Need advice

[BRANDY]

Im getting fistula in rt wrist.  Seems to be best place for it.  Problem is , I am right handed.What obsticles am I going to have with this . Left arm is a no go because of numbers arnt right. Needs to be over a 2 but mine is a 1 point something.  My rt is 3 point something .  lower arm  would be  a problem bc of muscle , she would have to go under it to move  to connect vein and artery. So bottom line is rt wrist.

[Chris]

Paddbear had the same concern about hers if they places it in her right arm. You will have to becarefull lifting with that arm. Your doctor hould also advise you on what not to do after healing. Have the doctors mentioned using a graft to put in your arm instead so it is further away from your wrist? My original fistula was in my left wrist which made sleeping a little annoying due to the buzz/thrill it made. You can't sleep on it either. You may also need to get a squeeze ball to exercise the fistula if they do not supply you with one.

Sure others will have input.

Good Luck Brandy

[kellyt]

To my knowledge when they say "lower arm" it is in the wrist.  I've never seen one connected in the forearm, but someone else might be able to confirm what you're saying is correct.  My 1st fistula was in my left wrist.  Didn't work.  2nd was in my left upper arm.

[Chris]

Kelly if I can find the pictures again, they have done it. There was also an animated scan of the arm before and after placement, but I'll have to go find the site again. I remember using google to search for the graph/ gortex.

[jbeany]

I had one failed attempt at a graft in my wrist, one graft that worked for several weeks before clotting off permanently in my forearm, and one working graft in my upper arm - all on the left side.

Once it heals, you should have some restrictions on lifting anything heavy, but lighter activities like writing, doing dishes, etc shouldn't be a problem.

[paul.karen]

What is the difference between a graft and a fistula?

[Chris]

A graft is an artificial vein/artery (not sure proper term) that is made of gortex and other material

A fistual is "natural" meanin that a vein is connected to an artery which grows in size to create an access point for dialysis in laymens terms.

Still didn't find the website I found the pictures yet though. Wish I saved it or remembered what my exact words where for searching.

[paul.karen]

Thx again Chris

[kellyt]

Oh.  I wasn't thinking about a "graft".  I was only thinking "fistula".  I was never offered the graft.  Only ever heard about it on IHD.

[petey]

My husband Marvin's current fistula is in his inner left forearm (actually closer to the elbow bend than to the wrist).  This fistula was, however, "created" using transplanted veins (one out of the back of this arm and one out of Marvin's thigh).  He also has an old fistula (clotted off after his transplant) in his left wrist.  He also had a graft in the upper left arm (never used -- got infected) and three grafts in the upper right arm (one worked for 18 months, one for 12 months, and one for about 2 months).  All grafts have been removed.

Marvin says he prefers a fistula to a graft.  The grafts he had were used when he was in-center, and those techs/nurses would stick, infiltrate, re-stick until the grafts ended up being full of holes (and holes in a graft don't heal and often cause aneuryms).  The sticks in the fistula "heal" over because it's all natural.

We're currently using the buttonhole technique on his fistula (and have been using this for the whole time we've been on home hemo -- about 18 months).