Fistula removal.

[Rik]

that's great..
let us know the progress
had mine got around the same length of time..
my tx was 18yrs ago..
my fistula is still pumping away and is quite large..
don't want to tempt fate by having it tied off..
but don't want a quite noticeable lump I'm my upper left arm either..

[Richard]

that's great..
let us know the progress
had mine got around the same length of time..
my tx was 18yrs ago..
my fistula is still pumping away and is quite large..
don't want to tempt fate by having it tied off..
but don't want a quite noticeable lump I'm my upper left arm either..

I was in the same place as you Rik, considered it a good back up plan just in case like you. It was getting very large and unsightly though and I work in education having to stand in front of students and was starting to get self conscious about it which I mentioned to the nurse at clinic. She referred me to the surgeon who told me how relatively minor it would be for him to remove it so decided to go for it and so far so good.

I was out of hospital the morning after but that was only because I went to theatre late I think. You would normally be out the same day if it was done in the morning. I've now had my first dressing changed and it's healing well so the nurse told me, quite odd to not have the buzzing any more though...

[Rik]

Hi Richard..
as a follow up from myself..
just wanted to thank you for me deciding to talk to my TX Prof about removing my fistula..
I was getting tired and breathless very easily.. just walking upstairs!!
mentioned it to my Tx Prof and the thinking about having my fistula removed..
after an appointment with a fistula surgeon it turns out the size of my fistula was reducing the amount of blood flowing through my heart.. hence the easy to tire and breathlessness.. 'a heart attack waiting to happen' was his description..
today got the date for it's removal early in the new year
thanks again for the nudge into making a decision to do something about it..

[Thumps]

That's good news Rik!

[Rik]

Thanks Thumps..
had it done last Wednesday..
Richard forgot to say how sore I would be still
but already feeling so much better for it..

[Richard]

Hi Rik, sorry I've only just seen your posts but I don't look on here very often. Glad you got the fistula removed successfully. I must say mine wasn't that sore afterward, just felt warm and swollen for a while. It was about this time last year when I went to see the surgeon, how time flies.