fistula surgery tomorrow - 1st of 2 scheduled

[topazbeauty]

So I have the first of 2 surgeries tomorrow to get my fistula. My veins are really really small so they have to do it at my elbow and do a first stage. Then in 6 weeks they are going to move my vein because I drain really odd and the only vessel they can use is the bassilic wein. So to make it usable they are going to cut from my elbow to my armpit and move my entire vein to the top of my arm so we can use it.

I've never really been nervous about surgeries, but I'm really concerned about this one. First of all, although I appreciate that we are doing it in 2 stages so if the fistula doesn't take I don't have a scar from elbow to armpit for nothing, but at the same time, I kind of wish I could just get it over with. And second, I feel like I've done nothing but seen horror stories about "normal" or easy fistulas that this crazy idea seems terrible. I guess the other thing that is bugging me is that when I first met my surgeon the first thing he said was "you're what 22? you'll have good veins, this will be easy" needless to say little has been easy with me in regards to health lately so that's my other hesistation.

Anyway, has anyone else had to have a fistula put in like this?

[silverhead]

Well not exactly as yours, but the same in the end, after the initial surgery she had 2 small revisions, then they did the 4th as your are getting, it has been working fantastic now for 3 years....

[Pam]

topazbeauty....My fistula surgeries were done the same way. The first surgery was done as outpatient and the second one I had to stay over night. The worst part of either surgery was the healing.It just itched so bad. The first surgery I had 1 long incision and the 2 nd surgery was 4 incisions between my elbow to mt arm pit. I have been using my fistula for 8 mos and there is no redness left and the scars are gone. All you can see are 2 little spots for the button holes. I've tried to take pics of it but it just does not show up. When you start using your fistula make sure you demand that the best tech does the sticking!! And then make them start button holes as soon as possible.
Pam

[fc2821]

They had to put mine in my upper left arm, couldn't use my lower arm. But they did they din't have to do what they are doing to you.  I hope it all goes well. And, your recovery is good. Best wishes. Rob

[Brianna!]

I had the exact same thing done as you. I was crying before I went in for the second surgery, because I didn't want the scar. And it hurt for a really long time after. They wrapped my arm up after, and I could have taken it off after a while, but I kept the wrap on because, I hated how the scar looked, and I was in school and I didn't want the other kids asking what that's from or staring at it. When I meet you for the dresses and stuff, I can show you it. It still looks really bad, but i'm not TOO ashamed of it, anymore.

Do you have keloids in your skin? If you do, your scar will probably look like mine. My scars all look really bad because of the keloids in my body. I couldn't move my arm forever. I was out of school for a couple weeks, because it hurt so bad. Then I got in trouble, because they didn't understand how much pain I was in. And my dialysis center didn't write me an excuse, because they didn't think I was still in pain.

If you want more information about how my surgery went and how it looks and everything, feel free to PM me!

Keep us updated on how the surgery went!

[RightSide]

Yeah, I had to have my arm cut open and a vein moved.

With this big a job, I wish I had asked for a general anesthetic, and you might want to consider doing so.

Because the usual local nerve block proved inadequate for me with this big a procedure.  (Perhaps the anesthesiologist didn't place the anesthetic needle properly.)  And so I could feel much of the surgery--I could actually feel the scalpel cutting my flesh.  I just used meditation and blocked it out of my mind, and that seemed to work.

[Plip]

Yeah, I got the same deal at 35. The staples are awesome...i was told "minor" with steri-strips (cool tape)...second was the "minimal swelling", I can't extend my arm all the way down yet, but it's getting better. The incision is about 10 cm across ( half the width of your inner elbow). Don't be alarmed when the surgeon writes "yes" on the arm they're going to cut  . Don't plan on lifting anything with it for the first cpl days, it feels like someone charlie-horsed it above and below the incision.

Cool things about the procedure...A.) sounds like a ship puttering by on a stethoscope over the attachment site. B.) really cool scar to talk about with family and friends.

Other than that, it heals fairly quick and the pain isn't too bad. Good luck bro !

[topazbeauty]

Update:

My surgery was a terrible ordeal. I'm actually still in the hospital...so much for outpatient procedure. So I came in and they made a 2.5 inch incision below my elbow, looked at my veins and decided that they were too small and closed me up. They then made a second incision this one about 3.5 inches tall up from my elbow towards my shoulder. Here they did the vein to artery attachment, cleaned everything up and then closed me up. They were all ready to be done and then they check my hand and I had lost my pulse down in my hand and was quickly losing color and blood flow in general. So they reopened up the 2nd incision and found that I had fully clotted my artery. So they removed the clot and put a stint in and then closed up again. Then again they were checking things out and I had a pulse but it was really weak and they were feeling around and decided to open up AGAIN and pinch off part of my vein to try to stop my flow from redirecting backwards.

So I had to stay overnight. I was all set to leave on Friday and then I got a terrible pain in my legs, and they did an ultrasound and found that I had a clot and had to remove it. So now I'm here until Monday to make sure I don't have any other complications.

Nothing can be easy can it! I'm so frustrated. 

[Maker]

    So sorry to hear about your ordeal! 

I said a prayer for no more complications and a quick return home for you 

[Plip]

Wow,may have posted too soon. Now I'm worried...I was only made aware of 1 procedure, which I went through this week. I feel so stupid grilling these docs for every last detail, now I have to sweat it out until Monday to find out if I have more procedures to go through. I was initially told 1 surgery with a total maturity time of 6 to 8 weeks until I could be using it and have the perma-cath removed. This is the kind of critical need to know stuff that no one on my "care team" is providing and always refers me to someone else in some other department to answer...and they're usually not in that day.

Sounds like you have the sam clotting issues I have. Luckily I only clot in the machine and not in my body where it gets dangerous. Good luck and hang in...I keep hearing it gets easier the longer we do this.

[Brianna!]

Oh Jes! I'm sorry this is giving you so much trouble! Hope you get out of the hospital soon! Hugs! <333

[fc2821]

topazbeauty, sorry you had to go through all that. That is rough.