clinic wants to start using DH fistula this week

[The Noob]

DH has his fistula put in his arm at the elbow area 6 weeks ago. last check up with surgeon he said no use of it till the 8th week at least, which would be mid september. however, clinic pushing to use it now. it is buzzing great.
his av port is still fine but they say they want to start on fistula just in case.
he told them he doesn't want the numbing cream. i said, use it anyway.
so i am going to call head nurse in the morning and tell them they are not to use it until i get an ok back from surgeon. and that are to use the cream. also, without meds his BP coming out of the clinic is almost always in the 70's over 50's. he has 35 mile drive home. we keep asking them about this but no word yet. so i will call nurse and ask to have doc called about it. also, that i want to be there the day they start the fistula first time, and that only one is to do the cannulation, and that he should also be trained to do it. does that about cover it?
we are hoping to hear something this week about upcoming transplant in next 30 days. i know he needs the fistula anyway just in case. is there anything else i should know/ask?

[monrein]

I think it's a good idea to check with the surgeon about the readiness but why do you insist that he use the cream?  I never did, many of us never do and if he's OK to try without it then no need to add an extra step.  If he finds it problematic without then try the cream.   The needle issue is mostly psychological and I'm not minimizing that this can be a huge hurdle but if it's not, then no need to make it into one.  You may be transposing your own fears onto him.

Best of luck to you both and I hope that fistula performs really well and that maybe he can learn to do his own needles in time. 

[Lindia]

I know it seems odd, but my husband who started dialysis in May, doesn't have a problem with the needles.  He is a diabetic with some neuropathy, but he still has feeling in his arm.   Occasionally it does hurt him, but most times it doesn't.     And for learning to do his own needles --   for sure -  YES,   at our clinic some of the techs are really good stickers, and some AREN'T.    So he's been trying to learn it for the last couple of weeks.

[Riki]

I wouldn't do 6 weeks.  Mine was left for 12, but I think that was more me being afraid to start.  Where I am, the nurses will not do anything you don't want them to.  It took 12 weeks for me to be mentally ready, even the fistula appeared to be working just fine.  I've been using it now for about a year and a half.  I still use the cream, although I started without it.  I find that it's much easier with it, because you don't feel the initial stick.  In the end, it all depends on what your hubby wants, and what he feels he's ready for.  I would make sure that the surgeon gives his ok first, though

[del]

Hubby has never used the cream either.  I would not let them use the fistula until I checked with the surgeon. 

[sullidog]

I don't know what it is with centers not oking this with the surgeon first, my center likes to play this game as well. The surgeon puts it in he has the say.

[The Noob]

put in call to clinic and docs this morning. they will get back to me. no, not tx my worry to DH, just know how he is. better to be safe than sorry. he has a great fistula, want to protect it and make it as comfy for him as possible.
 

[Genlando]

Usually they require an RN to get a catheter patient on/off the machine, which is inconvenient for them.  The center would rather have all patients put on/off the machines by techs, because it costs less per hour for them to do it than using an RN.

My vascular surgeon told me that my center wasn't supposed to use my fistula until he gave them a release authorizing its use.  The people at my center tried to pressure me into using my fistula a couple of weeks before the surgeon said it was ready.  I told the nurse-in-charge (who was just being lazy and didn't want to fuss with my catheter), that I'd be happy to let them use my fistula if she would sign a statement saying that she'd be personally liable for ANY problems caused by using my fistula too early.  That was the end of that.

[Poppylicious]

They started using Blokey's fistula about a month after surgery.  He didn't (and never has) used the cream (it wasn't an option.)  If he doesn't want to use the cream, then that needs to be his choice.  Hope everything goes smoothly, Noob! 

[daveosaurus]

There was no follow up with my surgeon and now my fistula has stopped working. Got a clinic appointment this Thursday. Maybe they can roto-rooter it. Not looking forward to another surgery. Currently using a cath.

Why do I have the feeling that when I finally have a working fistula the techs at my center will have a raffle to see who gets to stick me first?

[The Noob]

my thoughts exactly. no need to rush it. he told them himself to wait for call back from surgeon. i haven't heard anything yet. sometimes he goes in there and is weak and sick and since no one can go in with him, he at times has been overwhelmed. so i don't mind following up, make sure they understand. sometimes the patients are hustled back to unit and if advocate isn't there, they can get berfuddled.
daveosaurus i am sorry hon, dang it. 

[sullidog]

My previous surgeon was like that, did the work but never wanted a followup, thank goodness my new one does this.
At our center the techs are aloud to do catheter patients.

[Riki]

Usually they require an RN to get a catheter patient on/off the machine

I wondered about that.  The first time I went to NYC, the RN was the only one who touched the line.  The techs wouldn't do anything more than take my blood pressure.  I thought it was because I was from outside the country, and it was better for insurance reasons.  When I went back the second time, I had to tell them to use the fistula. I still had the line, but it hadn't been used in over a month, and I figured it probably wouldn't work

[The Noob]

ok, i'm a doofas, so busy lately i'm greeting myself at the front door.
heard from the surgeon today, they said he has had it 3 months and its ok to use.
where has my mind gone? he asserted himself at clinic so i can rest easy on it. good for him!

today i got to go to OB appt with my daughter. SIL had to work and job is new, didn't want him to lose it. so he let me go 
she is only 8 weeks so we didn't expect an ultrasound, but they did one anyway. we were so excited, got to see all is well and hearbeat good and strong. they gave us pics to take home. i took her to celebration lunch and couldn't resist picking up a few baby things. i am so hoping its a girl!
I hugged SIL and thanked him for giving me this ray of sunshine in 2 years of stress. i got them some little baby booties..hehehe..so cute, they are both very happy!
she is slim, trim and in great shape. she has the best insurance. she is a STNA so don't know how long she can keep going with a 16-19 patient load, but she is a fighter.
anyway just had to ad that..

ps: this is SIL who is donating kidney

[jbeany]

Baby pics!  Awwww....   

[The Noob]

DH says clinic is waiting for written approval to use the fistula. reckon since i called about it they are being careful. for this i am thankful.