Replies

We're twinsies. I got my A-V fistula on Tuesday. I got a Canon catheter in the chest now. Have to wait 6 months for the A-V to cure. Are you as brusied up as I am? I've got some paresthesias in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th fingers. I'm told this is the "Steal Syndrome." The name tells it all. How's yours coming along?

I'm told I'm on the transplant list with USC, but have to wait until Jan. '06 to be cancer free for 2 years. When I threw a fit about them not putting me on the list until Jan. '06 they finally did. Well, I think they did. I couldn't imagine them not crediting that 2-year wait to my list time. B/C communication is so bad with USC, in addition, I am going to register with Stanford or UCSF in October. My only saving grace is that I'll be 60 in January and can qualify for an old person's kidney, e.g. "the short list".

My fistula is doing pretty well. My fistula is below the crease of my elbow, because the vessels in my forearm are too small to put it lower. I had a lot of bruising 2 days after the surgery on my lower forearm, but I think it was because I overdid it at work that day. Yesterday, I spent time playing on the computer, and there is now a hard lump over my fistula, but it went down somewhat over night. Intermittent paresthesias, but not too bad.

What blood type are you? I'm A-, and I'm told that's not too bad a type to have for a transplant as far as wait time. O is the longest, because an O person can only receive an O organ, whereas an A can receive A or O, a B can receive B or O, and AB can receive any type. I'm told the average wait time for our area is about 1.5 years. I opted on to the "short list" (they allowed me to even though I'm 42), and I have the option to take an older kidney, but can refuse it if it's offered and I decide against it. It sounds as though each region has slightly different policies.

Good luck. Keep me updated.