So what would you do

[Charlie B53]

I want to know more about being 'geriatric' simply because you are 'over 50'.

If this is so, then what am I?   I think I am still a 'kid' at almost 64!

When I get old and losing my hair
Many years from now
Will you be sending me a Valentine
Birthday Greeting, Bottle of Wine

[smartcookie]

I think most people think over 65 being "geriatric."  I don't think that at all.  It depends on the person and how they are doing.  BTW, I love that song!  My hubby and I are big Beatle fans!

[cassandra]

I want to know more about being 'geriatric' simply because you are 'over 50'.

Sigh, Charlie honey, my SKIN is geriatric because Renal Replacement Therapy for most of my life, and the other treatments and miraculously actually reaching an age over 50 do make my skin look very old (especially on places where surgeons have been 'having a go' like my arms)

Me personally still think I'm a girl. An older girl though. And it's getting harder every day to keep fooling my self. And I'm proud to have made it to being old.
What's wrong with old anyway?

   

[smartcookie]

Nothing is wrong with old, that's what!  My hubby is going grey prematurely, and he looks devilishly handsome with it!  I walk like an old woman with my back, but I am mostly pain free and can actually walk!  So who cares?  Age is a number, that's it.

[Charlie B53]

Nothing wrong with 'fooling yourself' a bit.  Personally, I enjoy fooling around.  Being a fool actually comes quite easily, after all, I am a 'Guy', and not yet an old one. Or so I keep fooling myself into believing!  My body, often has moments of disagreement, some of which last for days at a time.  Fortunately, none of those times has killed me, yet.

[cassandra]

Yup fake it till we make it 

Today I managed to get myself on and off all by myself. Hubby back to being hubby.
He cooked today though, I'm not stupid

   

[kristina]

Yup fake it till we make it 

Today I managed to get myself on and off all by myself. Hubby back to being hubby.
He cooked today though, I'm not stupid

   

 

[cassandra]

And finally today I have a date for "bringing to the surface' of the new fistula 
Fantastic she sais. It's next Tuesday 6' March. I'm slightly apprehensive to say the least.


To be continued. 


Love, Cas

[kristina]

Hello Cas,
I wish you good luck for next Tuesday and hopefully everything goes well and I keep my fingers crossed.
Best wishes from Kristina.

[MooseMom]

And finally today I have a date for "bringing to the surface' of the new fistula 
Fantastic she sais. It's next Tuesday 6' March. I'm slightly apprehensive to say the least.


To be continued. 


Love, Cas

I suppose this is good news, although I do feel apprehensive on your behalf.  I'm sure everything will go well.  I look forward to hearing from you once the procedure is over and how you are doing!

This thread is a tad old, and I'm sure I've missed something along the way, so could you refresh my memory and tell me where the new fistula is?  My apologies for being a bit thick.

[kickingandscreaming]

Best wishes to you, Cas.   I hope it goes without a hitch.  Keep us posted.

[Xplantdad]

Great luck to you, Cas!

[cassandra]

This thread is a tad old, and I'm sure I've missed something along the way, so could you refresh my memory and tell me where the new fistula is?  My apologies for being a bit thick.

Thank you Kristina, MM, KaS and Xplantdad  your well wishes mean a lot.


And MM I'll remind you. The new fistula was created in my left arm. That arm had the cephalic vein removed (previous fistula) This one goes from above elbow to arm pit.


Thanx again, love y'all, Cas

[JW77]

I'm not sure what I'd do..  My fistula was made in 89...So  nearly 30 years old..  It works.. Recently new consultants wanted to do new buttonholes/locationes etc.. There is quite a lot of calcification, but not impossible. 

I've known patients to have a leg graft.. A lot of bleeding.. 

But if there's a way..  Coming onto the thread a bit late..  I haven't been on here for ages..

But much luck....

[MooseMom]

Nice to "see" you again, JW77!

Cass, thanks for the reminder.  You've certainly been through the wars, haven't you!

[cassandra]

Cass, thanks for the reminder.  You've certainly been through the wars, haven't you!

Yes lovely to see you JW77   and thanx.


And MM that's my problem. More than 50 surgeries and that's just the ones under general anaesthetic. I must be running out of luck at some point.


