It's All Happening Quickly Again.

[galvo]

I saw the vasc surgeon on Monday. He reckoned my veins looked allright, and said they'd try and get me in for my fistula surgery sometime in the new year. Then to-day, I get a call from the hospital telling me that they are going to do it this Thursday! I feel a bit overwhelmed and, yes, a little frightened. It's been a big four weeks and it ain't over yet.

[Darthvadar]

Best of luck, Galvo....

I suppose the sooner it's done, the sooner it's over... And by getting it done this week, you won't have time to worry about it!...

I hope everything works out well for you....

I'll miss you in the 'Lyrics' thread for the time you're missing!...

Darth...

[Goofy]

Best of luck to you!  Like Darth said, at least you won't have time to worry!

[jennyc]

Oh Galvo....... First of all Congratulations!!!!   That's the way they work. They give you a chance to 'think' about it (ususally a few days) and then whamo, they book you in before you have a chance to actually think about what's happening. I've found over the last 7 years its probably the best way to go. Just let them do what they have to do and get on with it. that way you can move on with your life and start learning to incorporate your new life into your old.

I really think they do it deliberately, it may sound weird but not having time to think about it gives you less time to stress about it and then it's over and done with. Also it isn't that bad. Mine is coming along really nicely now, minimal scaring feels a bit wierd sometimes like my skin is too small... but i'm guessing it's a good thing cause it's growing.

My surgeons have always done it too me. My nephs usually get me in really quick to see them (like within a week of seeing the neph i'm with the surgeon) then the surgeon has me booked in within 1-2 weeks (usually a week).

It is a bit overwhelming but it will be for the better. The sooner you get it put in the better because it has more chance to mature before it needs to be used. The surgery itself isn't too bad. I know in the US it's a day surgery but with Westmead (i know you'd be going to you local though, but should be similar) they like to keep you overnight if they knock you out. i had both my surgeries straight off the bat for the fistula and revision (first surgery for the day) and they still kept me in overnight both times. I'm not sure how many surgeries you've had but i'm going to run on the assumption you've had at least one. I get a bit frightened each time i have to go for surgery or any procedure but so far so good!

I guess i should let you know what happened with mine.... i had a pretty positive experience with mine, (both times). I chose to be knocked out. They made me stay awake each time they took one of those vas caths out and i can't hanlde it, the one in the neck was the worst. After i came out of surgery i immediately asked for anti nausea meds cause i know i'll throw up (past experience with over 8 knock out operations and countless procedures, threw up each time i didn't get maxolon or what ever else they have). i get the morphine (or what ever it is) for a little while but i was able tostop taking it both times before i left recovery. The first time the pain was pretty minimal, i was on panadol after that for 2 days. Didn't need any panadine. The Revision was a different story, becuase they reopened in exactly the same spot i had double bruising etc so it hurt a bit more. i had to have more pain killers that night to sleep but was back to panadol the next day. ( i was kind of tripping during the night, i didn't sleep too well, the meds were a bit too stong me thinks).

Anyway after i came home i babied my hand for a bit. I had to use my right hand for everything esp heavy stuff (kettle was too heavy for a while) but i'm almost back to normal now. I check it soo many times each day.

It's been 5 weeks or so with mine now, i see my surgeon on friday for check up and my neph on the 11th to see when i can start home training? Which are you going to do, home or clinic?

Have you been to an education day? you know the ones where they get patients to chat to you? I did one a few weeks ago, was ok actually (i think anyway). The other guy talking was talking for home haemo, basically he was the one who stopped me being scarred about HHD. He's 23 now (the age i was when i had acute failure) he lost his at 20. Gosh, he is doing so well. He does 7 hrs every 2nd day (daily not nocturnal) and he is studying to be a personal trainer/motivator. He has heaps of energy (compared to me at the moment). Also doing it at home you should be able to overcome your removing fluid problems cause you can learn to manage it yourself so long as you keep track of your wieght each day and check you legs for fluid retention. But your passing heaps at the moment so should be ok for a while.

anyway good luck. not too far if you need a chat, usually on line and were in the same timezone (sydney chicky)

[Maker]

   That's so great Galvo!  The sooner you get that fistula in, the sooner you can use it, and the sooner your catheter comes out 

As I think I already told you, my surgery went really really well and I didn't have anesthesia.  A bit of novacaine and no problems, plus no after effects from anesthesia.  Drove myself 45 min. home.   I took Tylenol for 4-5 days after the surgery.  And the bruising kept coming on for about a week, but everything is looking and feeling great now! 

