I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: tattooscott on January 20, 2014, 08:30:06 PM
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My arm with the fistula had not been able to be used for dialysis. They kept infiltrating my veins and letting blood under the skin. So, my arm has been swollen quite a bit. Every time they tried to use the fistula, it would work for a few min then the machine would start beeping. And they would either have to use one of the tubes still in my chest or both. Last Thursday, at dialysis, the tech was trying to put needles into my fistula arm, but was having problems. They got out the Doppler and only got a shallow sound of blood flow. She, was able to suction some stuff out and it seemed to be clots of blood. They called UNM-Albuquerque, which is and 1 1/2 hour drive away, to see about getting me an emergency apt for a declot. They said it could be very dangerous and I needed to get there asap. So, my wife took me there and they injected my arm with a dye to see blood flow on the machine. The doctor found there was no blood clots in my veins as the techs thought, but that the main artery had too many smaller branches of veins "stealing" blood. Therefore, the fistula wasn't working as well as it should. So, he inserted six tiny (0.032 mm diameter) coils into my vein to block off the branches. On the fifth and sixth one, we were able to see the vein plump up as it should be. I was given a local anesthetic, but it hurt like f***. And I was not given any pain meds to take later. So, my question is, how do these affect my veins going forward? Could they move around and get dislodged and possibly end up in my heart? Will the tech be able to use this arm with these coils in? Will it make dialysis more difficult or easier? How will it affect insertion of needles in dialysis? I am so concerned. lol my wife typed it lol
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They have "Doppler" at your center? ???
I have heard of going in to have the "feeder veins tied off but not coils. New to me. Let us know how dialysis goes with the needles and such.
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Pain is starting to go away. Doctor hasn't released for use till next week. Will post what happens then. But other than that I feel pretty good today (day after dialysis).