My fistula arm is sore

[MooseMom]

I am really sorry, but I have to talk again about my fistula.  Just in case you all haven't committed it to memory, it's an upper arm fistula created in March.  The surgeon sewed it to the underside of my skin so that it is not really deep.  Maybe it is so close to my skin that I really feel it.  I have not yet used it.  I've had it checked each time I've been to the neph and once by my vascular surgeon who all say it's just fine.  I really don't think there is a problem...it doesn't look weird or anything, but it just hurts and I don't know what to do about it.  Some days it is merely uncomfortable while others it is closer to actual pain.  I think the placement of it might have something to do with the problem...it's very near the crook of my arm. 

It does seem to be more uncomfortable in the evening, perhaps as a result of a day of being busy.  My husband keeps trying to get me to take an NSAID, but if I do that, I'd be taking it more days than not and that is not good for your kidneys, so I don't really want to go that route.  I take a daily low dose aspirin so want to be careful about OTC pain relief.

Does anyone else feel their unused, maturing fistula so prominently?  Does anyone else feel the need to resort to pain relief?  I'm just really being driven to distraction and sometimes even find it hard to get to sleep.  If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be really grateful.  Again, I apologize for yet another thread about my fistula; it's just that I've never had one before and don't know what's normal and what is not.

[Deanne]

I'm sorry it's bothering you! I can't relate since I don't have one, but I'm glad you brought it up here. I like to know what kind of problems I should look forward to. Would an ice pack help or is ice on a fistula a bad thing?

[MooseMom]

Sometimes a gently placed cold compress helps..I always keep two in the fridge...but anything frozen seems to just irritate my arm.

[woodsman]

MIne is new and located on my wrist and the scare bothers me most when my shift sleeve rubs oon it. I hope it goes away. Also at times when really using the arm i feel some pain but not bad pain just my thumb hurts a bit near the hand. But i bumped the top of it once really hard and man did it hurt. but all in all beside the little critters that i feel running around my wrist in there its all good!!

[boswife]

I asked hubby about this and he said his only felt mildly sore at any time.  Just in the beginning though and not after mature.  Im one who would suggest it get checked again because as you know, it may be a very used part of your body some day and you want to make sure its one that wont always be irratating or irratated.  Good time to take care of it before its needed i think.  But then again, mabie you'll get responces from others on the contrary, so there ya go.   Im just glad you have yours going.  We had just gotton hubbys started and just days later he ended up in the hospital with something else and had to go on dialysis with the cath... I didnt like that at all though it ended up fine.

[MooseMom]

When I asked pre-surgery what special things I should do to help care for my fistula before it is actually used, both my neph and my surgeon told me to ignore it, to use my arm as normal because that would help it mature and keep good blood flow.  So I've been using my arm as normal, although I don't lift cars with my arm, nor do I get BP measured or bloods taken from that arm.   I do the usual household chores, hauling laundry up and down stairs and cooking with cast iron skillets and vacuuming, etc.  I have found that by the end of the day, my arm from the middle of my forearm all the way up to my shoulder is sore...it pulses with my heartbeat, and it hurts.  It sometimes makes it hard for me to fall asleep.  I eventually fall asleep, and when I awake the next morning, it's not sore anymore, but then by the time the day ends, it's the same old thing...pulsating soreness all the way up my arm.  Is this normal?  I haven't even used the thing yet!  Seriously, is this normal?  I know it depends upon a lot of things, but if any of you have your fistula in the upper arm right around the crook, have you ever experienced anything like this?

It is really pissing me off.  I am SO not in a good mood, and I am sick of this damn thing in my damn arm, damn it.

[jbrock]

MM...I have my fistula that was done in Aug of this year. Like you, I am pre D so never used...yet. Mine will give me some discomfort some days. Seems like when I use it a lot. No pain though. I also use my arm doing everything. That's what my surgeon and Neph told me as well. I still exercise it with my ball but not as much as I should. 
I do get the annoying heartbeat/pulse feeling all the way up into my shoulder and even chest sometimes. I hate it but read that can be normal.

Not much real input other than, some discomfort periodically. I hope you get it figured out soon. We do NOT need anymore pain/irritations than we have to already put up with.
Joy

[MooseMom]

Thank you so much for the reply, jbrock.  I can handle the discomfort more easily if I know it is normal.  My surgeon said that he lifted the vein and secured it to the underside of my skin (ewww), so I am thinking that one reason it gives me discomfort is because it is so close to the surface, if that makes any sense.  Sometimes I need to take a pain reliever, and I don't want to do that too frequently.  Anyway, thanks for the reassurance.

[Deanne]

Is it getting any better yet?

[MooseMom]

Is it getting any better yet?

No, not really.  Right now, it is the morning, so it's fine, but I know that once I start my chores and get busy, by the evening it will be a bit uncomfortable.  It feels like someone is pinching me all up and down the vein.  And alongside my scar of which one end is located right at the crook of my arm, there is a  slight swelling that you can see gently throbbing.  After I've had a hot shower, that area looks slightly red as if the heat of the water has expanded the blood vessels a bit. 

I have a neph appt early next month, so I'll have him look at it once again. 

[carol1987]

sorry moosemom  , I have a fistula in my lower arm and have never have any real discomfort.  I am surprised you only saw your vascular surgeon once since March.  Mine liked to have me come in every month or so to check the progress and  had me have a couple of fistulagrams.

even now after beginning to use it I have no real discomfort .... by the way I REALLY REALY REALLY recommend the emla cream... I have never even felt a needle stick!

[MooseMom]

carol1987, I've seen the surgeon three times since the surgery, once on an emergency appt in August because it was so sore.  He did an ultrasound and said that it was fine and that I should have no problems with it once I start using it.  And I have it checked each time I see my neph.  So, I am thinking that the discomfort is a function of two things, 1. that the surgeon lifted the vein very close to my skin's surface, and 2. that it is placed in an area that is particularly sensitive or something...right there at the crook of my arm.

I really don't think anything is amiss; I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced the same thing.

[carol1987]

Oh good  sorry to have misunderstood about apptswith surgeon.  Mine was raised in asecond surgery but as I said is in my lower arm. Hope it feels
sbetter!

[Jean]

 I have no real knowledge, as I dont have one, but it seems to me if it getting sore every day, then you should not wait until March to have it checked. Just my     worth.