I'm starting to look like a Cyborg - Dialysis Tips

Emergency dialysis requires a chest catheter.  This method of getting dialysis in not sustainable…. the risk of infection is too high, and personally, I enjoy taking a shower without a 15-minute prep to cover it up.  Long term, a fistula is created in your arm, and it takes approximately 6 -8 weeks to mature before it can be used. 

There was another round of googling to see what to expect.  I might as well cut off my arm based on what I read.  Don’t bend it, don’t pick up anything, don’t wear a watch on that arm……seriously? 

So, I have the surgery  and afterwards and the doctor says, “you can do whatever you want, as long as it doesn’t hurt.”

Now for the first few days, it was painful.  I could barely bend it without pain rushing to my brain.  And, it looked so gross (warning!  Another visual below).   I was beginning to think I needed to buy all long sleeve shirts for the near future.

You can’t get it wet for 48 hours.  It had “glue” on it to hold it together.  Even after the 48 hours I still wrapped it, along with my chest, to take a shower.  I think I had more covered than exposed.

A few days later I was able to lift some things – nothing too heavy, but I tried to work my way up every day. It feels very weird. You can feel the blood pulsating quickly when you touch it. There's more to the fistuala story, or might I say drama. That's for another day.