Just started fistula

Discussions for Patients, Family, and Friends HD For Patients
1

hi,
I’m Dannylee from st.pete florida and just started using my fistula. I am cannulating
myself and am having a hard time with the venous, i am ok with the arterial but infiltrate
the venous, i have twice.
i’ve only been on dialysis for a year and a half and still have my catheter in.
since this is my first time on, i am not used to all the terms and symbols, so please be patient with me. any input on how to keep from infritrating myself would help alot. thanks

2

you need to get button holes that will stop that forever

3

[quote=dannylee;14482]hi,
I’m Dannylee from st.pete florida and just started using my fistula. I am cannulating
myself and am having a hard time with the venous, i am ok with the arterial but infiltrate
the venous, i have twice.
i’ve only been on dialysis for a year and a half and still have my catheter in.
since this is my first time on, i am not used to all the terms and symbols, so please be patient with me. any input on how to keep from infritrating myself would help alot. thanks[/quote]

Hi Dannylee, welcome!
Can you feel the needle on the venous side and/or do you move alot? Does is happen during dialysis or soon as you get the needle in? Why not ask for buttonholes?

4

i’m currently starting the buttonholes, but still manage to infiltrate.

5

i’m doing the buttonholes now and i try not to move and i feel the pain as soon as i start the blood flow rate. i am on the nxstage machine so it sure lets you know. i stop treatment right away and hook up the venous to my catheter to finish my treatment. maybe it just takes practice, but man what a way to learn!