Fistula: How many surgeries before you got it working?

[RightSide]

On August 12, I had my FOURTH fistula surgery.

My first fistula was put in, in late March.  It clotted, about five weeks later.

My second fistula was put in, in early July.  It ruptured in less than a day, making the vein useless.

My third fistula was put in, in mid July.  It occluded about four weeks later, something called "neointimal hyperplasia."

So now I'm on my FOURTH fistula, which like I said was done on August 12.

The bruit in that one appears to be weakening too.  So far, I haven't gotten even ONE DAY's worth of use out of any of them.

But my surgeon said that a graft won't work for me either--neointimal hyperplasia is even MORE likely with a graft than with a fistula.

Tell me truly:  How many fistula procedures do you go through before you give up and decide to just live with a catheter?  I hate catheters, but I don't seem to have a lot of good choices right now.

[dwcrawford]

Fistula put in end of April.  Six weeks later the surgeon said it was mature enough for use and sent a diagram to the dialysis unit.  They successfully used one needle for a couple of weeks then went to 2 needles and starting screwing up the whole then.  I waited and waited then about 3 weeks ago went for the PICTURES.  Again, the surgeon said it was good and should be usuable and that I should find the two best cannulators and only let them do it.  I did.  We fought.  My doctors won (or I won).  Pictures looked just like the original ones.  It had been working beautifully for two weeks now.   Disgusted over the process but happy at last and I intend to keep my two good Stickers ladies.  Or Else.

[cookie2008]

My first fistula was done May 07, didnt work. Then I went to a different surgeon in June 07 and he did another av fistula in the same arm, then after 2 months the surgeon went in and raised it within the first two weeks it failed. In Nov 08 I went to a specialist that does av fistulas and he put one in my other arm and this one worked, two fistulagrams and fistula ballooning we are good but were having a problem infiltrating so in May 09 the really good surgeon raised my fistula and its been good, my husband puts my needles in.

[Rerun]

Mine will do fine for a few months and then need a revision. I hate that.  I envy people who have had the same fistula for 14 plus years and still going strong.  I just hate access problems.  I would get a graft if they would let me but they won't.  I think they make more money off fistulas.

               

[RightSide]

Mine will do fine for a few months and then need a revision. I hate that.

What exactly does this "revision" consist of?  An angioplasty?

Because with my surgeon, the only "revision" he ever offers me is another fistula surgical procedure on yet another vein.