The World is Your Fistula

I was at MRI bright & early on FRIDAY 13TH January, a date I won't quickly forget for my fistula operation.  The one I had been dreading.  Prior to this I'd had various vascular scans, my veins had been poked, prodded & scanned.  I'd pleaded to be allowed to have a general anaesthetic or even a sedative but was told no, it had to be done under just a local anaesthetic, so I was absolutely DREADING it.

It didn't start well, although we checked in when we arrived & were called through to a bed along with everyone else, it seems we were then forgotten about by the nursing staff.  A doctor did arrive to check I was me and look at my wrist etc but nothing else.  A porter then arrived to take me to theatre, I didnt have a hospital bracelet, hadn't been weighed, hadn't been through 1001 questions with a nurse, hadn't been given a gown - I doubted they wanted me to go to theatre in my jeams and jumper.  Action stations were called and in a flurry I was gowned up & kissing Hari goodbye and off to theatre.

I asked for someone to hold my hand, as I am such a wuss.  Everything was checked, I was asked if I wanted to watch which I said I absolutely did not!  And they began.  The pain from the needle for the anaesthetic right in my left wrist; in that bit on the underside next to the veins in the centre, right by the edge of the hand - right there.  Fucking hell it hurt, like nothing else!
After that, I didn't get any more pain.  No pain, but I could feel everything they were doing, even the cutting into the skin.  It was all very wierd and very squeamish making.  I am not ashamed to say there were a few tears.  But an hour later, I was being taken back up to the ward with my arm swathed in bandages.

The doctor who came up with me said he's be back in a minute.  3 hours later we were still waiting when a nurse said he's gone back to theatre & we'd have to wait til he'd finished surgery for the day.  Sod that. I'd been here since 7.30am and everyone else who'd had their surgery had been discharged. So without knowing how long I had to take asprin for we went home.

A day or so later when I took the bandage & dressing off I noticed how red it was and that with me feeling a bit unwell I was told to go to CAPD dept (Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis) and get checked over, which we did.  They gave me some antibiotics as they suspected an infection.  It cleared up eventually.  I've not had any problems with it and its a really powerful fistula.  Verrrry buzzy.  With me being such a wuss with my squeam levels, I don't like looking at it, its not the scar I dont like, its the vein itself because as it has become matured, it has started to show on the surface of my skin, so I chose to keep it covered up when I can so I dont have to look at it!