Next stage

[Oceanviewed]

After 28 years of living with kidney disease I am finally moving to the next stage and will be getting a fistula installed on May 2nd. Would appreciate anything you can tell me about after the procedure. Did you find it very painful. Did you have limited use of your arm. How soon before you could drive etc. Any information would be very helpful. My husband and I live alone, are both in our 80s and trying to figure out how this will work.

[bumblebee_tuna]

It's a fairly mild surgery, you won't be able to lift anything heavy for a while. Driving should be fine after a couple of days. If you are in your 80's I imagine recovery will be a little longer but it's usually a week or so for full recovery. All surgeries suck, pain killers, constipation etc. just be prepared.

[OldHat]

I live in India. I had a fistula done recently. It’s a very minor surgery and you should be fine in 24 hours. It will take a while ( my case 2 months ) to strengthen and be usable for cannulating. Please don’t stress about this.

[JDsDaughter]

My dad had his fistula surgery at 85. There were limits on lifting and he had to squeeze a foam ball for a while to keep the blood flowing through the new channel. Other than that, it wasn't that big of a deal. He never complained of discomfort. I hope it goes as smoothly for you. Good luck!

[Oceanviewed]

Thank you everyone for the responses. That made me feel a lot better about the whole thing,

[jodaer in reply to Oceanviewed]

Check out Bassmommer's posting on getting her fistula

[Bassetmommer]

The surgery is about two hours long, but it took all afternoon and evening for the prep and recovery. The pain is minimal, but the first couple of days you will know it's there.

Things to think about: Can you get out of bed without putting weight on that arm. Can you climb stairs in your house without that arm. You cannot use the arm for a few days at all but then you have to be really careful with how much pressure and lifting you do for a few months. Do not carry groceries or heavy objects with that arm. Do not get up from a chair using that arm. You will be surprised at how much you use that arm and for a while cannot. I was told no baths for a week, but you can shower after a day or two. They will tell you all that stuff at the hospital. I am looking for my post I wrote in detail about the surgery.

[Bassetmommer]

Here is my detailed story of getting my fistula

healthunlocked.com/nkf-ckd/...

[Oceanviewed in reply to Bassetmommer]

Thank you so much for giving me this information. It is really helpful to have an honest report of what I can expect to happen and what I need to think about. I can already see some problems ahead as at 83 two arms are useful just for getting out of chairs etc. Now I can start figuring things out. I really appreciate your taking the time to send me this. I hope your journey is going Ok now . Are you doing regular dialysis and do you think it is improving your situation.

[Hidden]

Had an AV fistula in February '23. Pretty basic and I was home and recoved that afternoon. No pain afterwards - but didn't start HD until March '24. I was told that the AV graft has to "cure" (arterial & venous wall thicken) so as soon as Doc clears you get a tennis ball to squeeze which will help. I was 69 when I got it done though, so it will probably be a bit different for y'all since you're older. Good luck - you'll be fine.

[Oceanviewed in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Vivace1. Do you have any limitations on the use of that arm?

[Hidden]

No - one thing you can't do is ever let anyone use the arm for anything medical. Ask the dialysis center for a wrist band identifying you as a dialysis patient and designating that arm as a "not to be touched"(so to speak)Hope that helps

[Darwin_S in reply to Hidden]

Can't get you. You mean we should not place fistula in arm? If so, where it should be placed?

[JDsDaughter in reply to Darwin_S]

Once you have a fistula in one arm, you should preserve and reserve that arm for dialysis purposes only. Have medical staff use your other arm when taking blood pressure, doing blood draws for labwork, etc.