Bad Fistula what next?

[kitkatz]

It looks a lot better than it did in the last pics you had posted of your arm..  I am afraid to post pics of my arm. Might scare some people with grafts right now.

[angieskidney]

It looks a lot better than it did in the last pics you had posted of your arm..  I am afraid to post pics of my arm. Might scare some people with grafts right now.

Well that first pic I wasn't even allowed to have the bandage OFF yet but it got wet and I was in the middle or changing it when I got the bright idea to take a quick pic of it

So of course it looked bad. It was still really fresh. They had JUST removed the stitches. That is also why it was so very red. 

[boxman55]

Angie,  it looks soo much better. once it healed up Boxman55

[angieskidney]

Angie,  it looks soo much better. once it healed up Boxman55

Yes, exactly! lol that is why I thought it best for me to take a new pic to show you. That way people know it does heal up and when their's is new not to freak out because it does get lighter and less noticable

[nextnoel]

Angie, thanks for both pictures - I don't know yet what type dialysis I will have when the time comes, and I feel much better having an idea of what to expect if I have fistula surgery!

[livecam]

Angie..I gotta tell you..those Canadian vascular guys are hacks!  What in god's name were they doing with those curving incisions?  They sort of look like transplant scars.  One of these days I'll shoot a pic of mine and post.  The scar isn't too gross but the vein bulges are. 

[angieskidney]

Angie..I gotta tell you..those Canadian vascular guys are hacks!  What in god's name were they doing with those curving incisions?  They sort of look like transplant scars.  One of these days I'll shoot a pic of mine and post.  The scar isn't too gross but the vein bulges are. 

wtf? Transplant scars? LoL Maybe I will post mine cuz my transplant scar is completely straight except for the very bottom which is curved (but that would not be in the photo because frankly that is a little too low for me to show  

Anyway, when it comes to the fistula scars, it depends on the surgeon. The surgeon I had did it that way while the other one I never got did it the straight way.

[boxman55]

Wow guys, we need to start a whole new thread entitled "show us your scars" It's sad that we have to go through this sh** and the last thing we need to have happen is to be critisized about are scars. no matter what they look like they are nessasary evils.

[boxman55]

well I met with the vascular surgeon  today. the plan is to do the vein mapping in the morning then do the surgery in the afternoon either on the left arm above the old one or depending on the mapping on my right arm this all takes place on the 22nd of this month  Boxman55

[Sluff]

well I met with the vascular surgeon  today. the plan is to do the vein mapping in the morning then do the surgery in the afternoon either on the left arm above the old one or depending on the mapping on my right arm this all takes place on the 22nd of this month  Boxman55

Well I hope everything goes well for you Boxman.

[boxman55]

Well I hope everything goes well for you Boxman.

Hey thanks Sluff ! sooner or later I will have to suck it up and get use to the needles. Hooking up to the cath is painless but it is a pain in its own right. once the fistula is working I will have to get use to the needles. yeeks!!   Boxman55





EDITED: Fixed Quote Tag Error - Sluff, Moderator

[shay_pcb]

Just read this thread for the first time today, and thought I'd put my  in. I had an upper arm fistula done, and it clotted a month later. I had a lower arm fistula put in and the upper unclotted, and it clotted a week later. They unclotted both, and it only lasted a few days. None had ever been used. I ended up getting a cath placed and going on PD.

And since there are pics up, I figured I'd put one of my arm up. I had stitches the first 2 times and 29 staples the last time. Here's the scars. The surgeries were from Aug-Dec of 2005.

[angieskidney]

Good pics! Anyone else getting any up?? 

[Wattle]

Angie, thanks for both pictures - I don't know yet what type dialysis I will have when the time comes, and I feel much better having an idea of what to expect if I have fistula surgery!

   Thank you all for posting your fistula pics.

I am on PD and have not had fistula surgery. If and when I need to, I will have a greater understanding of what to expect.     

[angieskidney]

Oh I just wanted to add, if your fistula pics are not like these but might in any way scare off new patients who've never had a fistula, please show the pic to Epoman or a mod first and ask before posting. Thanks.

