Well, after having to go in 3 or 4 times this year to have angioplasty done on my fistula it finally clotted off for good in the middle of July. I went down to this clinic that only works on accesses to have it de-clotted again but this time it didn't work. It was a dialysis day for me and I had to the clinic first thing in the morning, then I went straight to the kidney center. After putting in one needle both the nurse and myself determined it was not working. I went back to the clinic the next morning and had a catheter placed.
I went to see the best arterial surgeon in the area...or so I'm told, I think he must be since it took almost a month to get in to see him. And that was only after I called my Nephrologist and told him that the earliest appt. I could get was Sept. 10. A few days later, which happened to be on a Thursday afternoon. Hubby got home right after the surgeon called and I told him I needed him. So, I went to see the surgeon and had to wait a while 'cause they had squeezed me in. Fortunately, he sent me for an Ultra Sound and some other test that I can't recall. lol It was determined that I had Calcification build up where the vein and artery were attached. He said that since I'd had my fistula for so long (21 yrs) that the vein in the upper part of my arm had gotten very large. I was scheduled for surgery on the following Monday, first thing in the morning. Everything went well and the new fistula has a pretty good "thrill" but we haven't been able to use it yet.
I've been a little depressed abt my original fistula clotting off for good! 21 yrs. is a long time!
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