blood pressure cuff on fistula arm

[PVUgrad]

We had the sign overhead...the girl was short and claimed she didn't see it.
After talking with anyone and everyone who would listen to me about the repeated use of his "fistula arm",
I took some tape and wrote "NO BP" and actually stuck it on his arm!

[Riki]

When I go in for surgery, I write 'Fistula - do not use" on my left arm.. It's on charts and all, but I like to make sure they know

[FineWhine]

That wrist band is a good idea. They always put the green NO LATEX band on me, but a nice fat juicy NO B/P band - why don't they do that? I was having my tunnel catheter removed and the nurse starts to put the cuff on my fistula arm - good thing they didn't knock me out for that, I could say something.

The nurses never look over the bed for signs - I have had them stick bandaids on me and then rip them off with at least one layer of skin. Adhesives are a real no no with me - esp 3M tape, tegoderm, any wound coverings. Guess I need a wrist band for that too!

Let's go into business!!! Wrist bands for all of us!!

[natnnnat]

Hey I came across this product via KidneyKorner http://kidneykorner.com/smfbb/index.php?topic=3983.msg33255#msg33255,
its just what we were talking about.  Very excited because it doesnt just tell them in big red letters, "no no no, rack off"
it also stops people from being *able* to use the fistula to take blood.

but you could probably still take blood pressure over it couldn't you?
see photo.

http://nonosleeve.com/

[Stoday]

I absolutely could not possibly wear that!

It's got two outrageous solecisms. Was it conceived by a greengrocer? 

[Dannyboy]

---"nonosleeve"
Wonder how I could make it glow in the dark 'cause hospital rooms 'round here aren't very well illuminated during the sleeping hours....

[JohnJ]

When ever I am heading for a Fistulagram or if I have to go to the ER I use a kid's removable marker pen and write on my fistula arm DO NOT USE! in big red letters. I don't take any chances. I also have it on the medication card I carry in my wallet.

[texasstyle]

writing it on the arm with a marker, or even on the medical tape like in the picture is a great idea!  They put a wrist band on but unless you realy look at it you can't tell what it says.

[natnnnat]

I absolutely could not possibly wear that!
It's got two outrageous solecisms. Was it conceived by a greengrocer? 

  well yes, that's a fairly shameful problem with it there's no doubt about that. 

[Desert Dancer]

Exactly! I got word that is staying until at least Wed. Taking a felt tip pen and writing on his arm, AND talking to the nurse manager as it almost happened again today, because the nurse read HER left, not his.

What an idiot!     

That's it, I'm getting a med alert tattoo on my fistula arm. They can't miss that.

[jbeany]

My grafts, both upper and lower arm are both clotted off.  In theory, there's no reason why they can't take a bp there anymore.  Blood sticks are a bit more complicated, of course - how do you find a vein in the scarred up mess?  But I've ended up having to deal with the signs and the markers anyhow, because I've got so many metal stents in the grafts.  If they try to take the bp over the grafts they never get an accurate reading because I'm levitating out of my seat in pain..... 

[Ang]

any ones trys again, wrap the cuff around their neck and press start


tattoo on the upper arm that says "no thanks"

[talker]

Oh boy, this is also one that needs to recirculate .   

Guard that fistula or graft.

Whom ever tries to   

talker

[MommyChick]

Oh boy, this is also one that needs to recirculate .   

Guard that fistula or graft.

Whom ever tries to   

talker

   Excellent point!! 
 I'm 6 months post transplant and I still don't let people near it! Now I will say when I have been in the hospital I did have a color wrist band that said not to use, but I still made sure everyone entering my hospital room knew not to use it!
Best of luck all! 

[ianch]

wow freaky,  I know that in NZ most nurses and Phlebotomist's wont touch a Fistula arm.  It must be in their training.  So so important as its a lifeline.  Granted it can be usually replaced but I know that i only want 1, so i treat it like crystal glass.   

[MommyChick]

Granted it can be usually replaced but I know that i only want 1, so i treat it like crystal glass.

I am with you on this! I have had 1 fistula and its been going on 8 years with no problems, but just like you I baby it too even after transplant, you can't be to careful 

[Michael Murphy]

 :last year before start hd I had surgery to repair a rotor cuff tear in my right shoulder when I was admitted they put a red band on my left arm to stop bp on the left arm.  They put a automated bp cuff on my right arm after surgery .  Every time that censored cuff expanded the pain in my right arm went up.  So did my blood pressure.  After about three hours two doctors and a nurse arrived to give me a stronger dose of bp medication.  I  said no that my bp was up because every time it in flatbed my shoulder felt like it was coming apart.  The doctors insisted but thank god the nurse was there she went and got the biggest bp cuff I have ever seen and put it on my leg.  Thanks to the nurse my bp dropped right down to normal.

[obsidianom]

I hate automated cuffs. They cause more pressure and pain and are very inacurate. I still do all blood pressures the old fashioned way with a manual cuff and stethascope. I even do this for my wife during dialysis. She used to hate the pain from the automated cuff.