I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: F.A.Q. (Frequently Asked Questions) => Topic started by: idahospud on January 17, 2009, 09:00:18 AM
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not Sher what to do . ??? my gfr is 17 the Dr. is toking about going ahead and pouting in my fistula . so at what gfr did some of you git your fistula and what are some of the restrictions you have after it has healed? I'm whored wether i can still do my job after i git my fistula I'm a CNA and mentel health TeX . i us my upper body a lot . thanks in avians for all your help. Carol
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I started D when my GFR was about 16 but had the fistula created a bit before. I had hoped to be able to wait for it to fully mature before starting but ended up with a permacath anyway in order to start D because I felt wretched. I wish I had had the fistula done earlier but things slid downhill quite quickly. If I were you (but of course I'm not, so you'll need to make your own decision) I'd have it done so it can have time to heal and mature. The thing to remember about caring for it is not to cut the circulation off in any way at any time. Your doctor can best advise you about your work activities.
Good luck Idahospud.
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Your fistula needs 6 months to heal before you can use it. So, may as well get it now. You will not be able to lift much with that arm and you have to be careful not to reduce circulation on that arm. Like no more putting your purse strap over that arm or shoulder. Also get a rubber ball to squeeze to help your fistula mature. Don't start with the rubber ball squeezing until 2 to 3 weeks after surgery.
This sucks, I know, but if you wait too long then not only do you get the fistula but you get a lovely Permacath hanging out your chest.
Your job cannot fire you due to health problems. They need to find you a desk job.
Once you start dialysis you will be eligible for disability. You may want to look into that.
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:flower;
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Did you get a fistula, Idahospud?
You will read from many folks that their functioning held steady for a long time and then dripped like a rock. That happened to my husband. But thank goodness his fistula was in place.
Aleta
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willowtreewren thanks for asking I'm going in 5/6 for my vane mapping and5/7 for my fistula . MY CRIT is up to 3.7 and GFR is now 13 . your right it can drop fast . I'm quit nervous to do this I hope the anxiety will go away after I git it don . I toked to my boss and she promest me to keep my job and do all she can to see that I don't have to lift to much wt. and work with ency restrictions I mite have . which Mead me feel better I'm glad i have a good boss wish me luck and thanks for all of your support her at IHD Carol
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this is not an answer but rather a related (i hope) question.
I thought the fistala would be usable in 10 weeks. Am I day dreaming. I also waited too long. In november the doctor said I could make it a couple more years without dialysis. In Jan was down to "now". I waited until April and had cath and fistala at same time two weeks ago. Now doing D with cath and thought it was to be about 10 weeks.
Now my question: Everyone talks about a trill. I can't feel it. Twice I may have. Doctors, nurses etc say they feel it and its strong. If I can feel it and I can check it daily, what could happen if it doesn't trilll till my next D session when the nurse will check isj?
I need a keeper
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this is not an answer but rather a related (i hope) question.
I thought the fistala would be usable in 10 weeks. Am I day dreaming. I also waited too long. In november the doctor said I could make it a couple more years without dialysis. In Jan was down to "now". I waited until April and had cath and fistala at same time two weeks ago. Now doing D with cath and thought it was to be about 10 weeks.
Now my question: Everyone talks about a trill. I can't feel it. Twice I may have. Doctors, nurses etc say they feel it and its strong. If I can feel it and I can check it daily, what could happen if it doesn't trilll till my next D session when the nurse will check isj?
I need a keeper
Are you exercising it?
8)
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Zach, no I'm not. I thought I was supposed to wait 2 weeks which will be next monday. I use the left arm a little for things like shutting doors, etc. I have my squeeze toys ready to go.
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Dan,
My husband's vascular surgeon declared his fistula ready to use in 6 weeks. He didn't have to, though. Once you start exercising it, keep it up.
If you can feel any thrill, it should be fine. I used to worry about my husband's fistula because I couldn't feel the thrill all the way along it. The neph and nurses assured me that every thing was fine and it is a GREAT fistula. I'm anal retentive about things, so I understand your concerns.
Aleta
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Do you have to excursus it for ever or just tell you start to us it ?
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Hi, Idaho,
The exercises are squeezing a squishy ball several times a day. That strengthens and enlarges the fistula.
Be sure to ask questions of your medical team and listen carefully to directions. You'll do great.
Aleta
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I'm going in to git my fistula in a cupola of hrs wish me luke . Carol
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Good luck, Carol!
Let us know how it goes. . . :2thumbsup;
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Dan,
My husband's vascular surgeon declared his fistula ready to use in 6 weeks. He didn't have to, though. Once you start exercising it, keep it up.
