Anyone have a leg graft

[lynnrlpd1]

I am not able to have a fistula or graft in my arm as my veins are too small.  They are talking PD which I really don't have any interest in.  We talked about a leg graft and my doctor said most people do well with them and that was an option.  He said surgeons don't like to do them as they are hard to do.   Am I understanding correctly of course you can still get an infection from the leg graft but it is not as bad as the permacath infections.  Is that right?

[jbeany]

A graft or fistula is always going to have less chance of an infection than a permacath.  The cath is essentially an opening directly into your blood stream that never really closes.  The graft or fistula is only open when you are accessing it with needles.  You are going to need to make sure you get a really, really good surgeon for a leg access, though.  Nerve damage or other complications are a risk with any access surgery.  A complication with an arm site puts you in a sling, but one in your leg could land you in a wheelchair.  I think that makes the docs more hesitant to suggest them.

 Have you gotten a second (or third) opinion on the arm access?  I thought the whole point of a graft was that it was an option when your veins are too small for a fistula, so it surprises me that they have already ruled out an arm access.  Did they try one already?   

[noahvale]

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[Lillupie]

I would live with a permacath before using my legs or going on PD. 

AND what is wrong with PD?

[lynnrlpd1]

Thank you for all the info everyone.  Well when this all started, I went to the surgeon in the Dallas area that was suppose to be the best - older gentleman.  He refused to do my arms with a fistula or graft - said it wouldn't work,  so I went to the 2nd best surgeon - a younger one highly recommended also and he tried twice and the fistulas didn't work.  Now I have heard of people trying 3 or 4 times and getting it but I have decided to give PD a try.

[jbeany]

I would live with a permacath before using my legs or going on PD. 

AND what is wrong with PD?

Down, girl!     Noah is only commenting on his choice, not yours!  For diabetics, it's an almost guaranteed huge weight gain.  For swimmers, it's a death sentence to their favorite sport.  To most who need to do a lot of heavy lifting at their job, it means no longer working.  I didn't want to do PD because of the weight issue, since I'm Type 1. 

[justme15]

I thought you could swim with a PD catheter after the exit site healed?

[Lillupie]

I thought you could swim with a PD catheter after the exit site healed?

NOoooo not at all. Well I was told it was possible in the ocean. I think you have to go to a medical supply store to get one of those bags to put the cath in. I dont remember the name since I never used on myself.

[noahvale]

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