I got operated on for an AV fistula a few weeks ago, to prepare for
eventual dialysis, and when I put my finger on the incision I can feel
the "thrill" underneath.  (I know that is a Good Thing.)  My question
is, why do I feel the thrill?  Why don't I just feel a regular pulse?  I
tried Googling for it, but didn't find an explanation why.  Thanks in
advance for any enlightenment on this topic!

Adam
--
Email: rubin AT bestweb DOT net

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Adam, my son just started dialysis and had the fistula put in about a
year before.  His healed very nicely, large and every time they stick
him they are thrilled to work with such a big vein.  I touch it once in
a while and can feel it too.  I t seems that because they have hitched
an artery with a vein, it becomes vericose and you can just feel it to
be stronger  because of the amount of blood flowing through it.

Have a great day!!

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On Tue, 04 Jul 2006 17:25:27 -0400, Adam <look@bottom.for.address>
wrote:

>I got operated on for an AV fistula a few weeks ago, to prepare for
>eventual dialysis, and when I put my finger on the incision I can feel
>the "thrill" underneath.  (I know that is a Good Thing.)  My question
>is, why do I feel the thrill?  Why don't I just feel a regular pulse?  I
>tried Googling for it, but didn't find an explanation why.  Thanks in
>advance for any enlightenment on this topic!
>
>Adam

The "thrill" is blood flowing over an uneven connection where the
artery and vein were spliced.  Think of it like rapids in a stream.

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"Larry Krzewinski" <Feerless_Freep@madmagazine.com> wrote

> The "thrill" is blood flowing over an uneven connection where the
> artery and vein were spliced.  Think of it like rapids in a stream.

That's a very good analogy!

Mine has moved. It is now at the needle site instead of the fistula site.
I've got to go for an ultrasound next week to see what's a happenin'..

Paul

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On Wed, 5 Jul 2006 12:28:26 +1000, "Paul Bartram" <p.bartram AT OR
NEAR optusnet.com.au> wrote:
 
>
>That's a very good analogy!
>
>Mine has moved. It is now at the needle site instead of the fistula site.
>I've got to go for an ultrasound next week to see what's a happenin'..

Good luck with it.  One of the things that most dialysis patients
aren't aware of when they start dialysis is that it isn't uncommon for
them to clot or for there to be other problems with your fistula or
shunt.  Some folks have a lot of problems with them clotting,
including immediately after surgery to unclot them.

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Larry Krzewinski wrote:
> The "thrill" is blood flowing over an uneven connection where the
> artery and vein were spliced.  Think of it like rapids in a stream.

Thanks, Charles, Larry, Paul, and everybody else!

Adam

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> "Larry Krzewinski" <Feerless_Freep@madmagazine.com> wrote 
[vbcol=seagreen] 
[vbcol=seagreen] 
[vbcol=seagreen]
> Good luck with it.  One of the things that most dialysis patients
> aren't aware of when they start dialysis is that it isn't uncommon for
> them to clot or for there to be other problems with your fistula or
> shunt.  Some folks have a lot of problems with them clotting,
> including immediately after surgery to unclot them.

Yes, the nurses pretty much said the same. I guess it's asking a lot of the
old bod, already sick, to have numerous needles the size of drainpipes
shoved in its veins, have your blood pumped through various machinery etc.
yet keep circulating hundreds of litres a day non stop without any hitches.
Your car wouldn't put up with it!

Paul

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On Fri, 7 Jul 2006 12:06:41 +1000, "Paul Bartram" <p.bartram AT OR
NEAR optusnet.com.au> wrote:
 
> 
> 
>
>Yes, the nurses pretty much said the same. I guess it's asking a lot of the
>old bod, already sick, to have numerous needles the size of drainpipes
>shoved in its veins, have your blood pumped through various machinery etc.
>yet keep circulating hundreds of litres a day non stop without any hitches.
>Your car wouldn't put up with it!

Ask for an oil change and lube the next time you go. <grin>

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Maybe a bit of a late response *grin* but a good fistula is a life
investment, if its new, follow the instruction booklet (always exercise
it lightly when its new, NEVER put heavy weight on it, AND NEVER EVER,
let anyone use the fistula arm, or leg, to take you blood pressure.)
My fistula is about 17 this year, & came in handy when my third
transplant decided it couldn't cope with the side effects of meningitis
on my body.
But its' still going strong. Self needling is a skill you really should
consider, it's you body, despite alterations, & you will be in control.

hope this is helpful.
J

Adam <look@bottom.for.address> wrote:

> I got operated on for an AV fistula a few weeks ago, to prepare for
> eventual dialysis, and when I put my finger on the incision I can feel
> the "thrill" underneath.  (I know that is a Good Thing.)  My question
> is, why do I feel the thrill?  Why don't I just feel a regular pulse?  I
> tried Googling for it, but didn't find an explanation why.  Thanks in
> advance for any enlightenment on this topic!
>
> Adam
> --
> Email: rubin AT bestweb DOT net


--
My Blog at: http://www.livejournal.com/users/sw33tf00l/

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"JW" <wapmad@hotmail.com> wrote

> My fistula is about 17 this year, & came in handy when my third
> transplant decided it couldn't cope with the side effects of meningitis
> on my body.

Three transplants? Wow, they won't even give me one.. But this makes me
wonder, is it common for people to have more than one 'go' at replacement,
and if so is the likelihood of rejection or failure increased or decreased
by having so much foreign tissue 'pass through'? In our ward there is only
one person who is on her second organ.

(I'm assuming here that you meant 3 kidney transplants, not multiple
transplants of different organs.)

Paul

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