Re: Derrick

[Guest guest]

Hi Derrick,

Just a quick note to say I am praying for you today. I hope all goes well

with your vein surgeon.

[Guest guest]

I do, too. Let us know how it all goes, Derrick.

W4JC@... wrote:Hi Derrick,

Just a quick note to say I am praying for you today. I hope all goes well

with your vein surgeon.

[Guest guest]

Hey all,

Don't forget that Derrick is having his fistula surgery. We can all lift him

up in prayer for a great success in his surgery.

Derrick, let us know how it went after you feel up to it.

I am praying for you!

[Guest guest]

Thanks for giving us such a quick update Derrick! I didn't expect to hear

from you for a couple of days.

I am so glad the surgery went well for you.

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks for that, I must have had more prayers than the Pope, it

was a piece of cake as Pierre and Marty had predicted. I am back home

already (Wednesday afternoon in Australia). I am pleased that is out

of the way.

Derrick

Sydney, Australia

> Hey all,

>

> Don't forget that Derrick is having his fistula surgery. We can

all lift him

> up in prayer for a great success in his surgery.

>

> Derrick, let us know how it went after you feel up to it.

>

> I am praying for you!

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Buddy,

How are you feeling, I was thinking of you and wondering how it was

going. I have heard about this fistula thing, but I have no idea of what

it looks like or how it affects movement, would you mind describing it.

I am so worried about having it in the future, removing the fear of the

unknown helps alleviate the worry.

Good to see you're doing 'ok'.

Leonie (Sydney, Australia)

Re: Derrick

,

Thanks for that, I must have had more prayers than the Pope, it

was a piece of cake as Pierre and Marty had predicted. I am back home

already (Wednesday afternoon in Australia). I am pleased that is out

of the way.

Derrick

Sydney, Australia

> Hey all,

>

> Don't forget that Derrick is having his fistula surgery. We can

all lift him

> up in prayer for a great success in his surgery.

>

> Derrick, let us know how it went after you feel up to it.

>

> I am praying for you!

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm glad to hear that things went well with the surgery, Derrick. I'm sure

you're glad that it's all over. At least now you can celebrate Christmas without

worrying about it.

" Derrick Hartley

wrote:,

Thanks for that, I must have had more prayers than the Pope, it

was a piece of cake as Pierre and Marty had predicted. I am back home

already (Wednesday afternoon in Australia). I am pleased that is out

of the way.

Derrick

Sydney, Australia

> Hey all,

>

> Don't forget that Derrick is having his fistula surgery. We can

all lift him

> up in prayer for a great success in his surgery.

>

> Derrick, let us know how it went after you feel up to it.

>

> I am praying for you!

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Derrick, I'm glad that it all went smoothly for you. When do they suggest

that you start exercing the arm to strengthen the graft? Has you Neph given

you any indication of when he will begin dialysis? Our thoughts and prayers

are with you. Connie,USA

Re: Derrick

,

Thanks for that, I must have had more prayers than the Pope, it

was a piece of cake as Pierre and Marty had predicted. I am back home

already (Wednesday afternoon in Australia). I am pleased that is out

of the way.

Derrick

Sydney, Australia

> Hey all,

>

> Don't forget that Derrick is having his fistula surgery. We can

all lift him

> up in prayer for a great success in his surgery.

>

> Derrick, let us know how it went after you feel up to it.

>

> I am praying for you!

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Connie,

Funny you should mention my neph, he was supposed to come and

see me, but the whole thing was over so quickly I was home the

morning after the op. My feet didn't touch the ground so to speak. I

went into the hospital at 6:15am, I was on the slab by 8. At 10 I was

in recovery waking up as though I had just had a nap. At 11am I was

helping myself move from the operating bed to the ward bed, at 12:30

I was having lunch. My arm had a dull ache but not enough to concern

me and the only analgesic I needed was to help me sleep in the

evening. The surgeon wants to see me just after the new year to

remove the stitches, he had a listen to the blood flowing through the

vein and seemed pleased with his work. He said I would start to

exercise it with a squeeze ball after that. I had a listen through

the stethascope to what the nurse were monitoring regularly. You can

hear the bood woosh every heart beat.

Derrick

Sydney Australia

> > Hey all,

> >

> > Don't forget that Derrick is having his fistula surgery. We can

> all lift him

> > up in prayer for a great success in his surgery.

> >

> > Derrick, let us know how it went after you feel up to it.

> >

> > I am praying for you!

