No access through fistula

[Whamo]

My new fistula didn't work last night.  So they took a blood test, and then, I had to take another one.  If my potassium is above 5.5 I go to the ER.  They poked me about a dozen times with no success.  Monday I see a doctor.

[Sue]

  How long have you had the fistula?

[Whamo]

I've had the fistula about three months.  My blood is really thick.  My hand got really hot the last time I did dialysis.  I think it may be Thrombolysis, which means rat poison?   I don't know.  I'm taking a lot of lasix and drinking a little water. 

[billybags]

Whamo, lets hope they can sort it.

[boswife]

hows it going?  I know that 'stats' are fast so thinking you might know whats up.  Dogonne it!!  just seems that if one is willing to get stuck then that should be all there is too it.. The rest should work!!  I hope something figured out quick. 

[Whamo]

The neph doctor called me on a Saturday, and ordered me a laxative powder.  Bombs away!  Monday I get a fisulagram at 9AM.  I ate some black licorice with my lasix, which is supposed to drain the potassium out of you pronto.  I've only eaten a cup of white rice and 3 pieces of white bread today.  I don't want to overload on potassium or protein (my BUN was high).   

[Cordelia]

Whamo, I just thought of something. You mentioned earlier before this post that you had a bruise and they used larger needles on your arm. 

A nurse of mine told me that one can actually wreck your fistula if they use too big of a needle. 

I could be wrong, but its just something I thought of. I hope this is not the case for you.

[Hazmat35]

WOW, very interesting. 

I know that a few years ago, my sister had "thick" blood.  She had PKD but was not on Dialysis.  I know that everytime she had to get blood work, they had a really hard time getting blood into the needle and vial, because her blood was so thick. 

She started having treatments, where they took our her blood, and replaced it with a pint or two of fresh.  Sort of a transfusion.  She did this once a week for a month or two, before she passed away from an unrelated illness, we are told. 

We never found out what the cause of the thick blood was from, but her Nephrologist refered her to an ONCOLOGIST.  He is the one who started the transfusions. 

[Whamo]

Today I got a fistulagram, a new catheter, where the old one was on my chest, and did dialysis for the first time in 5 days.  I am totally wiped out.   

[Murthy]

  How long have you had the fistula?

sadsa

[smcd23]

Sounds like thick blood might have something to do with renal failure and dialysis. My SO had to be on blood thinners when he was on hemo in order to keep his fistula open and flowing. Once he stopped hemo and stopped the blood thinners, took a few weeks for the fistula to clot off. You might need to take the rat poison after all to keep the blood flowing. Maybe you could ask for a referral to talk to an oncologist/hemotologist , there are some genetic conditions that can cause clotting, but in the end, the treatment would probably be the same (blood thinners) but might be worth knowing if there is an underlying cause, for piece of mind?

How did the fistulagram come out? Did it show anything that they could fix/help so it can be used?