Anyone shut down their kidney dialysis fistula after transplant?
Hi kidney transplant patients,
After a successful kidney transplant, has anyone shut down their hemodialysis fistula? If so, can you tell me a little bit about the procedure and your experience? Is it an easy process, are you sedated, healing time? After the fistula is shut down, does the vein eventually get smaller and less visible? Thanks everyone!
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I would like to know of others' experiences shutting down a peritoneal catheter after transplant. The surgeon pulled out the catheter during the transplant surgery and yet there is a bump and a mass inside my abdomen from the catheter. It is not infected but I wonder how long it takes to go away, dissolve in my body. And did you massage it to help break up the scar tissue? Please let me know your experience, Thank you, BB
@blbird33 My husband received a kidney October 1, 2016, at Scripps Green Insitute in the San Diego [CA] area. He had been on PD dialysis for 5.5 years before receiving that gift of a second chance for normal life. His team did not remove the PD cathter until about 3 weeks after the transplant. At that time, they did a "trifecta", doing a kidney biopsy on the [deceased] donor kidney, removing the stent placed between new kidney and bladder at time of transplant, and the cathter. Their reasoning was if the new kidney did not wake up, he would need to stay on dialysis until it did, and they wanted a treatment option. He didn't have any problems with the healing of the site,
Some people seem to develop more scar tissue of keloid type tissue, than others do. In my case, my PD catheter has its own little emphasis on one side based on the way it exits my skin. Have you ever had scar tissue build up other places on your body, like piercings?
What might work is massaging the area gently everyday, perhaps with Vitamin E based product. It's worth a try!
Ginger
Ginger, yes, I am now massaging the area gently, but did not start until after about 4 weeks post transplant. I try to stay positive with each massage and see the scar tissue dissolving. I do not remember previous scar tissue in my body from other issues. And I remain positive most days that it is dissolving and that all is well. I am so grateful for my transplant and know all will work out ok. It helps to get your message and read other experiences. Thank you, BB