Saw my vascular surgeon today

[dkerr]

Spent 4 hours in his office waiting.  They did a sonogram on my arms.  Said I had good veins ....  something to cherr about!

Putting my fistula in on the 21st.  So quick ...  It all feels very unreal.  I keep thinking if I could have a good cry, I'd feel better, but it just isn't happening.  Onward and upward ....

[monrein]

Great about the good veins.  They make good fistulas and good fistulas make dialysis quite a lot less stressful.

As for the good cry, that's always worked for me.  Then of course, onward and upward.

[devon]

I totally know what you're going thru!  I am just a couple steps ahead of you.  I had my fistula done on March 14th and I start dialysis next week.  I've pushed things about as far as I can.  It's frightening but you seem to be keeping your head above water.  You're not alone.  Trust me on that point.  The peeps here are very supportive!

[Rerun]

I cried through my whole vein mapping.  To me that was reality.  It was going to happen.  My transplant was going down. 

But, good veins are great.  Dialysis is only as good as your access!!!!

Up UP and away.......

[kellyt]

I had the vein mapping before my first fistula.  Everything looked good (or so they said).  I had the fistula placed in my left wrist.  It never worked.  When I went back to the surgeon for follow-up he said "Well, when I got in there I noticed your veins were pretty small.  I connected the fistula anyway, but I'm not surprised it's not working".  I had my second fistula one month later in my upper left arm.  The scar is horrible, but it's running like a river.  I was pretty pissed, but what can you do?

[dkerr]

Thanks for the input and responses.  It is all a little overwhelming but I knowI'll make it through. Trying to get things setup at work so someone can step in when I leave.

By the way, I don't know if its stress or my kidneys, but I'm finding my dreams when I sleep are so real thatwhen I am awake, I have to sort out if I dreamed it, or if it really happened.  This is new for me.  Anyone else dealt with this?

[boxman55]

Hi dkerr, for a while I had vivid dreams when I never had them before. But they have stopped now. I am glad you got your veins mapped I did not for my first surgery and the fistula failed. After the mapping my second was done on otherside of the elbow and it works fine. My first was done on the wrist.  I know you must be overwhelmed but it will be fine. We are here for you...Boxman