fistula ? is it matured

[BRANDY]

My fistula I got in Feb. 09 I was exercising it  but quit    I have noticed it doesnt stand up like it did .  Have I hurt it any by stopping exercises or will it come back to its plumpy state it was .?I have started  exercising  again   Im not on dialysis yet  but dont want to loose  what I have.  Hope you understand what I mean.

[willowtreewren]

Keep exercising it Brandy. Can you feel the thrill even if it isn't "plumpy"?

If you can't feel the thrill, get in touch with your vascular surgeon. That fistula is going to be your lifeline, so you want to take care of it.

Aleta

[BRANDY]

yes the thrill is very strong.  I will keep exercising    thanks

[dwcrawford]

I've never had a thrill out of mine .. but everybody else has.  I used it twice already at the end of 8 1/2 weeks. 

[BRANDY]

silly question  coming.   what exactly is the thrill.  I feel it and also the pulse, but what causes the thrill.    I see my neph  Thur   I am going to ask but   probably will forget  to  ..  I  have a terrible memory.                       So Ill  ask you while   I think of it           

[dwcrawford]

It is just a kind of vibration or flow pulse through the new vein/artery...Who know why they call it a thrill.  I thought for the longest that it was a trill (like the musical term).  It kind of lets you know its working I think.  I've heard that you can hear it, but I can't.

[willowtreewren]

Hi, Brandy,
A fistula is created by connecting an artery to a vein. The pulsing thrill is actually turbulence in the blood.

I love the thrill of my husband's fistula. His surgeon did a splendid job. 

I hope yours continues to be strong and "beautiful." Remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. those fistulas are truly things of beauty!

Dan, try listening with a stethoscope. 

Aleta

[dwcrawford]

My friend Javier want to listen and play with it every time he comes over.  It makes him giggle.

I'm sure the reason I can't feel it is left over neuropathy in my fingers but I have the nurses check it each time and just anybody who'll listen all the other times.

Truthfully, Brandy, mine is not ugly yet.  They say it will be.  Maybe I won't listen to them.  It is just a tiny little scar in the bend of my arm.  Theatrical make up will fix it if I ever need to be pretty again.  lol  The Vein itself looks like a tiny little bicep.  It's the first time I ever had anything to look like a muscle, so I'm proud of it.

[BRANDY]

Willowtree - crawford I can understand what you are saying   sometimes I get lost.  I couldnt help but chuckle at you  having a little muscle. mine doesnt look ugly yet   but   I havent  had needles in it yet   its time is coming. Way later  I hope.  thanks for explaining yours to me  Ive only seen one and it was in the upper arm.    I was just wondering how mine was coming along    All my neph says is that it looks like we may have a problem to him it looked like it was branching off.   He didnt seem worried though. We will see when the time comes.  Ill just keep exercising away .

[dwcrawford]

Of course he's not worried.  It's not in his arm!  (joke)

Just remember Brandy, ask all the questions you can and listen to all the answer.  But keep in mind always, that everyone has a different situation and everyone looks at things in a different way.  Listen to people, but most of all listen to your doctors.

[dwcrawford]

Oh wow.  I need to know if anybody's fistala bruises where the put the needle??  I take coumadin  (even though I can't spell it -  guess I could look on the bottle)

[monrein]

It's not uncommon to bruise from the needles and even more so if you take Coumadin.

[Lucinda]

Yep...my arm is black and blue most of the time.  I think I give myself too much heparin.  Always the sookie la la when it comes to putting my needles in!!