Here It Goes

[Shaks24]

New fistula is buzzing away.

[cassandra]

Glad to hear all went well,

Love Cas

[Bambino_Bear]

Shaks how is the pain today?  Hope you are doing well.

[galvo]

Best wishes to your new fistula!

[Shaks24]

Still mild soreness. Broke down and took another pain pill last night. The pd nurse oked my home yesterday. I go to the clinic monday to have the bandages replaced and possibly the catheter flushed. So far fistula has good thrill. I can feel it when I  put my finger near it.

[obsidianom]

Still mild soreness. Broke down and took another pain pill last night. The pd nurse oked my home yesterday. I go to the clinic monday to have the bandages replaced and possibly the catheter flushed. So far fistula has good thrill. I can feel it when I  put my finger near it.

A truly "THRILLING Experience".

[Shaks24]

You bet Doc. I can't imagine going through the surgery only to have it DOA. I have read it happens quite frequently. I will plan to exercise this baby regularly and hopefully it will develop into a large functioning fistula for a back up on my PD.

[MooseMom]

Wait 'til it starts buzzing in your neck.  God, I hate that.  So creepy.

[Shaks24]

That does sound creepy. I wonder how long it will take for that to happen.

[cassandra]

Don't worry, that's a good sign  , it's also funny when reading a newspaper and a whole drumband sound comes out of it

[Shaks24]

Too funny. I actually went into the surgery consultation thinking I was just getting a PD catheter. The surgeon told me it was a good idea to get a fistula too as the PD catheter could have issues with infection and what not. He sounded convincing so I went with getting both done at the same time. Now that I have both, I think it may save me being put under general anesthesia for a while. I hope! Or was he just selling? 

[cassandra]

Couldn't answer that, I had my first peritonitis after a year or so, but did PD for 5 years in total. There's quite some people here who PD'ed for an awfull lot longer than that.
I started PD cos the 2nd fistula didn't work, but yours sounds booming.   

[Shaks24]

Thanks Cas. I really apreciate all your thoughfullness and your experience. I go to the clinic tomorrow to have the surgery bandages replaced. If all goes well they plan to start me on the 30th. I can't wait to take a hot shower.

[Grumpy-1]

I had both initially too. Switched to PD and about a year later the fistula closed up.  Didn't worry too much about it until now.  PD is now out the picture for me because of infections and now having to go to Hemo.  New fistula will be in by the end of the year.  Grumpy

[Shaks24]

Got catheter flushed today. The nurse basically did off and on partial fills and drains out of a 2 liter bag of solution. Everything went well but I was told to hold off on showering for a few more days as there was a bit of redness at the exit site of the catheter. This coming Friday I start training and will do my first complete manual exchange.

[Bambino_Bear]

Shaks I am glad everything went well.  Did the fill and drain feel strange?

[Shaks24]

It was not bad at all. I did feel kind of bloated after I left the clinic even though everything was drained out. She never had the entire bag in me at once though. It was just repeated partial fills and then drains. I am ready to kill for a hot shower. Tomorrow makes almost 2 weeks.

[Jean]

Sounds like it is going well for you stinky. Hate the thought of not showering. Egads, my hair!!! Good luck and I hope things continue to go well for you.

[Shaks24]

Stinky indeed Jean! Even my two dogs want no part of me. Spounge baths at the sink and hair shampooing at the kitchen sink is getting old.

[Shaks24]

Did first manual exchange today as today is my official start date. It went well. I also got cleared to shower. yipeee. Stinky no more after tonight. I was so nervous this morning I forgot to take my BP meds. Better late than never I guess.

[willowtreewren]

Good to hear things are going well. 

[Shaks24]

Thank you Aleta. I hope you and yours are doing well. 

[Jean]

Shaks, I think I told you before I am right behind you and am seriously scared to death. I really don't want the PD mess in my house, but at the same time, I hate needles and don't want to do that either. My neph is no help at all, he says it is too early for me to be thinking about dialysis, but at least he did send me to " dialysis school".I am more grateful than I can say to all the helpful people here at IHD> Please, keep us closely posted on what goes on with you.

[Shaks24]

I will Jean. I understand your feelings too. I am starting with mixed feelings as my eGFR was not that low but symptoms were getting pretty bad. I have a full week of training this coming week and my first delivery of supplies on the 1st of October. I hope that your kidney function holds up and that you do not experience bad symptoms so that maybe you never have to deal with it. As to avoiding needles, I agree with you all the way on that not to mention the side effects you read about on in center HD.

[Bambino_Bear]

Shaks I am so glad that all is going well.  My husband has his PD cath placed on Thursday.  I am pretty anxious but following along on your journey so far has helped me, so thank you for posting.  I am planning on becoming a donor for him or in paired program if we are not a match so I am trying to look at this as just a bridge to get us where we need to go.  Please keep posting.  Thank you.

Nikki