If you can feel any thrill, it should be fine. I used to worry about my husband's fistula because I couldn't feel the thrill all the way along it. The neph and nurses assured me that every thing was fine and it is a GREAT fistula. I'm anal retentive about things, so I understand your concerns.
Aleta
You may be getting a Fistula mixed up with a Graft. Fistulas are made from your own artery and vein and the vein has to mature at least six months to a year. A graft is usuable within 4 to 6 weeks. A graft is made from a man made substance.
I would rather have a graft but they insist on giving me a fistula.
Techs and Nurses call them both fistulas. Kind of like Kleenix for any tissue.
Dan if you can't feel the thrill, ask the nurse to use her stethascope to hear it. :secret;
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I can feel it now. I was trying the wrong place. It is a fistala... but the surgeon said it would take 10 weeks. He also said not to let anyone use it until he give the ok...
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Good luck today, Carol.
Rerun, My husband has a fistula, too. In fact, every doctor or nurse who has seen it marvels at how good it is. He had a REALLY good vascular surgeon. At 6 weeks, the surgeon assured my husband that his fistula COULD be used, but of course, he wasn't on dialysis yet.
The fistula is long and fairly straight with one "dog-leg" in the middle. I can ladder up it for three weeks before having to start at the bottom again. I love that fistula. There was another NxStage trainee in the center when I was out of town and my husband had to dialyze in center. Her fistlua was so crooked and short that the nurses (and they are good) couldn't cannulate her. She had gone to a different surgeon. :'(
Aleta
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Good luck Carol on the fistula placement. :basket: :bunny: :flower;
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thanks for all the good wishs . i have to go back in tomorrow as the Dr or i can git the thrill or here pulse today . so i hope the sekent one dus better. ill let you know how this one gos thnks agin thay help Carol
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I'll be thinking about you, Carol. :cheer:
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well I'm back it bin a rilly rilly long week . I have had 2 fistula clot off .got a bug :puke; and spent 4 days in the hospital and still don't have a fistula in . I see the Dr Monday and we will try again . it wasn't Sposato be this hard i wonned to thank all of you for your support Carol
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Sorry for all your troubles. I know the feeling though. I had a graft that lasted 5 years. I was soooo happy :cheer: Then they put one in my left arm. It took 4 months to get the thing working. Finally it did but as we went on I got less and less good dialysis >:(. After about 1 1/2 years, my clearance level was only about 40%. Talk about bad dialysis. Anyway, so now I have one in my upper right arm. It is called a HeRO vascular access device. Does anyone else have that?
But I hope they get it working for you. Good luck! ;D
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glad you are back
I do love a nice Idahosup!
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I am sorry the week has been so bad. You have had a rough time. I hope things start getting better. :cuddle;
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:grouphug; :grouphug; Graft problems and fistula problems are a pain in the ___ (arm, but I like the way you think.)
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:thx; for all the support .i let you know how Monday go's i think there going to go for the upper right arm . and i like idahospud mash with the works how bout you Carol :grouphug;
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I'll be thinking of you all day, today, Carol.
Hope it goes perfectly. :cheer:
Aleta
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I hope it is OK to highjack this thread and ask a question. What is the difference between a graft and a fistula? My doc said it would only take 4-6 weeks for a fistula to mature enough to use it so he hasn't said anything about me getting one yet. Should I ask him about putting one in? I will be on dialysis within a year or so he said.
Thanks,
Dyanna
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I think it will take longer than 4 to 6 weeks. I was told 10. Have had it 6 1/2 weeks and they tell me it isn't mature enough to use....But I'm relatively new at this so maybe you shouldn't listen to my advise.
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I hope it is OK to highjack this thread and ask a question. What is the difference between a graft and a fistula? My doc said it would only take 4-6 weeks for a fistula to mature enough to use it so he hasn't said anything about me getting one yet. Should I ask him about putting one in? I will be on dialysis within a year or so he said.
Thanks,
Dyanna
A graft is an artificial vein that's hooked up to your vascular system but a fistula hooks up your own artery to your own vein, so it's all natural all you. Better than a graft if it works.
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You're so keen to start dialysis dyannalw! When I was expected to need HD in a year, there was no need for a fistula. When the forecast dropped to six months, it was arranged promptly. Created last week. I was told it would take 6 to 8 weeks to mature. Forecast now is that I'll be using it in 5 months time.
Hope all will go well for you in the future.
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Well I'm back with 2 upper arm fistulas and working . I do have to go back and have one in the left arm grafted to the one in the right arm . The DR. is telling me that i oafishly have shitty vanes its bin a long month but i get a month or two off before going back . i rill like to thank all you for your support :grouphug; Carol