longest time with a chest catheter?

[Travelkid]

hi everyone, I’m so scared about fistulas that I’m considering not getting one. What is the longest you guys have gone with chest catheters? Any exchanges in between? Infections, catheter breakdowns?

[Bassetmommer]

Not sure why you are worried about an arm fistula. First of all, the surgery is nothing. You are sedated so you don't know what is happening. Then your arm maybe still numb for a day as it recovers from the block. By day 2, your arm is fine. The place where they cut and how much depends on your particular vein and arteries. My site hurt for about a week, but nothing awful by any means. I used a heating pad at night and boy did that help. You have to be careful to not strain the arm; no lifting or pulling for a couple of weeks. Then, you start to do exercises and build up the fistual. The discomfort by the end of a couple of weeks was gone. I have to remember I even have it and be careful with what I do when carrying packages.

Here's the thing. With a chest catheter, you are completely venerable to infection. AND if you do get an infection, you are right into a direct line to your heart. Because you always will have a port hanging out....ALWAYS. With the fistula, you are not exposing the body to infection. Just like have a lab draw, the holes plug up afterwards. If the needles part is what scares you, you can put a gel on the fistula before you are hooked up which completely blocks any pain for the insertion of the needles. I am sure they have told you what you are limited to do with the chest catheter. A fistula does not limit you in your daily activities at all.

Having the choice to get an AV fistula is not something everyone can do. But if you are a candidate, I would highly suggest getting one. I hope I helped with your concerns.

[Travelkid in reply to Bassetmommer]

Thank you so much that is very helpful. How long have you had yours for? Can you tell me about what the 3 month checkups entail? Any complications you have had?

[Bassetmommer in reply to Travelkid]

Ah not sure what you are asking..... but I had it done on June 29 and I had a follow up with the surgeon a month later and he was very pleased and I saw my Neph at 6 weeks and she was fine with it too. I am not on dialysis so I do not have any other check ups until and if that happens.

[horsie63 in reply to Bassetmommer]

This was so helpful. They put a catheter when I was in the hospital for emergency dialysis. I’m going for vein mapping this afternoon. I’m very small so I’m concerned they will have to to a graft instead.

Do you have one of those things that make inserting the needles easier? I’ve had too much anesthesia and my memory is shot. So I can’t remember what it’s called.

[Bassetmommer in reply to horsie63]

I hope your vein mapping went well. They told me originally that I would have to have two surgeries. Once they got in there, it was one and done. They were concerned about size but once they were in it was fine. No issues at all now with my arm.

[Ziggydoodah]

Fistulas are like everything else on this journey...fear of the unknown. I felt exactly the same before getting mine. I have never had a line. Yes there will be issues with your fistula. Yes it is painful at the start getting the needles in. Yes you will bruise like a peach. However after seeing some of the things my fellow dialysis patients go through with their lines, I'm glad I have a fistula. One if my friends had been complaining for weeks about redness around his line. He was told it was the plasters. About 6 weeks ago, he nearly died. He had a bad line infection. I don't mean to scare you!! If you want any advice regarding fistula let me know .

[horsie63 in reply to Ziggydoodah]

I go this afternoon for vein mapping so any Astor tips would be so helpful.

[bestmom247]

I had my original chest cath for 2 years , 10 months. I was bullied by my dialysis center to have it replaced or get a fistula. They told the Mayo Clinic it was infected and I was put on the inactive list. They also told the Mayo clinic that I would not get 3 days of IV antibiotics with a temporary cath then eventually get a permanent cath, so my file is RED FLAGGED as I am now considered AMA. I swtill have not intention of getting a fistula. I just had it replaced two weeks ago at IVC., Inc. and the Dr. had it tested, it came back yesterday as NEGATIVE!!! If you clean you cath site every day (as I do my own - I DO NOT allow them to touch it), you will do fine. If they would just leave me alone, I could probably have this for either the rest of my life (I am 70 years old) or until I get a kidney. I am in the proces of changing my Nephrologist and Dialysis Center and hiring an attorney. Wish me luck.

[chicagotrekkie]

I've had a catheter for a little over a year now. I kept putting off the fistula surgery because I was apprehensive. But then about a month ago, the catheter developed a staph infection. The area around it became red and it hurt quite a bit when touched. They had to put me in the hospital for IV antibiotics. I also had the old catheter surgically removed and a new one put in.

A few days later, I finally had the surgery to put in a fistula. It was uneventful and not painful; there were bruises but they faded in a few days. It's been a few weeks since the surgery and I'm waiting for the fistula to mature so I can begin using it, and eventually get the catheter taken out altogether.

Everyone is scared of the unknown, but understand that chest catheters are much more prone to infection than fistulas, and that fistulas are much safer overall. They're also the better choice for long-term use.

Please share your fears with your nephrologist so he or she can reassure you, explain the procedure in detail, and answer all your questions.

[bumblebee_tuna]

Can you elaborate what you are worried about? Chest catheter is a temporary solution, I would be more scared having to use it than a fistula surgery. Get the fistula or go on PD, don't wait for an infection.

[MToQ]

Are you able to do PD? When I needed dialysis, I choose PD. I refused to do HD, even when I had 0% function left. I had more control with PD and less restrictions with fluids. Plus I had my days free. If you do PD, just be very careful to follow every step, every night, no matter how tempted to skip ahead. I didn't get one infection in 5 yrs. Good luck!

[checkman]

Travelkid, I replied to your last post.... fistulas can have as many problems as ports. The techs can and do infiltrate the fistula site. I got an infection so bad at my 2nd fistula site that it turned into the size of a softball, full of pus. Totally gross... As I stated in my previous post I am and will always be a "port person". Fistulas can and will clot or as they say "just stop working" and they have no idea why. Just get another fistula, yea OK, just keep getting new fistulas... After taking over the the care of my port I have had no problems, no infections. You need to listen to your gut and use your own judgment. Look at "bestmom247's" reply! I love her man!

[HHNx]

I took very good care of my emergency catheter and was able to keep it for over a year.

[bubbaboo2]

I am waiting for a second transplant. First one lasted 27 years. I have been on hemodialysis for 3 years now and have had a chest tube for the 3 years. Just take care of it by cleaning and covering and you will do just fine. Good luck to you.

[Travelkid in reply to bubbaboo2]

That was very helpful, thank you. Any exchanges to that catheter? What has been your hesitation to a fistula? Just picking your brain, thank you.

[bubbaboo2 in reply to Travelkid]

No hesitation in a fistula this its my 2nd time around and I just don't want another altho my chest catheter has been replaced 16 times.