My fistula failed only a week and a half after getting it.

[Adam_W]

My nurse checked out my new fistula today, and the thrill and the bruit (or whatever you call it) were gone . I'm not too surprised, because the doc said that my artery was really small and this one might or might not work. So, I'll be setting up an appointment to have another one put in higher in my arm. Fistula installation take two....ACTION. Take care.

Adam

[charee]

Hey Adam That happened to me The lower one didn't work at all after the op, went in the next week and had a upper one done, and it worked, have been using it for 3 weeks now its very small but is doing the job so far, so good luck for next time.

Cheers

Charee

[Sara]

Are they sure it's failed and not just clogged?

[jbeany]

I had the same problem with my first one.  One good thing about an upper arm fistula - you have more freedom of movement during dialysis.

[ILOVEFLUID]

I had a fistula and a graft that didn't work immediately after surgery.  My upper arm fistula works like a charm.  I used it for 7 times before my transplant and 5 years later it was working great still.  I have now had it for 8 years and have never had a problem with it.

[Rerun]

Same here.  I had two attempts at my lower arm and both failed.  My upper arm works like a champ (knock on lots of hard wood)

So, why don't they grab a clue and start just doing upper arms first so we don't have to go through all that agony.  Oh, yeah, Money!  Three surgeries cost more than one.

[Bajanne]

Well, mine is a graft.  The first one in my lower arm never worked, but like many of you have experienced, the second attempt, using upper arm, works well.  And the spin off is that short sleeves can cover it!

[boxman55]

My first was at the wrist and failed. The second was done after vein mapping and moved to the right arm in the cuff of the elbow and so far all nurses and doctor are saying it looks real good. I won't use it for another 2 months but like everyone else said what's up with doing it in the lower arm first and not doing vein map first. I was even stupid enough to allow the first surgeon to attempt the 2nd surgery fortunately I was talked out of it by an access nurse at my clinic and changed doctors. He was the one that vein mapped and did it in my upper arm. So I guess the lesson here is before they cut ask where they plan too, and why, and also get a vein map first....Boxman55

[DeLana]

Sorry to hear that, but - like others have said - it's not uncommon.  Usually, the forearm is tried first, because there are limited possible sites for accesses (usually lower left, then upper left, lower right, etc.)  But I have also seen upper arm fistulas (and many grafts as well) work great for many years.

Good luck to you,

DeLana

[BigSky]

Here they do studies of the potential site to rule problem areas out and find an spot where they think it will support the fistula.

[pierrat]

I had the same problem with my first one.  One good thing about an upper arm fistula - you have more freedom of movement during dialysis.

No kidding, when my cardio first came in to consult with me, he said he would do an upper arm fistula. Then after surgery when I woke up and looked at my arm, It was a lower arm fistula. I was very dissapointed as even then I knew the level of mobility is signifigantly less with it placed there. He said I was "lucky" because I had a great vein in my lower arm.

As im on my laptop nearly all my sessions,  the freedom to use my fistula arm better would be welcome indeed.