The buttonhole technique, or constant-site cannulation

Found the following on DaVita.com

Dear Annie,

Can you explain the buttonhole technique?

Connie

Dear Connie,

The buttonhole technique, or constant-site cannulation, is a way for care partners or patients to cannulate an arteriovenous (AV) fistula by inserting a dialysis needle into the same spot for each dialysis treatment, with little or no pain. A fistula is cannulated in exactly the same location for 6-8 treatments until a tract (think of an earring hole) is developed. Once this tract is established, a blunt needle is used for cannulation thereby decreasing the need for sharp needles. When cannulating buttonholes, great care must be taken to protect against infections, as micro-organisms can be easily carried through the tract into the patient's bloodstream.

Annie

Symptoms of Parathyroid Disease (Hyperparathyroidism)

DEFINITELY DID NOT KNOW THIS INFORMATION ABOUT PARATHYROID DISEASE.

http://www.parathyroid.com/parathyroid-symptoms.htm

 

I have parathyroid disease.  Have been taking Zemplar to control it.  It's amazing how many of the sysmptoms I have.

This article said I can have a 20 minutes surgery to remove the tumor on my thyroid, but Nephrologist said why go through another surgery.

I am really considering this surgery.  If I forget to take the meds, all hell breaks out.  I am dizzy, light-headed, exhausted, etc.

If I can stop taking this med with a small surgery, why not?  Believe the risk is that the parathyroid is very close to the vocal cords.

HHHMMM, lots to consider!!!!!

 

 

 

Symptoms of Parathyroid Disease (Hyperparathyroidism)

	Loss of energy. Don't feel like doing much. Tired all the time. Chronic fatigue.
	Just don't feel well; don't quite feel normal. Hard to explain but just feel kind of bad.
	Feel old. Don't have the interest in things that you used to.
	Can't concentrate, or can't keep your concentration like in the past.
	Depression.
	Osteoporosis and Osteopenia.
	Bones hurt; typically it's bones in the legs and arms but can be most bones.
	Don't sleep like you used to. Wake up in middle of night. Trouble getting to sleep.
	Tired during the day and frequently feel like you want a nap (but naps don't help).
	Spouse claims you are more irritable and harder to get along with (cranky, bitchy).
	Forget simple things that you used to remember very easily (worsening memory).
	Gastric acid reflux; heartburn; GERD.
	Decrease in sex drive.
	Thinning hair (predominately in middle aged females on the front part of the scalp).
	Kidney Stones (and eventually kidney failure).
	High Blood Pressure (sometimes mild, sometimes quite severe; up and down a lot).
	Recurrent Headaches (usually patients under the age of 40).
	Heart Palpitations (arrhythmias). Typically atrial arrhythmias.
	Atrial Fibrillation (rapid heart rate, often requiring blood thinners and pacemakers).
	High liver function tests (liver blood tests).

Most people with hyperparathyroidism will have 5 - 6 of these symptoms. Some will have lots of them. A few people will say they don't have any... but after an operation they will often say otherwise. 95% of people with hyperparathyroidism will have 4 or more of these symptoms. In general, the longer you have hyperparathyroidism, the more symptoms you will develop.

FEELING MUCH BETTER, BUT (you know there is always a but!)

I am feeling much better since going through the flu, pruritis (itching due to end stage kidney failure), forgetting to get my EPO shot, etc.

I have gone 1 month without the EPO shot and yes I am more tired than ever.   But overall I feel fine.

I have not been as focused as I should on losing 15 pounds.    But I will kick things into gear.  Realize I have to force myself.

This weekend I forced myself to put up curtains in my bedroom.  I was pain-staking but I DID IT! 

That one act is great to me because I have been lying around the house because I am too tired to do anything. 

I visited a friend (along my family) for Thanksgiving.  I stayed until 8 p.m.

This is a great feat because at the end of the day, I was sleepy but not exhausted. 

About a month ago I would have been so exhausted that my legs hurt so bad.  Can't describe the feeling.

Would like to walk.  I love walking.  But the bursors in my hip hurt to bad. Plus, my calf muscles cramp.

Must hit the gym but I have procrastinated and not gotten up from my desk except to use the bathroom, get water/lunch/snack forom vending room, and rarely I vist coworkers to see how they are doing.  Otherwise I am at my desk tooooo tired to move. 

Must do better.  Was told I would feel better after starting dialysis.  But actually I am not looking forward to dialysis.

Have asked for a kidney donation on Facebook from anyone with O blood type.  Still praying.  Family members are getting checked.

 

I HAVE LEARNED MORE ABOUT THIS ITCHING AND SENSATIONS I HAVE BEEN FEELING. 

The following webistes provided more information.

What Causes Pruritis in Renal Failure?  http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5731185_causes-pruritis-renal-failure_.html

Top 7 Tips to Relieve Itching Skin In Kidney Disease Fast  http://www.kidneycoach.com/367/kidneys-itching-top-7-tips-to-relieve-itching-skin-in-kidney-disease-fast/

Kidney Disease Itching   http://www.wellsphere.com/wellpage/kidney-disease-itching

Renal itch.   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10733630

There are many more sites with information about this itching sensation.  I was pretty unbreable last week.  It interrupted my sleep.

I hypothesize I ate too many biscuits (too much phospherus)?????

I was eating a biscuit and OJ in the mornings on the way to work.

Sometimes (a lot) I forget to eat a TUMS (phospherus blocker) with meals.  Defintely working on this.  Must ge tthis diet thing down. 

 

Well all for now.  10:47 a.m.

 

Janice

Keep on Keeping On!

 

 

 

 

 

When to start dialysis %u2014 Home Dialysis Central

I was visiting Home Dialysis Central, and found some information I thought you might be interested in. You can read it here: http://homedialysis.org/article/life_at_home/when_to_start_dialysis


Sent from my iPad

Today is a hard day. 10/17/12

Lots of spasms in my spinal cord.
I am in day 5 of the FLU!
So weak. Muscles aches really bad.
I threw up at work yesterday after being there 2 hours.
Had to go home.
Feet are burning. As usual, ears are ringing.