I've actually bought myself a pretty expensive relaxing candle. The scent of that and some extra Diazepam will have to get me through this week 


Love y'all, Cas

[GA_DAWG]

Amazing how at 18, I thought of 30 as one foot in the grave. Now, I look at people who are 30 and think how young they are. Also remember thinking anyone over 30 knew very little, as I had all the answers. Now I think they were remarkably well informed.

[PrimeTimer]

Cass, thanks for the reminder.  You've certainly been through the wars, haven't you!

Yes lovely to see you JW77   and thanx.


And MM that's my problem. More than 50 surgeries and that's just the ones under general anaesthetic. I must be running out of luck at some point.


I've actually bought myself a pretty expensive relaxing candle. The scent of that and some extra Diazepam will have to get me through this week 


Love y'all, Cas

Sorry to be late with this Miss Cas but hope your fistula surgery went well. Hope you are resting and when you feel up to it, can give us good news. I use to keep a small lemon/lime candle to carry around just to take a whiff of whenever I needed a pic-me-up. Mobile pocket aromatherapy. Does wonders for the mood. Especially when stressed. Need not be lit, just sniffed. Create yourself a collection of "moods" you want and various states of being and enjoy! Hurry and heal up! Take care. Will be thinking of you. 

[Simon Dog]

Amazing how at 18, I thought of 30 as one foot in the grave.

I am a bit disappointed - my state's government just relegated me to "elderly" status..    If someone assaults me, they get an extra charge because I just turned 60.

[cassandra]

Sorry to be late with this Miss Cas but hope your fistula surgery went well. Hope you are resting and when you feel up to it, can give us good news. I use to keep a small lemon/lime candle to carry around just to take a whiff of whenever I needed a pic-me-up. Mobile pocket aromatherapy. Does wonders for the mood. Especially when stressed. Need not be lit, just sniffed. Create yourself a collection of "moods" you want and various states of being and enjoy! Hurry and heal up! Take care. Will be thinking of you. 



Hi PT thanx for asking, but I'm back home cos the anaesthetist wanted updated haert scan and ecg. Than surgeons in transplant surgery. So I'm back home, no pain, knowing that my heart is as good as it was before second fistula was created. And await the next date. 😷

[MooseMom]

That's good news about your heart health!

[cassandra]

That's good news about your heart health!

Thanx MM I think so too


        

[PrimeTimer]

That's good news about your heart health!

Thanx MM I think so too


        

One way of keeping medical staff on their toes is to show up as if you are there for an appointment, making them realize they are not adequately prepared to perform a procedure and having to reschedule you. Good job, Miss Cas! Tell them next time won't be a drill. 

[cassandra]

I have the new date for a week or so, and have been pretty good in pretending it's not actually happening. I was informed by one of the surgeons (not the one who'll be doing me  ) that it's going to be very painful. Yeah, but don't we have morphine for that? I replied. The pump that I just use at will? It still is going to be very painful she kept saying. So I left it at that.


I have to go in the 5' of April. Favourite vasc surgeon is scheduled to do it probably the 6'.


So now I'm wondering how I'm supposed to put my needles in with my left arm with two long cuts and stiches in? Hubby is really not going to do that. I suppose I'm going to need a slot in the clinic or the hosp.


Anyone?


I don't want anyone to mess up my BH's before the left arm can be used.
And how long does it take for this 'changed location' fistula to be usable?


I asked of course in hosp, nurses, drs, they don't know either. The closest I got to an answer was: probably not as long as a newly created fistula.


If anyone knows who's had a fistula moved from one side of the arm (armpit to inside elbow) to the other side (biceps area they said) please enlighten me.


 


I'm trying to be prepared   


Love y'all, Cas

[Charlie B53]

Prior to Wife's lumbar puncture I placed a strip of one of my 5% lidocaine patches on the site to pre-medicate and help numb the area.  Afterwards she told me she didn't even feel the needle stick.

Perhaps prior to admission for your procedure you can paint the bicep inner and outer with that same 5% lidocaine used to numb prior to clinical treatment that other use, wrapping to painted area with plastic to keep it there.  Once in the hospital unwrap and wash it off.  Viola! Pre-medicated, slightly numbed.  Hopefully the procedure won't be near as painful.

I like fentenyal, no brain cloud, and it works very well to mask pain.  Morphine IV works O.K. but still clouds my head.  I often feel like I could have done just as well with a bunch of alcohol, and maybe would have enjoyed drinking it as it has been a number of years since I've fallen off that wagon.