Another Fistular question

[Yvonne]

John had his fistula put in his right wrist nearly a year ago now, so we have forgotten all the things he was told he must not do at the time of healing. John is right handed, so can he now use that arm to have blood taken and blood pressure taken from it? Can he use that hand normally now like undoing jam jars for me or using a screw driver or lifting heavy things.?
Sounds like I'm going to put him to work now he is so well, I'm not but would like to have a few questions answered.

Another question John is not on dialysis yet (thankgoodness) But how will he know when the time comes, will he become very ill again?
He goes to Renal outpatients once a month for blood checks and they say they would phone if they needed him back. But because he also has an Urostomy I think the symptoms could be very Simula. It's funny now John has got over one hurdle I keep thinking what will be the next!!!!   Yvonne the wife

[monrein]

John should never let anyone take a BP or take blood from the arm with the fistula.  Opening jars and using a screwdriver sounds fine but he should be careful about lifting too much with that arm and never carry grocery bags or anything slung over that arm as it could cut off the blood supply.  Also need to be careful when sleeping, not to lay on that arm which could again cut off the flow and cause it to clot.

When the time for D approaches he will likely feel very fatigued, possibly nauseous, might have a funny metallic or ammonia taste in his mouth and feel like doing not much of anything.  His blood work will also tell the tale with creatinine going up and so on.

Try not to worry too much about the next hurdle and enjoy this respite that you seem to have for the moment.  Easy to say and hard to do, I know, but worrying never causes the hurdle to disappear, it just taints the good moments that you have in the present.
 

[kubiik]

agree with monrein, and the urostomy (i have urostomy too) has nothing to do with measuring symptoms, when the time for dialysis comes

[Rerun]

agree with monrein, and the urostomy (i have urostomy too) has nothing to do with measuring symptoms, when the time for dialysis comes

Less urine output would be a symptom.

[kubiik]

agree with monrein, and the urostomy (i have urostomy too) has nothing to do with measuring symptoms, when the time for dialysis comes

Less urine output would be a symptom.

yes, but if John is going for blood checks every months, this if often enough to begin dialyse at optimal time

[Yvonne]

Thanks Monrien you put it over so clearly for me, John often finds himself laying on that arm! how would he know if he had a blood clot?

Kubiik hope you don't mind me asking, John has a very hairy tummy and when changing his bag it's very painful for him as the glue gets stuck to his hair's. Tried shaving but the blade gets jammed up with the glue, any ideas? I asked the stoma nurse yesterday if we could use ladies hair removing cream she would not commit herself to answer. Yvonne

[RichardMEL]

If you can't feel the "thrill" in the fistula you MUST go to an emergency room RIGHT AWAY.

I check mine every day.

[kubiik]

Laying on arm:
1. Put big soft pillow between hand and head.
2. As I know (correct me someone, if wrong), it' not likely John will go sleep with working shunt and will wake up with closed shunt. Instead, closing process is (usually, as I know) a long-time (weeks, days), when the thrill is still more and more. Check daily.
3. Ask the nephrologist to check the shunt with every blood test. When there is suspicious the shunt is going to closing, the sono test measures the blood flow exactly and there are ways to repair it.

Stoma:
Looks like John has not stoma very long and you are still afraid to touch it. Stoma has NO problem with touching with fingers, touching softly with washrag and no problem with water and soap. Think of it like it's a tongue. Wash all the glue with washrag and soap and shave around, use soap instead of shaving cream. Eventually, I can write some tricks for you.

[kitkatz]

Do not be afraid to wash around the stoma area. Try not to use a deodorant soap or anything that will leave a soapy residue. Rinse well. The stoma might go in and out a little while you mess around on the skin, but it will all be okay.  I shave the area when I think it needs it.  Hair removing gel may leave a residue and irritate the skin under the pouch area.  Use soap to shave and rinse well afterwards.

[Yvonne]

In June John would of had his stoma for 2 years, so yes we are new to it. I've always had to change the bag for him, mainly because he has always been so ill, and because of the big hernia on that site the only way I could put on the new one was for him to lay on the bed, so the hernia went flat. He had the hernia strangulate 7 weeks ago, that was operated on and now looks like he may have another one coming. We have an appointment this morning to see the stoma nurse as now after this operation the bags will not stick, we were up again this morning at 3 0 clock changing the bag and the bedding. This hapens so often now it is getting us both down.
Kubiik  I'd be grateful for any tricks or advice  Yvonne

[kubiik]

Sorry for late answer, too much worries, no time, ehm...

Bag sticking problems:
1) Measure stoma diameter with a ruler and see the bag catalog: use the smallest possible bag which is big enough for John's stoma
2) The skin must be very perfectly dry before the bag sticking, usually in bathroom the is air too moist for it, so don't stick a bag in a bathroom. You can use hair dryer to dry skin around stoma.
3) Stick a bag just before sleeping, before the tummy doesn't move for some hours, the glue will fit better

Hope it help
Kubiik

[willowtreewren]

Another tip for maintaining the fistula is not to allow that area to become sunburned. That can cause clotting, too.
Aleta

[kubiik]

Another tip for maintaining the fistula is not to allow that area to become sunburned. That can cause clotting, too.
Aleta

willowtreewren,
this is your or someone's you know experience? or you heard about it? i am asking because i never heard this...

[willowtreewren]

Our renal nurses are adamant about the sunburning. Every time we go in to the clinic they remind us.

Another thing is that when there are small aneurysms (areas that bulge out slightly) we avoid that area until they heal. Takes a few weeks.

Aleta