New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

AV Fistula

post #1 of 10
7/26/08 at 9:00am
Thread Starter 
I am wondering if anyone here has one or knows someone with one?

I am on a medication which I really have to take (absolutely no choice in the matter) and my levels need to be checked every few weeks.
I have really bad veins and every time I need a blood test of canula or something, they poke me dozens of times and dig around and have real issues getting a vein... so much so that last time they needed to do a blood test, after trying 6 times, they decided to prick my finger with BSL needle and squeeze the blood out into a plastic vile thingy it was awful.

So my doctor has suggested I get a shunt in my arm which is a fistula.. which is a basically a shunt under the skin to prevent infection.
The is where they attach a vein to an artery to make easy access for blood tests and canulas.. but they usually do it to renal patients on dialysis...
Not just anyone

I have googled it and seen some pretty scary pics.. the scars are huge and the operation looks painful. I am also worried that it may burst or something

I just don't know if I should go ahead and do it, or just let them dig around every few weeks for the rest of my life. I hate pain and blood and operations.. I feel nauseated thinking about it.. especially after seeing the pics I also wonder how large the vein will look on my arm.. I don't want a huge bubble thing sticking out of it
Reply
post #2 of 10
7/26/08 at 10:17am

Re: AV Fistula

Oy hun ... I have the same issue with my veins (and on top of it usually have a vagal response and pass out) but thankfully only twice a year have to have any extensive poking around done.
Research, research, research, and talk to your doctor ... that is really the only advice I have for you. more
Reply
post #3 of 10
7/26/08 at 11:34am

Re: AV Fistula

I'm wondering why your physician want to go with an AV Fistula. I have never heard of that going in anyone other than Renal patients who are on dialysis indefinitely.

I would see if there is something else that they can use. There has to be some sort of implanted port such as a port-a-cath or a hickman that they can use instead of and before going to such a lenth to do an AV fistula.

AV fistulas are large, ugly and you must be very careful with them. We are always instructed that the only people than can access them are the dialysis RN's, unless it's a code sitution where you have NO other options. To be completely honest, the AV fistula will reduce you to ONE arm for BP's and peripheral IV's and lab draws, unless in Australia, they have different methods and theories on using AV Fistulas.

This is something that has to be surgically done and will take a while to heal or "mature" before use.

Take your time, do your research and TALK OPENLY with your MD. He/She needs to know your concerns and should talk to you openly about other options.
Reply
post #4 of 10
7/26/08 at 11:43am
Thread Starter 

Re: AV Fistula

Well I have done some research and there is noway in hell I am getting one.. my doctor is crazy if he thinks I'd get one of those, just to prevent being poked and prodded.
I did have a PIC line in my arm.. which is a like a central line.. but it caused major chest pain, so I had it tken out after a week.

Ok off to check out hickman and port-a-caths
Thanks heaps for your help
Reply
post #5 of 10
7/26/08 at 11:47am
Thread Starter 

Re: AV Fistula

The hickman looks very much like the PICC line I had.. so that's out
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PICC_line
Reply
post #6 of 10
7/26/08 at 11:51am
Thread Starter 

Re: AV Fistula

ick.. the port-a-cath looks worse my chest really rejects foreign bodies in it.
Reply
post #7 of 10
7/26/08 at 12:02pm
Thread Starter 

Re: AV Fistula

I just made myself laugh and thought I'd come back an embarrass myself publicly


I was thinking I could collect my menstural blood in a sterile container once a month for my blood tests crazier idea than the doctors!!!!
Reply
post #8 of 10
7/26/08 at 6:02pm

Re: AV Fistula

Check out the BARD access systems sites. It has some pretty cool ports and stuff in it.
I would rather go with a port than a PICC or AV fistual ANY day.

http://www.bardaccess.com/index.php
Reply
post #9 of 10
8/25/08 at 3:25pm

Re: AV Fistula

I've had A-line caths in both my carotid and femoral arteries but I don't think that is the same sort of thing ... neither was pleasant though.

It's been a while since you posted this ... how are you doing? Did you ever make a decision?
Reply
post #10 of 10
8/25/08 at 9:20pm

Re: AV Fistula

Elaine, A-lines are different, they are purely arterial. No medications/infusions can go into them, just the occasional flush to keep them open. We use the a-lines (arterial lines) mainly for BP and getting arterial blood samples.

Genie.... what did you ever decide? If your physician is insistant on an AV Fistula, GET ANOTHER MD.

Take care and keep us updated.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Totally Off Topic