I was hoping someone could tell me how do they do dialysis if you don’t have good veins.
Mine are so tiny even blood draws are difficult let alone a iv started.
I’ve had major abdominal surgery three times so a lot of scar tissue and mesh .
Hopefully I never need it but in the back of my mind I always wonder how it could or even be a possibility?. Thanks wish y’all wonderful day.
If and when you have to get ready for dialysis, they will send you to a surgeon to put in a fistula. If your veins are tiny, they can put in a device that literally pumps up and opens the veins. And if all that fail, they can do a chest catheter which will limit you. Trust me, you are not the first person with tiny views. And they ones they use for IV are not the same as what will be in your fistula.
😊 thanks
My mam is exactly the same it's so hard to take her blood and she was able to still get the fistula in her arm they put it in deeper because her veins wernt to good and they use longer needles during dialysis when she first got it in they found it difficult but now they know she has no problems with it 
My husband did not have good veins so they put a graft in his upper arm to use. It is an artificial vein that is connected to his own veins.
Just get a port, keep it clean and it will be your best friend. I have had my poort for 4.5 years and have not had a lick of trouble and they don't have to stick me 3 times a week either. They say a port does not clean as well as a fistula, but I am now going to dialysis once a week for only 2,5 hours, so my port must be doing something right.
I have tiny veins and have problems even with blood draws. When I needed to start dialysis and was going to do hemo-dialysis, they put an AV Graft in my lower arm. Normally they make a fistula using your own veins and artery. They tried that, but couldn't so they put in a Graft. It's like tubing in your arm. And if they can't do that, they put in a porta-cath in your chest. When you need dialysis they have ways! Ha, ha
If it ever happens and I pray it doesn’t.
Is it possible to do the home hemodialysis?
My husband took care of my open abdominal packing twice a day until it healed .
I was left with two very deep open surgical wound care.
I hope it never happens but just in case I would like to know how it all works is that crazy? Thanks guys your wonderful 😊
I too have tiny veins. The surgeon gave me a brachiocephalic fistula which is above the bend in my arm. He expected to have to do two operations. One to make the fistula and a later one to lift it up, closer to the skin surface. Luckily it lifted itself up and is very strong and visible. I've had it for over 2 years now, but still haven't started dialysis. My eGFR got better. I was at 7, then the low 20s, but since starting mourjaro and losing weight I'm was 31 last week! I've surprised them all since at 7 I was really, really sick. If your upper arm veins are too tiny too they will create a graft with a piece of plastic.
I'm a tiny person (4'9" and 90 lbs so I also have tiny veins. I have trouble with the IV's too. The surgeon tried to put a fistula at the crook of my arm and it never worked. Finally he did a graft in my upper arm and it's got a good thrill and bruit. Currently I have a chest catheter and we use that until the graft is ready.
I've heard they can put fistulas in your leg but I'd rather not do that. They say the chest catheter is more prone to infection but I've heard of people having them for years with no issues.
Yes you can do home hemo with a fistula, a graft or a chest catheter. Make sure you keep what ever you get clean and you shouldn't have any problems.
I had vein mapping imaging before I had a fistula constructed and was told hemodialysis could be done in the bend of my elbow but not in the forearm. My vascular surgeon told me she does not see any reason a fistula could not be created in my upper arm. So I am limited as well. Good luck.
I think they place artificial tube like device, connected to your vessels. Called a shunt.
dialysis question?
Peritoneal Dialysis
Dialysis 
Dialysis update
