Fistulagram on Thursday

[jambo101]

Oh Joy the fun just never ends, am now scheduled for fistulagram on Thursday and most likely an angioplasty to go along with it  Any one had this process and what did you think?

Thanks

[cassandra]

It’s not that bad. You lay on an operating table and get moved around to make photo’s. They’ll give you a local anaesthetic. Than they’ll make a small cut (like a D-needle) go in with a pro-by kind of thing which they slide into your fistula. They’ll find narrowings/stenosis, and will stretch it with a balloon. When too painful, just say. They can give you something for the pain.


Good luck Jambo.


O, what did I think? It’s okay. Might be a bit bruised afterwards.


Love, Cas

[LorinnPKD]

Same!  I've had three and they all went smoothly.  Two weeks ago, I had an angio with a banding procedure (for high flow) and it was a piece of cake.

At my clinic, I had to fast for 8 hours beforehand and arrange for a friend to drive me home, and then I wasn't supposed to drive for 24 hours, so be sure you have some food at home for your recovery. For the procedure itself, we had a full surgical setup with gown, lights, the works.  They used injected lidocaine to numb the site, fentanyl for pain, and versed to make you a little drowsy.

At the beginning, there was a short burning/stinging sensation -- to me, it feels like touching the head of a match right after you've blown it out. The angio itself wasn't painful, just pressure here and there and they can adjust meds if you're uncomfortable. 

They made 2-3 small stitches that dissolved within a couple of weeks.  (They can remove the suture once it's healed if you like, but it'll dissolve on its own.)  I was cleared to go to dialysis that very afternoon had that been my schedule, but I went on an off-day.  I like to use band-aids to protect my angio sutures so they don't get caught up in all the dialysis taping, and the techs are skilled at working with me to position the band-aid and cannulate around it.

Each time, I had some soreness for a few days but didn't need anything more than Tylenol.  They may ask you to not lift anything heavy for a little while. 

You'll do fine!

[jambo101]

Thanks. im nervous about the procedure.

[GA_DAWG]

They schedule mine to be done every six months. Mine is done at a vascular center also owned by Fresenius. It is a mild form of anaesthetic, but they still make you have a driver afterwards. Most of the time, I wonder if they even put me out. For me, it is one stitch that is removed before I leave. They used to leave the stitch to be taken out at the clinic, but said too many clinics would not take the stitch out the next day and it was causing problems. One thing, they use a contrast dye that contains iodine. I am allergic to it so I have to take steroids the night before and morning of each procedure.

[Cowdog]

You will be fine.
I've had well over a dozen procedures done, probably closer to twenty. My records there are as thick as an old Sears catalog. Was on the 6 month schedule for several years but my fistula has had less stenosis over the past few years. Actually went almost two years without intervention. My flow rate is >2000 usually and requires work when it gets below 1200 or will run high pressures during treatment.
Lidocaine where they go in, feels like a bee sting. I don't get sedation so I drive myself. Usually go from work, get the procedure and back at work within a couple or three  hours. I go to a vascular center, been seeing the same two doctors there for over ten years.

[jambo101]

 Its now Thursday, Sheduled time of procedure is noon ,not feeling so good  I'll get back later and give my impressions of the procedure.

[LorinnPKD]

I bet you a bright shiny quarter that everything will go OK!

[jambo101]

 Well had the procedure and thought all my worrying was for nothing as i laid on the table for an hour and felt nothing, interesting the imaging  visuals were right in my face so i watched the whole procedure from camera going in to the balloon being pumped up, i guess next week we will try needling the fistula again and maybe rid myself onf this catheter by Xmas.

[GA_DAWG]

I always see them starting the procedure on the screen, thenn next thing I know they are helping me up. That's why I always have to think if they actually put me under. Glad it all went well for you.

[LorinnPKD]

Wonderful, wonderful!

[cassandra]

Good news


   

[kitkatz]

I have had a few sadistic doctors who do not believe this procedure can hurt when ballooning.  I am a big girl and often they will not give me enough pain meds to help it.  A few times early on it was okay, but now I hurt head to toe and it makes pain added on worse.

[Charlie B53]

I have another scheduled for the 18th.

I hate it when they cover my face.  The anxiety builds when I cannot see and am forced to just lay there.

I have to laugh as I can FEEL the cath worm its way through the blood vessel.  Then the burn as it balloons up.  More fentenyal in my IV and the burn quickly stops, then the worm begins crawling again, repeat everything.

I much rather watch the progress on the screen.

It really is fascinating that this can be done.

[iolaire]

Lots of us are able to watch and don’t have our face covered. Ask if it’s an option?

[jambo101]

Just ask them to lose the blindfold.

[GA_DAWG]

They block it so I cannot see my arm, but leave it where I can see the monitor, until I go night night.

[jambo101]

Would not have thought the procedure required being rendered unconscious,just a bit of a freeze at injection site and i felt nothing.

[GA_DAWG]

I have never felt anything due to being sedated, but from the explanation I have been given, if they have to remove a clot, it can be painful. I do know that on the occasions I have had clots removed, my arm has usually been really bruised, almost as if they had to get a grip on it and force the balloon or other device through the clot. 

[Charlie B53]

Had it done on the 18th.  There was an initial burnn from a large lidocaine injection, after that, Nothing.

I waited and waited, but never did feel that 'worm' crawling up the vessel.  Nor did I feel any burns as it inflated.

It was a different Dr this time.  I suspect he ordered pain med added prior to every inflation to prevent the burn.

I was so surprised when he said they were done as I wasn't sure he had really done anything.

Sometimes I get VERY Fortunate.

[GA_DAWG]

When I first started the Dr would give the sedation after he got the thing in my arm, unless it was clotted. Took me a bit of time to figure out that if it was clotted, the meds wouldn't go through either. Now though, they use a nurse anesthesiologist.

[jambo101]

What ever they did its working as i've now had half a dozen successful fistula hookups, hopefully they can get this hideous catheter out of my chest by Easter.

[kitkatz]

I have been ballooned in my fistula with not enough pain meds and then one doc who did it perfectly and I felt very little pain.  I would guess I expect pain so I feel pain.

[jambo101]

What ever they did its working as i've now had half a dozen successful fistula hookups, hopefully they can get this hideous catheter out of my chest by Easter.

Got my wish, as they accidentally pulled the catheter out so they took the rest of it out. its beern a month now of fistula only..