Squeezy Squeezy

[galvo]

Advice, please, gang.

'Fisty' is now 3 weeks old, and, according to the experts, is going well.

BUT, I am receiving conflicting advice as to how much time I should spend squeezing my rubber ball. (Richard, behave!). Some advice says to go like the clappers, but one of the senior nurses says 4x10 minute sessions per day max, or else I'll damage the fistula.

Over to you.

[Mizar]

I don't have an Answer for You, but My Husbands, Squeezy, was, Shaped, like a Kidney, same Size, Red in Color.

[Pam]

I have an upper arm fistula and the vascular surgeon told me I didn't have to squeeze the ball. I think I read on here that squeezing the ball was only for the lower arm. But I could be wrong. I usually am
Pam

[RichardMEL]

I never even got a ball! 

however I agree don't squeeze it all day every day... I agree with the 4x10 minute sessions you've been told(from what I have heard in my unit).

In the end I didn't need it as I had my fistula for 2 years before it wound up being used.. so it was way mature and ready to rock and roll.

[YLGuy]

I was told more was better.  I squeezed my ball 600-800 times a day at different intervals until it was ready.

[thegrammalady]

i've had two. the first in my wrist and the 2nd in my upper arm. with the first i askec the surgeon about squeezing and was told he had never been convinced that it did any good at all. with the 2nd i just didn't bother and it's been going strong for 2 years.

[Stoday]

My neph nurse tells me that I've developed a very good fistula over the six months I've had it.

I've never squeezed my ball regularly though — just seemed too much trouble. Maybe a dozen squeezes thrice a week. So I rather agree with thegrammalady's comment.

[2_DallasCowboys]

Hi,

My husband had a wrist fistula placed, which never worked!    We were
then advised to go to a major hospital in Phila, and the vascular Dr there was
awesome -  Les has an upper arm fistula from him, and never had a problem
with it  (thank the Lord!)   this Dr did not believe in any  type of
excersise for the fistula - and so far, it works wonderfully!
Just my  I guess every Dr (and person) is different!

I will pray yours works as well as hubby's!
Good Luck

Anne

[hurlock1]

I got a Heart shaped Squeezy. (I got it at the hospital after my fistula surgery) I guess that heart patients need to squeeze a ball too. I would have squeezed  more, but I just never could think of it. I had a fistula-gram and a angioplasty (I think) early on. For whatever reason, I think that Squeezing the ball is just something they have you do while you're waiting to keep your mind at rest. I'm running at 500 and never really squeezed the ball. I think that everybody is different and every situation is different. I'm not suggesting to not squeeze, I'm just sayin'. . .
jmz

[billybags]

This all sounds like a load of ball to me lads. To squeeze or not to squeeze, what is the answer.

[Maker]

So my surgeon said minimum of 5 minutes, 4 times daily.  Squeeze and hold for count of 5, release, squeeze again...

I have also been told by the surgeon's nurses and dialysis staff that more is better, so squeeze like its my job!!

Don't know yet if it's helping.  I am 7 weeks now, but have to wait another 5 till the surgeon will even look at it