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Leonie,

The op took place at the SAN at Wahroonga, 15 minutes drive

from where I live. I went into the hospital at 6:15am, I was on the

slab by 8. At 10 I was in recovery waking up as though I had just had

a nap. At 11am I was helping myself move from the operating bed to

the ward bed, at 12:30 I was having lunch. My arm had a dull ache but

not enough to concern me and the only analgesic I needed was to help

me sleep in the evening.

They made an incision on the inside of my forearm about 4cm. A

vein on top off the forearm just above the wrist was rolled over and

connected to at artery in the wrist. It is just below the surface now

and will be easy to access with the dialysis needles when that takes

place. The neph expects me to be on dialysis by February according to

his letter to the vein surgeon. When I plot a reciprocal graph of

serum creatitine, it looks like March but with a thing like IGAN, you

probably cannot be so precise.

Prior to Marty's transplant, I was in the same position not

knowing or ever hearing the word " fistula " before. I remember asking

Marty what this fistula thing was he was talking about. I guess I

will only really know when I am in the dialysis room, some thing I

still need to do. Pierre and Marty said it would be a piece of cake

and nothing to worry about. Another hurdle out of the way.

I hope Christmas is kind to you. I will be going to South West

Rocks just after the New Year. It will be my last

holiday " unencumbered " .

Derrick

Sydney, Australia

> > Hey all,

> >

> > Don't forget that Derrick is having his fistula surgery. We can

> all lift him

> > up in prayer for a great success in his surgery.

> >

> > Derrick, let us know how it went after you feel up to it.

> >

> > I am praying for you!

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Glad all went well. How long before they start you on dialysis?

Re: Derrick

,

Thanks for that, I must have had more prayers than the Pope, it

was a piece of cake as Pierre and Marty had predicted. I am back home

already (Wednesday afternoon in Australia). I am pleased that is out

of the way.

Derrick

Sydney, Australia

> Hey all,

>

> Don't forget that Derrick is having his fistula surgery. We can

all lift him

> up in prayer for a great success in his surgery.

>

> Derrick, let us know how it went after you feel up to it.

>

> I am praying for you!

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Derrick, I am less scared of it now. I thought it was a metal

plate of some sort that had some big thing sticking out that sealed and

if it got caught on something, it would rip your arm open, phew, thank

god you told me.

You sound so good and positive, probably go as far as excited that it's

all over and with minimum pain & inconvenience, good on you, I am proud

of you.

Enjoy your Christmas, and hopefully by next Christmas you will be so far

in the swing of dialysis, it will be a natural part of your life, you

wont even give dialysis a 2nd thought. My father in law did an

exceptional recovery from Bowel Cancer surgery that everyone was amazed

at his attitude, and he is 100% better now than he was before the

surgery, and he didn't even feel sick then, so I can imagine how you

will be in time once the dialysis is doing a good job, as it is for

Pierre. You seem to have the same attitude as him.

How did your family cope? If they have you to guide them, I am certain

they are fine, it was a piece of cake. I hope I can be as positive as

you when my time arrives. My sister says even now that she can't believe

how I don't worry about it, little does she know, I have my support

group every day right here in my private computer room.

I thank everyone for being so wonderful on here, especially our

moderators who take a personal interest in our emails. I am also on

another support group for another condition I have (yeah wouldn't read

about it would you) anyway, and I have just written to the moderators

about unsupportive abuse happening, they didn't even know!!! Go figure.

Love you all,

Leonie (Sydney, Australia).

Diagnosed Oct 2002, symptoms 2 years.

Re: Derrick

Leonie,

The op took place at the SAN at Wahroonga, 15 minutes drive

from where I live. I went into the hospital at 6:15am, I was on the

slab by 8. At 10 I was in recovery waking up as though I had just had

a nap. At 11am I was helping myself move from the operating bed to

the ward bed, at 12:30 I was having lunch. My arm had a dull ache but

not enough to concern me and the only analgesic I needed was to help

me sleep in the evening.

They made an incision on the inside of my forearm about 4cm. A

vein on top off the forearm just above the wrist was rolled over and

connected to at artery in the wrist. It is just below the surface now

and will be easy to access with the dialysis needles when that takes

place. The neph expects me to be on dialysis by February according to

his letter to the vein surgeon. When I plot a reciprocal graph of

serum creatitine, it looks like March but with a thing like IGAN, you

probably cannot be so precise.

Prior to Marty's transplant, I was in the same position not

knowing or ever hearing the word " fistula " before. I remember asking

Marty what this fistula thing was he was talking about. I guess I

will only really know when I am in the dialysis room, some thing I

still need to do. Pierre and Marty said it would be a piece of cake

and nothing to worry about. Another hurdle out of the way.

