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Author Topic: First time for fistula  (Read 9236 times)
Hanify
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Hadija, Athol, Me and Molly at Havelock North 09

« Reply #25 on: June 18, 2009, 08:10:31 PM »

Having never had a fistula I would like to say that I'm sure it's not that bad, you'll get used to it, lie back and think of England and don't be a sissy.  Ha ha ha ha.  I might change my on screen name to "Helpful Hanify"!  Whaddya think?
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Diagnosed Nov 2007 with Multiple Myeloma.
By Jan 2008 was in end stage renal failure and on haemodialysis.
Changed to CAPD in April 2008.  Now on PD with a cycler.  Working very part time - teaching music.  Love it.  Husband is Paul (we're both 46), daughter Molly is 13.
willowtreewren
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« Reply #26 on: June 18, 2009, 08:17:15 PM »

Dan,
Carl used to cream up his whole fistula when he had no control over where he was going to be stuck. Now we know before he applies the cream and he just dabs the two spots we are going to stick with about a pea size gob.

If you think you can keep that road map until Monday, it may be worth it in peace of mind to wait until your nurse gets back. Especially if she will take time to listen to you. Get to know your fistula. Pay attention to areas that are bulging out slightly and make sure you are stuck there. Those areas heal up eventually and can bee used again, but if stuck there when they are weak the fistula can be permanently damaged. It is your life line so treat it with the utmost care.

I'll be thinking of you.
Aleta
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Wife to Carl, who has PKD.
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Partner for NxStage HD August 2008 - February 2011.
Carl transplanted with cadaveric kidney, February 3, 2011. :)
dwcrawford
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« Reply #27 on: June 18, 2009, 08:44:49 PM »

thanks aleta.  that's what I wanted to know.  the surgeon showed me on the doppler where the best places were and how deep they are.  I know surgeons or egotists but he seems really proud of it.  I will wait until Monday for Jamie to return.  If it starts to come off I can get another marker and redraw it.
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Nothing that I post here is intended for fact but rather for exploration into my personal thought processes.  Any slight, use of words with multiple connotations or other percieved insults are totally unintended.  I reserve my insults for private.
YLGuy
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« Reply #28 on: June 19, 2009, 05:29:56 AM »

I think the needle sticks are a little painful but not sooooo bad.  These creams you guys talk about have never been offered or even talked about to me.  Did the nephrologist or the dialysis center turn you onto them?
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dwcrawford
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« Reply #29 on: June 19, 2009, 05:42:20 AM »

Yes, nephrologist and surgeon  told me about it.  Also heard about it from people on here.  Neph gave me a prescription.  I have this skinny little arm with no muscles (sad) unless you count the fistala as a muscle.  I have these little old ladies screaming for God.  I'm sure my screams will be less than holy.

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Come to think of it, nothing is funny anymore.

Nothing that I post here is intended for fact but rather for exploration into my personal thought processes.  Any slight, use of words with multiple connotations or other percieved insults are totally unintended.  I reserve my insults for private.
willowtreewren
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« Reply #30 on: June 19, 2009, 08:38:32 AM »

Dan,
Sometimes when we are doing a different routine, we forget the cream, and Carl swears that sticking without it is hardly bad at all.

He has skinny arms, too. Except that fistula running up one. Actually a hard part for him is holding the pad on the site after the needles are removed without rolling over his boney arm. When that happens he can't get it to stop bleeding.  :banghead;

We have different strategies for coming off depending on where we are on the fistula.  :2thumbsup;

Good luck with that first stick. I'm rooting for you.
Aleta
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Wife to Carl, who has PKD.
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Carl transplanted with cadaveric kidney, February 3, 2011. :)
kitkatz
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« Reply #31 on: June 19, 2009, 08:55:40 AM »

Yes, nephrologist and surgeon  told me about it.  Also heard about it from people on here.  Neph gave me a prescription.  I have this skinny little arm with no muscles (sad) unless you count the fistala as a muscle.  I have these little old ladies screaming for God.  I'm sure my screams will be less than holy.



Come on DW you are a brave man. Take the needle sticks cold. Plus swearing at the techs tends to be frowned upon at the centers.
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« Reply #32 on: June 19, 2009, 02:47:39 PM »

I wasn't ready with the cream today as I'd intended to wait until Monday.  But the nurse and tech had a different idea.  They did one stick and one on the cath.  The surgeon said do that for two weeks and start with two.  The one stick didn't hurt much but I yelled obscenities anyway.  They my arm started  hurting by the end of hour three and my hand because stiff.  Later I was sick at my stomach and had cramps all the way  home.  Not Good I'd say.