I guess the one thing I wasn't really prepared for was the bleeding that I had for the first 2 or 3 days afterwards.  I kept it bandaged and changed my dressing once or twice a day because it would get soaked.  I'm a bit of a bleeder anyway and the heparin we get at dialysis doesn't help that issue.  It seemed that using my arm as little as possible helped it not bleed so much, if that makes sense.

Let me know if you have questions, and post and let us know how it goes!!  Praying for you 

[jennyc]

Lori, i'd say that your right, it probably was the heparin, i didn't get any bleeding. I still think your heaps brave to stay awake!

[Ken Shelmerdine]

Thats great Galvo. It was two months before I got mine. If all goes well in few months time you can have your lines taken out FREEEEEEDOM!!!!!

[peleroja]

Good luck to you.  Be sure and keep us posted on how you're doing.

[billybags]

Galvo. That's brilliant, done and dusted before Christmas.

[willowtreewren]

The sooner the better. My hubby had his done under a local. He felt great afterward.

Aleta

[galvo]

Thank you all for your support. I really feel brighter after reading the above. I'll be back soon, brighter than ever, and with all the gory details.

[Jean]

Best of luck to you Galvo. I think this is the way to do it, quick, and over with. Of course, I am still in 4th stage, so am not speaking by experience, like the pros above me. But, I think you are going to be fine. God Bless.

[RichardMEL]

Galvo mate worry not - the surgery is a doddle... it really wasn't a bother and you will be happier to get it over and done with.. then you will get told to play with your ball lots  to strengthen up the fistula and get it nice and mature to use. Try not to worry about it. I had a little bit of pain when I woke up after surgery but honestly it really was nothing to write home about. A day or so later I didn't even really bother about it, except for the thrill keeping me awake at night (just had to learn to not sleep with my arm near my head!).

[willowtreewren]

except for the thrill keeping me awake at night

Richard, dawling, I thought having a thrill keep you awake at night was the best reason to lose sleep!

 

 

Aleta

[RichardMEL]

LMAO! Walked right into that one didn't I?!

Well that OTHER kind of thrill I'm all for.... oooooh yeah!!!! (that's said in the voice of Glen Quagmire)

bring it on ladies... bring it on!!!

GIGGITY!!

 

[willowtreewren]

Yes you did, Richard! 

Galvo, just look forward to the day that a beautiful young dialysis nurse says, "Oh, my. It's so big and throbbing. I love your.........fistula!"

 

[Stoday]

Got my fistula 5 months ago. It's no big deal, Galvo.

I wasn't given the choice of being knocked out; I had to have an "arm block" because my heart condition made anesthesia inadviseable. They poked around my armpit for half an hour to block four nerves. They tested the location of the needle with electric shocks which made different parts of my hand's muscles jump. A somewhat uncomfortable half hour.

The surgery took 2 1/2 hours. I was fully concious throughout, but didn't feel a thing. The surgery finished at 5 pm so I was kept in overnight. Didn't need any pain killers at all.

Best of luck tomorrow!

[galvo]

WOO-HOO!!!! I'm back and laughing.All went brilliantly. Little fisty (tm) and I am going swimmingly. Stayed in hospital overnight and, just to show what a weirdo I am, I actually enjoyed the hospital food. Vasc. surgeon's happy and I am buzzing happily away.Would you believe  ......no pain at all, none, zilch!!!!!

A big thank you, once again, to all of you. Your advice and support was really much appreciated.

[Hanify]

Hospital food is one of the positives with kidney failure!  Because we are so used to a low salt diet, quite often hospital food actually tastes ok.  Those other poor buggers who aren't on a renal diet get a helluva shock with the food in hospitals...lucky me lucky me!! lol.

[willowtreewren]

I'm so glad the surgery went well! Woot!

 

Now you are part of the "thrill" club!

[Darthvadar]

Glad it went well, Galvo....

Mum always says about her fistula... "Well at my age, it's the only thrill I get!"....

[Maker]

   Yea Galvo!  I knew you'd do great! 

Now you can go crazy squeezing that little ball.  My Dr told me to squeeze and hold for a  count of 5, so I repeat these 5 words to myself as I squeeze:  "I want my catheder out"... 

[Stoday]

Won't be long before "Little Fisty" becomes Big Fisty and loses its virginity. 

[galvo]

Charming, Stoday, charming!

I like the mantra, Maker. I think I'll increase it to a count of six, so that I can throw in a choice adjective before catheter.

[Mizar]

Glad it went well, Galvo. My Husband, had a Cath, in His Chest, for Seven Months, before He got His. He has had it, for a Year and a Half now and all is Well.