The first is a long shot to show where on my arm the surgery was performed.
*You can still see bruising from the surgery under the incision site.
The second is a close-in of the surgery site itself. The incision is approx 1.5 inches long; though the end result will be evident along nearly the length of my forearm.
I plan on photographing the fistula once it has matured so you can see the intended outcome of the whole procedure. I'll start specific exercises in just over a week to help strengthen and mature the super vein. If I remember, I'll take photos as the maturation process occurs, creating a photographic timeline of the process.
If you have any questions, please ask.
Good Health to All!
ScottW
Greetings! Thank you for the informative post about your IV Fistula.. I just found your post tonight ( Jan 23, 2015)
ReplyDeleteMy doc reccomended that I should have one as my GFR is down to 19 and I feel fine but doc said better to have one just in case of emergency
Would you be kind enough to post how your fistula looked like after it got healed..
Thank you very much.
Rene
Hi Rene! Thank you for reading my blog! I appreciate it, and appreciate your asking me this question.
ReplyDeleteOnce healed, there isn't much to see, aside from the small scar on your arm. The area of the fistula will look normal, aside from the super vein growing and strengthening, which will lead it to stick out a bit, but not much.
You'll also notice that you can see the vein pulsing as your heart beats. You may even be able to feel the pulsing for a while; I know I did.
The Fistula needs to be created now so that it has time not only to heal, but to grow as well.
I waited over a year after my fistula surgery to start dialysis. By the time I began, my fistula was in terrific shape! The better your fistula (and the stronger it is), the better and more effective your dialysis treatment will be!
So, follow your nephrologist's advice and go see a vascular surgeon to have your arm mapped (via ultrasound), and a plan in place and the surgery date set.
The surgery itself is only a day-surgery, lasting about an hour and a half. Be sure you have someone there to assist you, and drive you home.
Also, once home, you'll want to elevate your arm, as the new pulsing will be painful, which will fade over time. Healing should take anywhere from a few days to about a week before you're back on your feet.
If you have any other questions, please ask me right away!
Thanks!
ScottW