Vein size

[Deanne]

My neph appointment is next week, so I went in to do my lab work this morning. It occurred to me..... When I have blood drawn for labs, they often use one of those tiny butterfly type of needles because my veins are small. Will this likely be a problem if I need to have an access created in the future? Is there anything I can do to work on increasing my vein size -- exercises?

[boxman55]

Deanne, I am not sure if you are on dialysis yet, my guess is no but, if you have to schedule a surgery for a fistula make sure you do a vein mapping procedure first. This test locates the best vein area on your arms and is very helpful in having a successful fistula. As far as working on the veins in the mean time get a ball you can squeeze and do that every day...Boxman

[Deanne]

Thanks Boxman. I'm not on dialysis yet -- I have 25% function left... hopefully. I'll find out at my appointment next week. I'm hoping the nausea I've been feeling is just from the iron tablets my neph has me taking & isn't a sign that my function has slipped. I have an angry-faced squshy ball on my desk. I'll start squeezing.

[kellyt]

My veins were too small in my wrist, but he was able to place a good fistula in my upper arm.  I had my sonogram on it today.  Although the tech wouldn't comment, everything looked and sounded good to me.     I go back tomorrow morning to meet with my doctor.  I just wish my vein would start getting bigger.  He repositioned it closer to the surface during my surgery, but it's not getting bigger.

[charee]

My veins were too small in my wrist, but he was able to place a good fistula in my upper arm. I had my sonogram on it today. Although the tech wouldn't comment, everything looked and sounded good to me. I go back tomorrow morning to meet with my doctor. I just wish my vein would start getting bigger. He repositioned it closer to the surface during my surgery, but it's not getting bigger.

Kelly, mine still isn't very big you can't see it raised only where the cut is it is slightly raised, I exercised mine with a ball after the surgery and since starting dialysis its still the same but it works pretty good so i suppose thats the main thing, also cause i do buttonhole maybe thats why its not big and raised

My neph appointment is next week, so I went in to do my lab work this morning. It occurred to me..... When I have blood drawn for labs, they often use one of those tiny butterfly type of needles because my veins are small. Will this likely be a problem if I need to have an access created in the future? Is there anything I can do to work on increasing my vein size -- exercises?

Deanne I'm the same as Boxman, get them to do a mapping ultrasound , i have small veins also lower one didn't work but the upper one so far so good.

[kellyt]

Charee, thanks.  But how do they find the vein at dialysis?   Or, how did they find it so that you could create your buttonholes?  I want to do buttonholes when the time comes, but I was told they have to be done by the same person every time so that would mean I would have to stick myself, I guess. 

[silverhead]

After Sharon's 4th surgery for a Fistula (long story) the ultrasound tech used a tool best described as the end of a tube from a retractable ball pen to press firmly into the skin to leave a small circle impression, after the "slick" jell was removed he used a felt tip pen to connect the dots on her arm and it showed the dialysis techs where the fistula was underneath the skin. It worked out pretty well, after a while they could follow the path of previous sticks to find the veins, after about 6 months the veins started showing up on the surface quite well......
Tom

[kellyt]

That's a good idea.

I had my sonogram of my fistula yesterday and saw the surgeon today.  He said that my fistula is "huge", but it's just not visible.  He doesn't know why because he repositioned it extremely close to the surface.  He said that we'll watch it and before my doctor says I have to start dialysis (if I don't transplant in March) I'll go in and have an ex-dialysis nurse check it.  If she says she can't find the vein easily then the surgeon will have to reopen my arm and move the vein again.  I hope all of this isn't necessary.