I left off describing my dialysis journey late last year, at the point where I had consulted a renal dietitian and adjusted my diet and had also written about the various options for dialysis that I was researching. I have a lot more to share with you now.
Late last year I met with a vascular surgeon. We discussed the diverse options that were available for me to create an access for the eventual dialysis. It appeared that my best option would be an AV graft, rather than either a fistula or a chest catheter. Basically, the AV graft is a prosthetic pipe that is implanted under the skin that creates a vascular highway for the dialysis to make use of.
I admit that I struggled to accept the idea of a graft. I was worried that it might appear unsightly, that it might stick out and make it hard to wear most of my clothing. As I did some research and spoke to other people who had grafts, I also became concerned that I might not be able to continue working with my brand new guide dog, Normandy, as I was told that you could not put too much pressure on the arm with the graft implanted. But I had to accept that a graft was really my only option – I couldn’t have a fistula and I was unwilling to have a chest catheter.
I had the operation in the middle of January. My rationale was that it would give me plenty of time to get used to the graft, have it mature, and it would then be ready to use when I eventually Needed it.
The operation was a minor one. I went into hospital, and they prepped me for the surgery. The surgery took place during the afternoon, and I remained in hospital overnight to ensure that I showed no side-effects to the general anaesthetic. I experienced surprisingly little pain though I was aware of a little discomfort in the left arm where the graft was placed. I went home the next morning after seeing my doctor and being told the surgery had been successful.
I admit I was completely unprepared for the reality that having the surgery would mean that I would be unable to use my left arm for the next ten days. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to do simple tasks like tying back long hair, getting dressed, cooking, showering with the use of only one arm? Especially when you are blind and tend to depend more on the sense of touch. I was immensely grateful that I was able to reach out to friends who live with limited mobility. They shared creative techniques that they use to accomplish all these and numerous other tasks. Not to mention being willing to help me see the lighter side of my temporary limitation. Grateful thanks to both Brittany McCormick and Hillary Lane for their help.
Thankfully, by the time I saw the vascular surgeon two weeks later, my arm had healed sufficiently that I had regained full mobility. At that follow-up appointment, the surgeon said she was happy with the way the graft was working and how it had healed. In essence, she told me that my graft would be ready to be used whenever it was determined that I should start dialysis. However, at that appointment they also identified another problem. And that was when my life began to spin out of control. But more on that next time.
For those of you who are interested in learning what the graft feels like on my arm, and whether my worries were justified, the basic answer is that it looks as if I have a slightly swollen vein running from my elbow to my shoulder. It is neither uncomfortable nor unsightly. In fact, it is barely noticeable at all, except for the small scars at each end that are still healing. Additionally, so far, the graft hasn’t stopped me from wearing the clothes I usually do. Generally, it is hidden beneath the sleeve of whatever top I have on and I don’t even feel it is there. Best of all, my doctor assured me that I will be able to work with my guide dog without placing any strain on the graft at all. Which is great… as you’ll hear in the coming weeks. Because Normandy has become an integral part of my dialysis journey.
As always, please note that these blogs describe my personal journey and should not be taken as medical advice of any kind. If you are experiencing symptoms of a condition in your own life, please consult a recognised medical professional.
