
~May 14, 2010 -- Creatnine 1.0!!!! I am healthier than ever. 8 months since 2nd transplant!!
tyefly
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« Reply #5 on: September 25, 2009, 01:16:46 PM »
  Good for you ....  I was a bit nervous getting my fistula....  and so far so good....  strange noise.... is it....

                 
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IgA Nephropathy   April 2009
CKD    May 2009
AV Fistula  June 2009
In-Center Dialysis   Sept 2009
Nxstage    Feb 2010
Extended Nxstage March 2011

Transplant Sept 2, 2011

  Hello from the Oregon Coast.....

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Brianna!
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« Reply #6 on: September 25, 2009, 03:24:50 PM »
Congrats!!! That's good that you have minimal pain!
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BASSMAN
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« Reply #7 on: September 26, 2009, 07:38:23 AM »
Quote from: KICKSTART on September 25, 2009, 08:34:03 AM
Well done you! Was it bad? Asking cause ive yet to get mine made !  :pray;

Everything went excellent.  I was quite surprised at how well the whole ordeal went.  Everyone that I dealt with at the outpatient center from reception desk to the nurse that wheeled me out to the car afterword was highly professional. 

I am surprised.  No bruising. Very little swelling.

I pray yours goes as well!
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Membranous Glomerulonephritis confirmed by biopsy in  April 1989
currently Stage IV CRF
GFR 18
Creatinine 3.9
AV fistula (radiocephalic) placed September 24, 2009
Began transplant evaluation November 11, 2009
Completed transplant eval and approved for transplant February 10, 2010
Received confirmation letter I am on the UNOS list February 18, 2010
Wife began donor testing March 1, 2010
Received living donor preemptive transplant from spouse July 22, 2010

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/phillipjohnsen
BASSMAN
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« Reply #8 on: September 26, 2009, 07:41:50 AM »
Quote from: tyefly on September 25, 2009, 01:16:46 PM
  Good for you ....  I was a bit nervous getting my fistula....  and so far so good....  strange noise.... is it....

               

Mine is really loud.  I can put it up next to my ear and it sound like the vein mapping machine when they checked my blood flow.  SWOOSH SWOOSH!!

I can feel the thrill several inches up the arm from the incision site!
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Membranous Glomerulonephritis confirmed by biopsy in  April 1989
currently Stage IV CRF
GFR 18
Creatinine 3.9
AV fistula (radiocephalic) placed September 24, 2009
Began transplant evaluation November 11, 2009
Completed transplant eval and approved for transplant February 10, 2010
Received confirmation letter I am on the UNOS list February 18, 2010
Wife began donor testing March 1, 2010
Received living donor preemptive transplant from spouse July 22, 2010

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/phillipjohnsen
BASSMAN
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« Reply #9 on: September 26, 2009, 07:50:34 AM »
Before:





After:
« Last Edit: September 26, 2009, 07:58:21 AM by BASSMAN » Logged
Membranous Glomerulonephritis confirmed by biopsy in  April 1989
currently Stage IV CRF
GFR 18
Creatinine 3.9
AV fistula (radiocephalic) placed September 24, 2009
Began transplant evaluation November 11, 2009
Completed transplant eval and approved for transplant February 10, 2010
Received confirmation letter I am on the UNOS list February 18, 2010
Wife began donor testing March 1, 2010
Received living donor preemptive transplant from spouse July 22, 2010

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/phillipjohnsen
Bajanne
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« Reply #10 on: September 26, 2009, 08:24:08 AM »
So glad that things are going well (and so glad to see you posting again!)   My grandson loved to listen to the sound of my graft!  Once I couldn't sleep with my arm near my ear - the sound was loud!!!  I have had so many re-routings that it isn't that audible to me anymore.
Hope things continue to go well with you.  Tell us all about your hemodialysis experiences when you start using your fistula.
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"To be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own ...but that which is based on faith"



I LOVE  my IHD family! :grouphug;
BASSMAN
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« Reply #11 on: September 26, 2009, 08:50:58 AM »
Quote from: Bajanne on September 26, 2009, 08:24:08 AM
So glad that things are going well (and so glad to see you posting again!)   My grandson loved to listen to the sound of my graft!  Once I couldn't sleep with my arm near my ear - the sound was loud!!!  I have had so many re-routings that it isn't that audible to me anymore.
Hope things continue to go well with you.  Tell us all about your hemodialysis experiences when you start using your fistula.

