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[cchalk11]

Hello I am 50 years old with a GFR of 14. I have done my vein mapping and the Dr. said I have good veins. Is an upper arm fistula a good place for it? I am freaking out over the whole situation and starting to get depressed.

[iolaire]

Welcome, i have a lower arm fistula but in center I'd say about 40% of the people have the upper arm (same for lower arm) the rest have catheters or groin fistulas. (In this example I'm not differentating between fistula and grafts.)

I was able to get my fistula in advance and when the time came I appreciated being able to use it and skip the catheter.

[cassandra]

Welcome to the site cchalk11

       

I had my first fistula on the lower arm, and currently one on the upper arm. Although I first preferred a lower arm fistula, I'm now just as happy with my upper arm fistula. If you are thinking of needling yourself at some stage, a lower one might be easier.

The more you educate yourself about D, the less scary it gets, and maybe you get less depressed too?

Good luck, and take care, Cas

[Sue]

Hi I am also at around 14% . I have a lower arm fistula. I've had it for almost three years but fortunately fortunately have not needed it yet!
Welcome to IHD.

[Michael Murphy]

I survived hemo start up barely.  One of the worse days of my life was the day I startes dialysis.  I was scared spitless.  Looking back the terror was unfounded.
If I had to do it over I would go and visit the center prior to starting.  I have a lower left handed fistula installed two years prior to starting dialysis.  While to be honest dialysis sucks it kills the morning three days a week I figure 168 hours a week I spend about 18 hours at the center leaving me 150 of my life left each week.   CKD is what it is,  there is a tee shirt sold by cafe press that sums it up better than I can,  "Dialysis: Damned if you do, Dead if you don't"

[Shaks24]

Welcome cchaulk11. You will find much support here. Take it one day at a time and ask a lot of questions. You will find a lot of knowledge and experience about dialysis here. A lot of support too. Glad you joined the site.
Your friend from Tennessee.

[cchalk11]

Iolaire thats why I'm pushing to get my fistula put in so I don'nt have to get a catheter. Michael Murphy was the first time on Hemo as bad as I think it's going to be? Hey Shaks24 it's me Charles from CA, I finally got registered. I hope your situation is better.

[Rerun]

Hello and welcome to IHD.  I'm so glad you joined us.  It is a tough path to start down, but we are here to help you and give you courage.

Welcome - Rerun, Admin.     

[Shaks24]

cchaulk11, I knew it was you. I am glad you figured out your registration. Everything is good here. One more week of antibiotics. This site helped me so much as I transitioned into dialysis. I hope it does the same for you my friend. A lot of good folks here.

[bliss85]

Iolaire thats why I'm pushing to get my fistula put in so I don'nt have to get a catheter. Michael Murphy was the first time on Hemo as bad as I think it's going to be? Hey Shaks24 it's me Charles from CA, I finally got registered. I hope your situation is better.

If i could have done it i would....catheters are the worst, in my opinion id do just about anything to avoid having one again....If you can plan it out its nice...I never had a warning i was going on dialysis...got thrown into it. Its not so bad...but it takes a bit to adjust to the lifestyle of having dialysis...the worst symptoms i got my first time was nausea.

[Michael Murphy]

My first time was horrific.  No from the treatment but from the fear of the unknown.  I felt like a five year old on his way to kindergarten for the first time. I had my fistula installed two years prior but had not toured a center.  I was so scared I wore my reading glasses instead of my distance glasses and got lost 3 times on the way to the center.  I have been living here for twenty years and have been by the center at least twice a month.  But that morning I couldn't find it.  After a three hour session which was not as bad as I had been afraid of I realized I drove over nearly blind.  I strongly advise touring a center and meeting the staff prior to starting.  Dialysis is no walk in the park.  But learning to control your attitude is important I personally deal a week at a time so I feel some closure every Friday knowing I am done for the week. Next week is next weeks problem.  I am at the center about 18 hours a week with setup and holding times added to my 4:15 hour session time. That still leaves me about 150 hours a week to have a life out side of dialysis.  Avoiding dialysis is good, but going to dialysis is not always bad.  It's not the end but a new beginning, just like kindergarten was not the end but the start of a life outside of your house.  The one thing I would add is your choice of centers is important, don't worry about the toys check up on the staff my center has zero turnover no one leaves so they are all well trained.  Go to a support group and listen to the patients.  If they are all unhappy find another center. 

[cchalk11]

Michael Murphy how would one go about the turnover rate and support groups. I'm sure if a center had a high turnover rate they wouldn't disclose that info, .

[Bambino_Bear]

 

[Michael Murphy]

I think every center has a social worker and a support group some areas have non affiliated groups.  When you tour try sitting in the waiting room and listen to the patients strangely enough patients seem to know every thing going on.  What I have learned in the past two years is a good center is a gift.  A bad center is a sentence.  I currently live in New Jersey and any direction from my house I can throw a rock and hit a dialysis center lots of choices.  I am moving to the Adirondacks in upstate New York.  There I have only two choices.  Both 30 miles from my house.  And I am lucky there are patients with drives over twice as long.  Talk to your doctor, nurse and see if you can talk to,patients in your doctors waiting room.  Plus check the CMS (center for Medicare  Medicaid Services) ratings for clinics and centers around you.  I was lucky in the center my doctor sent me to.  Great and caring staff.  Some people choose centers based on new tv's or othe toys I think the quality of the staff is more important.

[cchalk11]

Thank you Bambino.

[Darthvadar]

Good to have you...  to our community...

You'll find us a friendly bunch, and we're full of good information....

Darth... Moderator...