I'm glad it is a weekend.
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Come to think of it, nothing is funny anymore.

Nothing that I post here is intended for fact but rather for exploration into my personal thought processes.  Any slight, use of words with multiple connotations or other percieved insults are totally unintended.  I reserve my insults for private.
Inara
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« Reply #33 on: June 19, 2009, 03:31:31 PM »

I'm sooo sorry your arm hurt!  But I'm glad the fistula worked!   :yahoo;

I'm not sure how to say this (because I have no wish to offend anyone), but surgeons are great at surgery.... beyond that, they don't have a clue.  Surgeons don't cannulate accesses, nurses and techs do.  I would trust the staff to do what's right post-surgery, until they prove otherwise.  I've worked as a dialysis nurse for years now, also as a travel dialysis nurse, and I've yet to encounter any center that doesn't prefer the "one and one" approach (one needle in the access and the other using the catheter).   It gives the fistula time to become stronger. 

Enjoy your weekend and don't worry!  There's plenty of time for that later! 

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*Primary Caregiver of Leslie, my best friend.  She's been on dialysis for 9 years.
*Dialysis Nurse for 9 years
*HUGE Sci-Fi fan!! (Yes, I'm a dork)
*Recovery from broken leg.....85% healed and that's the best it will ever be.....a slight limp is kinda sexy, huh?
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« Reply #34 on: June 19, 2009, 04:16:23 PM »

There are nurses and techs I would trust to do it.  But there are a few that I wouldn't allow to check the oil in my car....
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Come to think of it, nothing is funny anymore.

Nothing that I post here is intended for fact but rather for exploration into my personal thought processes.  Any slight, use of words with multiple connotations or other percieved insults are totally unintended.  I reserve my insults for private.
Inara
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« Reply #35 on: June 19, 2009, 04:48:57 PM »

There are nurses and techs I would trust to do it.  But there are a few that I wouldn't allow to check the oil in my car....

Amen!  It's YOUR fistula.  If you don't feel comfortable with certain techs/nurses, it's your right to request someone else!! 
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*Primary Caregiver of Leslie, my best friend.  She's been on dialysis for 9 years.
*Dialysis Nurse for 9 years
*HUGE Sci-Fi fan!! (Yes, I'm a dork)
*Recovery from broken leg.....85% healed and that's the best it will ever be.....a slight limp is kinda sexy, huh?
YLGuy
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« Reply #36 on: June 19, 2009, 06:08:32 PM »

I asked the nurse today about getting cream.  She insisted that the creams are bad.  She said that the creams would make my skin too thick and make it much more difficult to stick.  Is this true?
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« Reply #37 on: June 19, 2009, 06:23:22 PM »

No, it's not!!
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*Primary Caregiver of Leslie, my best friend.  She's been on dialysis for 9 years.
*Dialysis Nurse for 9 years
*HUGE Sci-Fi fan!! (Yes, I'm a dork)
*Recovery from broken leg.....85% healed and that's the best it will ever be.....a slight limp is kinda sexy, huh?
Hanify
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Hadija, Athol, Me and Molly at Havelock North 09

« Reply #38 on: June 19, 2009, 07:10:31 PM »

Go Dan!  You're half way there.  Thinking of you.
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Diagnosed Nov 2007 with Multiple Myeloma.
By Jan 2008 was in end stage renal failure and on haemodialysis.
Changed to CAPD in April 2008.  Now on PD with a cycler.  Working very part time - teaching music.  Love it.  Husband is Paul (we're both 46), daughter Molly is 13.
dwcrawford
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« Reply #39 on: June 19, 2009, 07:16:27 PM »

Still cramping in stomach and right let.  Any ideas what do do?  Been about 5 or 6 hours now.
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Come to think of it, nothing is funny anymore.

