Are you about to start dialysis? Ask any questions come here and get the truth.

[BRANDY]

Yes but I tend to not do it alll the time.  Zach  you would be a good one to ask I think    what is my fistula  to look like and how long  and how hard .

[Zach]

Yes but I tend to not do it alll the time.  Zach  you would be a good one to ask I think    what is my fistula  to look like and how long  and how hard .

Not sure what you mean (how long  and how hard)?

[MandaMe1986]

(how long and how hard?)
sorry guess i have a bit if a dirty mind

[dwcrawford]

I thought the fistala went into your arm!

[David13]

 

[MandaMe1986]

 

[paris]

I am cracking up    Wait until RichardMel reads this one!   Someone please answer the question seriously---maybe not MandaMa---we know where her mind is!      

[dwcrawford]

And what was the question?  Oh, please don't joke about the fistala tonight.  I have to decide by Tuesday if that's what I'm going to do.   

[paris]

You can do this DW!  You have learned so much in the past few weeks.  Fistula is a good idea.  You have lots of support here.   

Brandy, how is the fistula doing?  Keep exercising it!   

[MandaMe1986]

Dan seriously, my thoughts are with you.  This is a really big step for you.  But I am gonna add my  in.  I like talking to you in the chat, I would like to see you there for a long time...  But here is a  for you. 

[dwcrawford]

I was joking about not joking... go for it.

Look at the little say under my ass... I'm getting there fast.

[MandaMe1986]

wont you look at me I joke on a serious question and I am serious on a joke...

[BRANDY]

Alright Manday I first had wrote totally wrong as to it really sounded dirty   SOooooo I inserted fistula so it woulnt sound quiet so bad ....... But seriously now  I had my fistula surgery Feb 12  now my vein is getting bigger it is puffy and sounds strong and have a nice thrill.  How big and hard does it get   My Vein I guess is what I am talking about .  Now get your mind out of gutter please.I really want to know .  I would have ask neph but I didnt think to ask.

[circleNthedrain]

Adam to Eve..."Stand back, I don't know how big this thing gets!"  But seriously Brandy, all fistulas are different.  The most important thing is to exercise it in the early days.  As long as its pumping and the thrill is good, your in good shape. 

[dwcrawford]

I want to know about the thrill???  Is it loud?  Can you feel and/or hear it all the time?  Will people hear it and know you  are coming?

[Zach]

Adam to Eve..."Stand back, I don't know how big this thing gets!"  But seriously Brandy, all fistulas are different.
 

 

[MandaMe1986]

Okay my mind is out of the gutter...   

But no it sounds like it is doing what you want it to do. I don't have one but if everyone around here says so then it must be ture.

[BRANDY]

Thanks  I guess I cant ask anything else about it   I got the thrill and pulse going on  so I guess Im in good shape .   I was around some people today and they were looking at my arm  and was really freaked out at what it looks like      I thought it looked pretty goood.  Of course to them I look deformed.   I thought My  pulsating fistula looked awful goood.  They didnt know what it is supposed to look like .      Thanks for your time

[circleNthedrain]

Hi DWC...No, people will not hear you coming....unless you've been eating beans!  Mine buzzes, but I can only hear it if I put it near my head when it's on the pillow.  I can only feel it if I touch it with my other hand, then WOW. 

[RichardMEL]

yes well.. interesting reading here.. and I best not comment on Manda's dirty mind... I'll just send her some PM's on that subject 

As others have said fistulas are different.. and indeed mine sometimes gets better and smaller (hmm must be based on if I see a pretty girl or not!!!  ) and everyone's are different. They're not all the same at all.

As for hearing it. no... it doesn't sound like you've got a vibrator in your pocket or something!! You can only "hear it" when you feel it through a pillow or something like circ says. I mean it is just blood rushing through there that creates it. I remember when someone asked me if I had batteries stuck in there that made the buzz... 

Just remember.. if the thrill stops.. get to an ER ASAP!

[MandaMe1986]

Me a dirty mind? Never!

[MandaMe1986]

acspears happy to have you, welcome to IHD.  This is a wonderful site to help with lots of questions.  If you wouldn't mind going to the Introduce your self and let everyone know who you are and whats going on I am sure tons of people will have answers for you.

I understand being scared, its scary stuff. But it is going to be oaky.  You will find out all the good and bad about dialysis.  The vomiting, dizzyness, blurry vision is pretty normal.  Once he starts dialysis he will start feeling better.

[vcarmody]

My husband was supposed to start dialysis today.  Unfortunately they infiltrated him.  His fistula was done on April 14, he has also had two prior angioplasty (one on 08-28 and one on 09-11) to try and get it to mature.  They say his fistula is ready (although the Dr that did the angioplasty said it was not ready) so they want to try again on Friday. I am really concerned because I am afraid they are going to damage his fistula so it can not be used. I basically rely  on this site and the people here to give us advice being that we know nothing about this whole dialysis thing.  Can anyone give me suggestion, should we try again or suggest they give his fistula more time?  His Kidney function is down to 12% and he has been feeling really bad lately.   

[Zach]

His fistula was done on April 14, he has also had two prior angioplasty (one on 08-28 and one on 09-11) to try and get it to mature.

Has he been exercising it?

[vcarmody]

Yes, he squeezes his kidney that they gave him daily.  The one doctor says there is a vein that is taking some of the blood flow away from the fistula he suggested that his vascular surgeon do another surgery and block off that vein, but his neph felt this was not necessary.