The story of the sad fistula

           Tomorrow is dialysis day again, and I have to admit I am not looking forward to it. The nurse that was successful for the last two sessions managed to infiltrate it on Tuesday, causing mucho pain and swelling. I at least managed to have the session, but my arm is still sore, making me dread tomorrow.
            The poor nurse that stuck me and went through the side of my vein felt terrible, and kept apologizing for hurting me as she squeezed the heck out of my arm, trying to spread the loose blood around on the inside of my arm. They do that so that I won't have such a large bruise. It hurt like he-DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS as she did that, but I told her not to worry about it. I tried to lighten the mood by telling her how the surgeon had told me that the nurses at the clinic would be "lining up" to have the honor of sticking me with the dialysis needles.
She rolled her eyes and told me how it wasn't really the case, and that all the other nurses "avoid me like the plague." I thought they all seemed to avoid making eye contact with me when I walked into the dialysis room. I suppose I shouldn't take it personal....
              The doctor has now ordered an angiogram, which I am having on Friday. They  really want to see what my fistula looks like, whether it is deep, shallow, narrow etc. If it is narrow, apparently they will use a balloon to blow out the narrow area, which will hopefully allow more room for needles. It will also let the nurses know where to find the best  area for sticking me. I hope it works, and is over fast. I need a driver, as they will be making me "loopy" while they do the test. This ought to be good..how much more loopier can I get??
              So, I will write again after I am all angiogramed...No one said this dialysis thing would be simple, and with my luck and history, I am not at all surprised things are not going smoothly. But, I am alive and kicking, and will soon be learning how to do this at home with my soon to be assistant Brogan, my daughter. I figure she has given shots to animals, so she should be able to do some mom poking. She probably relishes the chance! Brogan and I doing dialysis on our own, at home. I see a few blogs there for sure!

Swollen and painful