I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: Loretta on August 05, 2008, 10:40:53 PM
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I am having major problems with my access. I have had lots of blood clots the first ones more than twenty years ago, and they damaged by kidneys, and hit my lungs as well as filled my arm and legs. I have had them in my arms and legs several times over the years. This spring I had one of my kidneys removed due to cancer and repeated infections. After the surgery my upper central area was blocked off with blood clots. They put a perma cath in my leg. I have had it replaced several times. Once due to infection, and several times just because it quit working. The Doctor keeps saying he is looking for a test to see if my leg can support a graph or a fistula. Sometimes they get frustrated and ask why I don't do PD. I have had three surgeries on my abdomen, and I am scared to death of an infection. Does anyone have a fistula or a graph in the leg.? How does it work and why was it put there?
I wear a cotton knit dress with a pair of shorts underneath with a whole cut out so the techs can get to my perma cath when I go to dialysis. This winter I guess I'll fix some sweats with a velcro patch to remove for dialysis. (I am in Phoenix AZ now, but hopefully in about a month I am going to move to Salt lake City UT,)
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I had a friend who had an access in her thigh. Not sure if it was a graft or fistula. She said it was the only usuable spot left. I know it worked OK for her most of the time. She recently got a transplant! Yeah!!
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I wanted a leg access, to save my other arm from the same damage that happened to my left, and to make it easier to do my own needles for home dialysis. My doc says he won't do a leg access on any diabetic. I've asked about others on here with leg accesses before, and didn't get much response. Apparently, they only do them as a last possible resort.