Nothing that I post here is intended for fact but rather for exploration into my personal thought processes.  Any slight, use of words with multiple connotations or other percieved insults are totally unintended.  I reserve my insults for private.
YLGuy
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« Reply #40 on: June 19, 2009, 07:29:51 PM »

When my legs cramped they hurt for 2 days.  Walking helped stretch the muscles and helped with the pain a little.  I took a couple of pain killers and went to bed.  With your stomach bothering you I don't know if that would be such a great idea.  Hopefully it will get better soon. I feel for you man.
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Inara
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« Reply #41 on: June 20, 2009, 07:25:41 AM »

If BP isn't high, try drinking some chicken broth.  Hope the cramps ease up SOON!   :)
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*Primary Caregiver of Leslie, my best friend.  She's been on dialysis for 9 years.
*Dialysis Nurse for 9 years
*HUGE Sci-Fi fan!! (Yes, I'm a dork)
*Recovery from broken leg.....85% healed and that's the best it will ever be.....a slight limp is kinda sexy, huh?
dwcrawford
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Getting the heck out of town.

« Reply #42 on: June 20, 2009, 07:40:31 AM »

Thanks folks.  It's mostly all better this morning.  Still a little soreness from cramps in my lower leg.  Everyone kept warming me.  Now I know!
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Come to think of it, nothing is funny anymore.

Nothing that I post here is intended for fact but rather for exploration into my personal thought processes.  Any slight, use of words with multiple connotations or other percieved insults are totally unintended.  I reserve my insults for private.
YLGuy
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« Reply #43 on: June 20, 2009, 11:26:09 AM »

Good to hear. 
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dwcrawford
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Getting the heck out of town.

« Reply #44 on: June 23, 2009, 03:21:58 PM »

second day of 1 needle fistala... yet there are 4 holes... did they miss twice or is there something I don't know happening?
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Come to think of it, nothing is funny anymore.

Nothing that I post here is intended for fact but rather for exploration into my personal thought processes.  Any slight, use of words with multiple connotations or other percieved insults are totally unintended.  I reserve my insults for private.
paris
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« Reply #45 on: June 23, 2009, 03:49:06 PM »

Dan, I have been thinking of your fistula all week (when I was in my right mind).  I think you have been amazing through out this whole process.  You are quickly becoming my dialysis hero!!     :grouphug;
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dwcrawford
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« Reply #46 on: June 23, 2009, 04:18:20 PM »

Oh my no Paris.  There's more and better heros on here than I.  lol.  But the needle hurt a little for just a second.  The second time I used that cream people told me about and I couldn't even feel a think.  Think I'll use it tomorrow.  The truth is that two worse things about dialysis are 1. sitting in that stupid little chair so long and 2. seeing so  many people in a situation that would frighten me to death  -- on stretchers, etc.  It's really sad.  Oh, the 3rd thing is my next chair partner Roy who should find a mental institution with dialysis.  (seriously not a joke).
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Come to think of it, nothing is funny anymore.

Nothing that I post here is intended for fact but rather for exploration into my personal thought processes.  Any slight, use of words with multiple connotations or other percieved insults are totally unintended.  I reserve my insults for private.
Hanify
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Hadija, Athol, Me and Molly at Havelock North 09

« Reply #47 on: June 23, 2009, 11:07:11 PM »

second day of 1 needle fistala... yet there are 4 holes... did they miss twice or is there something I don't know happening?
Weren't you watching when they did it?
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Diagnosed Nov 2007 with Multiple Myeloma.
By Jan 2008 was in end stage renal failure and on haemodialysis.
Changed to CAPD in April 2008.  Now on PD with a cycler.  Working very part time - teaching music.  Love it.  Husband is Paul (we're both 46), daughter Molly is 13.
dwcrawford
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Getting the heck out of town.

« Reply #48 on: June 24, 2009, 05:08:58 AM »

I don't look where there might be blood.
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Come to think of it, nothing is funny anymore.

Nothing that I post here is intended for fact but rather for exploration into my personal thought processes.  Any slight, use of words with multiple connotations or other percieved insults are totally unintended.  I reserve my insults for private.
Hanify
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Hadija, Athol, Me and Molly at Havelock North 09

« Reply #49 on: June 24, 2009, 03:58:02 PM »

I would have thought you might have to get over that sometime soon!  Embrace those needles Dan!  (Says she who does PD lol).
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Diagnosed Nov 2007 with Multiple Myeloma.
By Jan 2008 was in end stage renal failure and on haemodialysis.
Changed to CAPD in April 2008.  Now on PD with a cycler.  Working very part time - teaching music.  Love it.  Husband is Paul (we're both 46), daughter Molly is 13.
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