I just thought I should say this because of one I posted before of a guy in my unit that Epoman said was not one I could post. It was a rarity anyway and not something anyone should worry about. Other than that, this is a great thread for tips on making sure your fistula works and how to take care of it and strenthen it!  and options to go to if it stops working.

Always make sure you have that bruit and thrill!

[kimcanada]

WOW I never knew what a fistula looks like, I have mine put in on Wednesday so mine looks like a big bandage.  I try to peek at the other people in the unit, but don't like to look to hard.

Its a funny thing KD is I am right in the middle of it and still know so little.

IO was thinking of you Boxman55 when I got mine, I remembered you saying you were going again, best of luck to you

Kim

[Maz]

I had a fistula made in my wrist on the 2/2 and by the 14/2 it had stopped working. I am now going to have another fistula made in the other arm near the elbow. I have very small viens apparently, they said at the time it was a little difficult but they got there in the end. I am not very happy as I was due to flyout for a friends wedding next week in NZ, I have to wait till Monday to see if I can still go or not.  I guess the reality of your freedom is just hitting home.  MY hand is still sore from the 1st fistula does this take a fair bit of  time to go away? Marion

[charee]

Hi Marion They had 2 goes at putting in my fistula also the first one lower arm didn't work from the start had the upper arm done the next week that was back in October its going great . They both took 5 to 6 weeks to feel better , actually the one that doesn't work still aches some days , the difference i found was the upper arm one was bruised alot more than the  lower one had to rest it  on  a pillow for a couple of weeks even when i slept .It takes abit of getting used to sleeping  i was scared i would lie on it and bugger it, not so worried now that it has healed. Good luck with your next try..

[boxman55]

WOW I never knew what a fistula looks like, I have mine put in on Wednesday so mine looks like a big bandage. I try to peek at the other people in the unit, but don't like to look to hard.

Its a funny thing KD is I am right in the middle of it and still know so little.

IO was thinking of you Boxman55 when I got mine, I remembered you saying you were going again, best of luck to you

Kim

well I was talking with a nurse at my clinic who is an access specialist and she did not want me to go back with the same doc that did my first one. She hooked me up with another surgeon and I am seeing him on the 1st of March. We will keep you posted. hope yours is healing well.  Boxman55

[kitkatz]

Yes, it takes awhile until the pan all goes away in the wrist area from the fistula surgery.   Mine took about a year to finally stop hurting.

[boxman55]

well I am scheduled to have my 2nd fistula on 4/19 after vein mapping they decided the right arm is it. I am not thrilled with that because I am right handed but they didn't like what they saw in the left arm so be it. stay tuned!  Boxman55

[kimcanada]

boxman:

I know this one will be better, I have that vibe thingy going on

Please keep me posted, my fistula is doing good, it buzzing like crazy, I am about 3 weeks from the big pook 

Kim

[Treasure]

I was wondering if anyone has ever heard of this-- not that I can properly describe it:

I have a nice pulsating lump on top of my left  clavicle. Pulsing, like my fistula, pulsing. An ultrasound that puzzles my highly-skilled surgeon and the radiologist, seems to indicate that my fistula runs up my left arm, past my shoulder, and kinda empties into my jugular vein. And perhaps there's some blood flow even up from there...like to my head? 

I kinda know that fistulas can spontaneous happen in other parts of the body, but this seems to be an outgrowth from the one inside my elbow...

*shrug*

i can't figure out if i'm just highly evolved or from another planet.  or perhaps I'm some D+ cosmic science fair project. in any case, if it's some weird occurrence no one has ever seen before-- I have it! I've had a bleeding navel, no explanation. I've had polyhydraminios with two pregnancies, no explanation. A peritoneal cavity that's built like swiss cheese-- for no apparent reason. And the whole raging FSGS like no one has ever seen before...anyhoo...

so, if you've heard of a fistula that has a mind of it own and has set out on a journey to the northernlands, let me know.

[AlasdairUK]

I have my fistula on my right upper arm. The other day when I got out the shower I noticed in the mirror that there are large visable veins on my right chest that seem to link up to my fistula. It's like a road map.

[kitkatz]

Maybe you are the A+ science experiment someone put together!