I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: frankswife on September 04, 2012, 11:15:36 AM
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Frank was supposed to have had his first dialysis session today. It didn't work. They were unable to get the second needle to work because the vein kept cannulating (?) I hope I'm saying that right. The vein collapsed I guess. So now Frank's neph wants the veins to rest a week before they try again. Apparently Frank was supposed to have been squeezing a ball this whole time to build up the vein and no one ever told us that. I really feel that fistula isnt ready. It's only a little over 4 months old. Thoughts?
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Canulating is the act of inserting the needles. Infiltrate is when the needle goes through the vein. Clotting is when you feel no buzz or thrill it is just clotted and usually has to be decloted at the surgery center.
Yes you are to squeeze a soft ball to mature the fistula. It has been mentioned on this site lots of times.... but hey, you can't read it all.........
Hope next week turns out good.
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Frank was supposed to have had his first dialysis session today. It didn't work. They were unable to get the second needle to work because the vein kept cannulating (?) I hope I'm saying that right. The vein collapsed I guess. So now Frank's neph wants the veins to rest a week before they try again. Apparently Frank was supposed to have been squeezing a ball this whole time to build up the vein and no one ever told us that. I really feel that fistula isnt ready. It's only a little over 4 months old. Thoughts?
Exercising a fistula is paramount in helping it to mature and become strong. Here are a few good links on fistula care and approved exercises.
http://www.esrdnet15.org/QI/exerfist.pdf
http://www.fistulafirst.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=puiGBUWIl0o%3D&tabid=98
http://www.royalfree.nhs.uk/pip_admin/docs/AVF_care_1089.pdf
http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/cne/documents/health_education/patient_education_handouts/avfist.pdf
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The doctor once told me that depending on how good your veins are and age also depends on how fast your fistula will mature. Mine was good in 1 1/2 months but the doctor said it could take some people like 8 months before there's would be ready. They told me to use a stress ball but didn't give me one so I wound up using a tennis ball.
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Frankswife, don't be discouraged--it's common for a fistula not to work right at first. That's what happened to me, and I ended up with a permacath for the first two months. Squeezing a ball really does help develop the access.
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I had my fistula op in April, I've been doing all the right things re: exercise, but now I have to go in and have a 'balloon' procedure because of a stenosis. Luckily I am pre-D so hopefully they'll get it sorted before I need to use it!!
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It can take up to a whole year for a fistula to mature.