FOUND A NEW WEBSITE WITH LOTS OF INFO. http://www.fistulafirst.org/Home.aspx

The Fistula First Breakthrough Initiative is dedicated to improving care for people with chronic kidney disease by increasing AV fistula placement and use in suitable hemodialysis patients.

National AV Fistula Rate Reaches 60.4% in February 2012

 

 

 

I have been having pain in my arm that has the fistula.  I was reading one of the forums @ davita.com and learned of some of the probable reasons for the pain and a site with more information.

 

The LPN said "More than likely, from my experience, the most logical to me, the pain could be caused by stenosis (narrowing of the vessel). The narrowing could be literally anywhere on the side of the AVF. I've had my patients tell me their shoulder hurts, nowhere near the access, and i've sent to them for a fistulagram and there's been a blockage or stenosis in the vessels closer to the shoulder and chest. Believe it or not this can cause pain not only in your shoulder on access side but in or around the access as well. The easiest way to detect stenosis can actually be done by you. Ask your unit for a cheap stethoscope so you can listen to your access at home and before you go to treatment. If there's stenosis in your access, you will hear a high pitched sound. Normal sound will be like a washing machine. You can listen to it here for both fistula and graft. just scroll to the bottom for the audio clip links.

http://www.fistulafirst.org/Healthca...eConcept9.aspx

another reason could be, "steal syndrome" or "blood robbing" which is where blood is being "stolen" from the rest of the arm because of "collaterals" that are forming. Collaterals are extra vessels forming from the access which in turn steals blood from the access which in turn, blood does not distribute throughout the arm like it should. Think of your fistula as a main road/highway, all the little side streets, turn off and exits would be the collaterals that were formed from that major highway/road "

 

I WAS SO GLAD TO LEARN THA TTHE PAIN WAS REAL & NOT IN MY HEAD!

Who likes t o complain - I DO NOT!

 

But the surgeon did acknowledge that the vein was narrowing.  I had a fistualogram on Monday, May 7th.  Was still sick on Tuesday, so nausious.  But much better now.  I am a little sore from the surgeon ballooning my fistual but am glad that things will get better.

 

THANK U LORD!