I certainly will, but I think I am going to try for a transplant.  My wife has offered to be tested and if she is not a match we will look into the kidney swap (paired donation) thingy.  It seems like there are a lot of issues to be addressed with that so who knows.  I have had a lot of people offer their kidneys to me (off the cuff) and I wonder how serious they are about it.  It kind of pisses me off that they offer so freely.  I know they mean well but I don't take them serious.  Hmmm.  a good topic for another thread maybe.  I am sure that subject has already been covered though.

Anyways the fistula is insurance and I hope I can transplant before I have to go on dialysis.

Shoot, I might stay at 20 GFR for years.  Who knows, but I have been slowly and steadily dropping.
Logged
Membranous Glomerulonephritis confirmed by biopsy in  April 1989
currently Stage IV CRF
GFR 18
Creatinine 3.9
AV fistula (radiocephalic) placed September 24, 2009
Began transplant evaluation November 11, 2009
Completed transplant eval and approved for transplant February 10, 2010
Received confirmation letter I am on the UNOS list February 18, 2010
Wife began donor testing March 1, 2010
Received living donor preemptive transplant from spouse July 22, 2010

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/phillipjohnsen
KICKSTART
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« Reply #12 on: September 26, 2009, 12:52:35 PM »
Quote from: BASSMAN on September 26, 2009, 07:50:34 AM
Before:





After:




WHERE????????????   You mean that small red line near your wrist ? If thats it then WOW ! I was expecting either a dressing or a long cut , good few stitches etc ! To be honest , it doesnt look half as brutal as this tunnel line they put in my neck ! Im amazed !
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OH NO!!! I have Furniture Disease as well ! My chest has dropped into my drawers !
BASSMAN
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« Reply #13 on: September 26, 2009, 02:32:18 PM »
I was amazed too.  A one inch incision and NO STITCHES on the outside.  They used butterfly tape and I pulled it off after 24 hours and now I cover it with two band aides. I had seen these pictures of  big scars and I was expecting something like that. 
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Membranous Glomerulonephritis confirmed by biopsy in  April 1989
currently Stage IV CRF
GFR 18
Creatinine 3.9
AV fistula (radiocephalic) placed September 24, 2009
Began transplant evaluation November 11, 2009
Completed transplant eval and approved for transplant February 10, 2010
Received confirmation letter I am on the UNOS list February 18, 2010
Wife began donor testing March 1, 2010
Received living donor preemptive transplant from spouse July 22, 2010

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/phillipjohnsen
willowtreewren
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My two beautifull granddaughters

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« Reply #14 on: September 26, 2009, 03:01:22 PM »
You had a good surgeon!

My husband did too. His fistula is more developed now, though.

Aleta
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Wife to Carl, who has PKD.
Mother to Meagan, who has PKD.
Partner for NxStage HD August 2008 - February 2011.
Carl transplanted with cadaveric kidney, February 3, 2011. :)
Stoday
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« Reply #15 on: September 26, 2009, 04:56:00 PM »
Mine's had three months to develop. You should see how much it's swelled up in the three months. God knows what it will look like after nine...

 :bandance;
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Diagnosed stage 3 CKD May 2003
AV fistula placed June 2009
Started hemo July 2010
Heart Attacks June 2005; October 2010; July 2011
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« Reply #16 on: September 27, 2009, 08:01:47 AM »
Well i hope mine looks like yours ! Im not vain but yours is so neat ! The only thing i do know is that they do put stitches in ours ..i wonder why ? Anyone know why they use stitches instead of butterflies or even glue ive heard some mention .
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OH NO!!! I have Furniture Disease as well ! My chest has dropped into my drawers !
BASSMAN
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« Reply #17 on: September 27, 2009, 11:52:12 AM »
Quote from: Stoday on September 26, 2009, 04:56:00 PM
Mine's had three months to develop. You should see how much it's swelled up in the three months. God knows what it will look like after nine...

