He's back

[Vt Big Rig]

Long absence on my part. I lost my right arm access in August. We started using upper left arm, which had a year old fistula in it. Nothing but problems. Needed tech to come about every three days as dear wife could not get needles in correctly or get good flow. The happened several times. My wife was really getting upset about her inability to get it to work. Finally even the tech could not get it to run. Either no flow of obvious short circuiting. Guess what, not the wife's problem. Left arm has only a flow of about 200. They did a Doppler on right arm and it's flow is great. Nobody can explain to me why it stopped working in August but it works now.
New clinic has convinced us to use buttonholes so dear wife is trying to learn those. It's a process. But she would never relent to allow me self cannulation with the sharps we used. Now she is willing to let me learn and try.

So all this , and running slower on new fistula, and even using both arms for a few days has helped to keep me away. I'm afraid I sadly neglected my " moderator" duties. I'll try to do Bette.
It is good to be back.

[cassandra]

Men o men, glad that's sorted now, and welcome back Vt

   


Love, luck, strength, Cas

[Charlie B53]

I was thinking you either broke your computer and like me wasn't going to buy one of the new ones yet, or left it at home and take your machine on an extended vacation to someplace much warmer.

Needlephobic as I am I'm sure it can be frustrating when sticks do not go so well.    You both are to be commended for your diligence, I would have given up long ago.

Give her a hug and be sure to say "Thanks", she has earned it also, and same goes for you!

[Vt Big Rig]

You can say that again, Charlie. They would try 4 needles some days. And several infiltration. It was getting very frustrating.  We seem to be back on track. But I think I've learned to expect the unexpected.

[MooseMom]

I'm very glad to hear that you seem to be back on track!

[kickingandscreaming]

So many hemo people having trouble with fistulas lately.  It's quite worrisome. I have no experience with them (yet), but I wish you all a good resolution.

[Michael Murphy]

Actually I feel sorrier for your wife since my guess is she takes this seriously and is not pleased when she thinks she failed.  Make sure to do something nice for her since she definitely is a keeper.  Good luck my guess is the Fistula gods have a sense of humor straight from the three stooges but my hope is you get clear sailing from now on.






sp mod Cas

[justagirl2325]

As a wife that has failed with needles, it is extremely frustrating.  There were days I'd have to stick him 4-5 times to get it in the right spot (using the buttonholes nurses established).  I'd finally get him on and then I would disappear out of his line of sight to cry it out.

It's better now but we have almost 2.5 years on dialysis.  This last time after they sent us home this October with their buttonholes I tried them, one was ok but ended up creating one of my own.

Fistula's suck but after the catheter experience he had, I hope he never has to go back to that.

Glad yours is working again.

[Vt Big Rig]

No question it was harder on her. But I have all the faith in the world she will get the hang of it.

We've been married 41 years. I hope she's not going anywhere!!!!