I hope Christmas is kind to you. I will be going to South West

Rocks just after the New Year. It will be my last

holiday " unencumbered " .

Derrick

Sydney, Australia

> > Hey all,

> >

> > Don't forget that Derrick is having his fistula surgery. We can

> all lift him

> > up in prayer for a great success in his surgery.

> >

> > Derrick, let us know how it went after you feel up to it.

> >

> > I am praying for you!

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/18/2002 7:18:29 PM Pacific Standard Time,

dhartle3@... writes:

> A problem shared is a problem halved

>

> I LIKE that saying Derrick! I agree with you!

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks , another hurdle out of the way. I expect to be on

dialysis February or March 2003.

Derrick

Sydney Australia

> > Hey all,

> >

> > Don't forget that Derrick is having his fistula surgery. We

can

> all lift him

> > up in prayer for a great success in his surgery.

> >

> > Derrick, let us know how it went after you feel up to it.

> >

> > I am praying for you!

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Derrick,

I'm just happy we turned out to be right about that : )

Pierre

Re: Derrick

> ,

> Thanks for that, I must have had more prayers than the Pope, it

> was a piece of cake as Pierre and Marty had predicted. I am back home

> already (Wednesday afternoon in Australia). I am pleased that is out

> of the way.

>

> Derrick

> Sydney, Australia

>

[Guest guest]

Usually at least 10 days - that is, once the stitches have fallen out. After

that, you can start exercising it.

Pierre

Re: Derrick

>

>

> ,

> Thanks for that, I must have had more prayers than the Pope, it

> was a piece of cake as Pierre and Marty had predicted. I am back home

> already (Wednesday afternoon in Australia). I am pleased that is out

> of the way.

>

> Derrick

> Sydney, Australia

>

>

> > Hey all,

> >

> > Don't forget that Derrick is having his fistula surgery. We can

> all lift him

> > up in prayer for a great success in his surgery.

> >

> > Derrick, let us know how it went after you feel up to it.

> >

> > I am praying for you!

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Leonie

Some days I am not so positive, I have my down days like

everyone else, but I do have this site as my " clinic of calm " which

helps me keep things in perspective. I get my daily boost by reading

the emails. You are probably quite correct, by next Christmas, all

this will be a mere blip on the horizon of history and we will be

sharing another little hurdle. A problem shared is a problem halved.

Catch you later.

Derrick

Sydney, Australia

> > > Hey all,

> > >

> > > Don't forget that Derrick is having his fistula surgery. We

can

> > all lift him

> > > up in prayer for a great success in his surgery.

> > >

> > > Derrick, let us know how it went after you feel up to it.

> > >

> > > I am praying for you!

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Pierre.

I don't think these stiches are the same type, I have to have

them removed early in the new year. You were spot on re your

prediction about the op. I have experienced worse at the dentist! In

fact the day before, I was building a pergola in my back yard. It was

37 degrees. In my rush to get finished before I went into hospital, I

fell off the ladder, only a short distance, and I banged my calf

muscle, it swelled the size of a large egg. That hurt like hell and

there is still some pain there. I had more pain from that than I did

from the op.

Derrick

Sydney, Australia

> > > Hey all,

> > >

> > > Don't forget that Derrick is having his fistula surgery. We can

> > all lift him

> > > up in prayer for a great success in his surgery.

> > >

> > > Derrick, let us know how it went after you feel up to it.

> > >

> > > I am praying for you!

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Don't worry about it. A fistula is all natural. Once it has healed and

started to mature, it really doesn't affect any arm or body activity at all

(unlike a PD catheter may restrict some activities). The only thing you have

to be careful of is staying away from things that could easily cut you

there. It's a vein with the pressure of an artery, so if it were cut, it

would bleed like a water hose. Nothing protruding through the skin. Once it

starts being used for dialysis, all that happens is that a little bump

develops at each one of the two needle insertion sites. They usually insert

near the same place as every other time, so thicker skin develops on those

spots. In the end, what people can see is a big, often zig-zaggy vein and

reddish bumps. Sometimes, depending on how the vein-artery connection was

made, some people may develop an additional big bump at the connection

point.

Pierre

P.S. I'm very happy you like how we handle things in this group.

RE: Re: Derrick

> Thanks Derrick, I am less scared of it now. I thought it was a metal

> plate of some sort that had some big thing sticking out that sealed and

> if it got caught on something, it would rip your arm open, phew, thank

> god you told me.

> You sound so good and positive, probably go as far as excited that it's

> all over and with minimum pain & inconvenience, good on you, I am proud

> of you.