 :bandance;


 How long did it take to see the vein starting to puff up?
Logged
Membranous Glomerulonephritis confirmed by biopsy in  April 1989
currently Stage IV CRF
GFR 18
Creatinine 3.9
AV fistula (radiocephalic) placed September 24, 2009
Began transplant evaluation November 11, 2009
Completed transplant eval and approved for transplant February 10, 2010
Received confirmation letter I am on the UNOS list February 18, 2010
Wife began donor testing March 1, 2010
Received living donor preemptive transplant from spouse July 22, 2010

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/phillipjohnsen
Brianna!
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« Reply #18 on: September 27, 2009, 12:49:57 PM »
That's your scar?!? Aw man. Lucky! Mine is really thick. And icky looking. It just looks like a tiny little cut. I'm jealous!
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Stoday
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« Reply #19 on: September 27, 2009, 01:50:20 PM »
Quote from: BASSMAN on September 27, 2009, 11:52:12 AM
How long did it take to see the vein starting to puff up?

About a month.

I used to think a fistula looked ugly, but now I've got one for myself it looks fine.
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Diagnosed stage 3 CKD May 2003
AV fistula placed June 2009
Started hemo July 2010
Heart Attacks June 2005; October 2010; July 2011
myleftkidney
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« Reply #20 on: September 30, 2009, 12:19:59 AM »
Great pictures. I'm getting mine done in the same spot next week.

I see that in the second picture you are not wearing your wedding ring.  Have you been advised not to wear it? If so, is that permanent?

I was told to remove it for the surgery but nothing was said about whether this was temporary or permanent.

What is the experience of others here?
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Sunny
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Sunny
« Reply #21 on: September 30, 2009, 02:38:31 PM »
Wow, that looks really good. Nice to have it as "insurance" in case the transplant possibility takes a while.
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Sunny, 49 year old female
 pre-dialysis with GoodPastures
BASSMAN
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« Reply #22 on: September 30, 2009, 04:20:59 PM »
Quote from: myleftkidney on September 30, 2009, 12:19:59 AM
Great pictures. I'm getting mine done in the same spot next week.

I see that in the second picture you are not wearing your wedding ring.  Have you been advised not to wear it? If so, is that permanent?

I was told to remove it for the surgery but nothing was said about whether this was temporary or permanent.

What is the experience of others here?

I took the ring off as a precaution in case my hand swelled up.  I only had a little swelling around the incision and soreness.  I put it back on a day or so ago and I intend on wearing it all the time like I always did.  If I notice swelling I will remove it.  It was big when I got it and when I don't have edema it can slip off.
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Membranous Glomerulonephritis confirmed by biopsy in  April 1989
currently Stage IV CRF
GFR 18
Creatinine 3.9
AV fistula (radiocephalic) placed September 24, 2009
Began transplant evaluation November 11, 2009
Completed transplant eval and approved for transplant February 10, 2010
Received confirmation letter I am on the UNOS list February 18, 2010
Wife began donor testing March 1, 2010
Received living donor preemptive transplant from spouse July 22, 2010

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/phillipjohnsen
BASSMAN
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« Reply #23 on: September 30, 2009, 04:25:01 PM »
6 Days post-op.

A little sore, a little swelling left. still buzzing and has a good swoosh swoosh sound to it.  No noticeable development of the vein yet.



And a chance to show off my gold medical ID bracelet!!
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Membranous Glomerulonephritis confirmed by biopsy in  April 1989
currently Stage IV CRF
GFR 18
Creatinine 3.9
AV fistula (radiocephalic) placed September 24, 2009
Began transplant evaluation November 11, 2009
Completed transplant eval and approved for transplant February 10, 2010
Received confirmation letter I am on the UNOS list February 18, 2010
Wife began donor testing March 1, 2010
Received living donor preemptive transplant from spouse July 22, 2010

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/phillipjohnsen
Stoday
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« Reply #24 on: September 30, 2009, 05:11:44 PM »
Quote from: BASSMAN on September 30, 2009, 04:25:01 PM
No noticeable development of the vein yet.

What do you expect? It's still a virgin fistula. Hasn't had a prick yet (from a needle).

 ;)
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Diagnosed stage 3 CKD May 2003
AV fistula placed June 2009
Started hemo July 2010
Heart Attacks June 2005; October 2010; July 2011
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