> Enjoy your Christmas, and hopefully by next Christmas you will be so far

> in the swing of dialysis, it will be a natural part of your life, you

> wont even give dialysis a 2nd thought. My father in law did an

> exceptional recovery from Bowel Cancer surgery that everyone was amazed

> at his attitude, and he is 100% better now than he was before the

> surgery, and he didn't even feel sick then, so I can imagine how you

> will be in time once the dialysis is doing a good job, as it is for

> Pierre. You seem to have the same attitude as him.

> How did your family cope? If they have you to guide them, I am certain

> they are fine, it was a piece of cake. I hope I can be as positive as

> you when my time arrives. My sister says even now that she can't believe

> how I don't worry about it, little does she know, I have my support

> group every day right here in my private computer room.

>

> I thank everyone for being so wonderful on here, especially our

> moderators who take a personal interest in our emails. I am also on

> another support group for another condition I have (yeah wouldn't read

> about it would you) anyway, and I have just written to the moderators

> about unsupportive abuse happening, they didn't even know!!! Go figure.

> Love you all,

> Leonie (Sydney, Australia).

> Diagnosed Oct 2002, symptoms 2 years.

>

[Guest guest]

Glad the vain doctor has reason to be vain Derrick. My neph in particular

recommends home dialysis, and says I can get a government grant for the

installation (don't know how much it costs though). Not sure if it's a VIC

thing in particular or Oz thing in general. May be worth looking into

further.

_________________________________________________________________

Add photos to your messages with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*.

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[Guest guest]

My bandages started to become unglued within a couple of days, and they fell

off after about 4 days. Underneath was another type of bandage helping to

hold the incision together. Those fell off after maybe a week and a half.

The stitches used were the dissolving kind. I didn't need to go back to see

the surgeon for follow-up until just before starting dialysis, when my

nephrologist wanted the people at the vascular to have a look at it. It's

interesting to hear how things are done differently in various countries.

Pierre

Re: Derrick

> Pierre.

> I don't think these stiches are the same type, I have to have

> them removed early in the new year. You were spot on re your

> prediction about the op. I have experienced worse at the dentist! In

> fact the day before, I was building a pergola in my back yard. It was

> 37 degrees. In my rush to get finished before I went into hospital, I

> fell off the ladder, only a short distance, and I banged my calf

> muscle, it swelled the size of a large egg. That hurt like hell and

> there is still some pain there. I had more pain from that than I did

> from the op.

>

> Derrick

> Sydney, Australia

>

[Guest guest]

,

That is worth knowing, I will make enquiries up here. The

hospital where I would go to is just 15 minutes down the freeway so I

do not know if home dialysis would be worth it. I will consider it

after I have been through the hurdle of dialysis. I did intend to

inspect the dialysis facilities when I was in hospital but everything

happened so quickly. Storey of my life!

Derrick

Sydney Australia

> Glad the vain doctor has reason to be vain Derrick. My neph in

particular

> recommends home dialysis, and says I can get a government grant for

the

> installation (don't know how much it costs though). Not sure if

it's a VIC

> thing in particular or Oz thing in general. May be worth looking

into

> further.

>

>

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Add photos to your messages with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*.

> http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail

[Guest guest]

After being on hemodialysis for over two months now, I don't think I would

want the responsibility of doing it myself at home. So many little things

can go wrong. I would rather have the nurse a few feet away than at the end

of a phone. It's also less lonely. Last night, I was running a little fever,

so the nurse took some blood work right then and there for a bacterial

culture, without needing a doctor to requisition it. The lab is right in the

hospital. Alarms go off on those machines many times during a treatment.

Usually, they just have to be reset, but sometimes there are problems. I

just wouldn't want the hassle of doing it at home. But, there are so many

varied opinions about all types of dialysis. It's a very personal decision,

and a person can't really know until they been on some type of dialysis.

Many people change their minds and move from hemo to PD and vice versa after

trying one or the other for a while. Of course, if I had to drive many miles

to dialysis, then the home hemo option would become more attractive (on the

other hand, if an emergency situation were to happen, you would be kind of

stranded out there in the country). Governments are starting to push home

hemo a little, simply because it's cheaper. It's an idea that came, went,

and has come back again.

Pierre

RE: Re: Derrick

> Glad the vain doctor has reason to be vain Derrick. My neph in particular

> recommends home dialysis, and says I can get a government grant for the

> installation (don't know how much it costs though). Not sure if it's a

VIC

> thing in particular or Oz thing in general. May be worth looking into

> further.

>

>

>