Hemodialysis Access "Fistula"

As I have mentioned before, there are two kinds of dialysis, Hemo, and Peritoneal. Sandra's doctors' decided to prepare access for both, just in case one didn't work, the other would. At that time we had only heard of Hemo, which is a very scary prospect for someone with needle phobia. Peritoneal sounded barbaric at the time. However, it would have to be one or the other. To create a "fistula" for Hemodialysis, they made an incision of about 2 inches on her lower arm, and joined an artery, and a vein. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/hemodialysis/#how/ The fistula needs to mature for several month. You can tell if it is working, by feeling a hum underneath your skin, and when you put your arm to your ear, you will hear a whooshing sound. The fistula will also grow, so that you will have a lump on your arm. Well, the day before we went for Peritoneal dialysis training, her fistula stopped working. Sandra had been very sick, and in a lot of pain after the surgery for the catheter into her belly. The doctors think that the fistula failed because of a drop in her blood pressure due to her general health. If/when she needs Hemodialysis, they have to create a new fistula. Now, she is experiencing a lot of pain on the access site. It seems to be getting worse every day, and now it is also swelling up. It is so hard to see her like this. The pain from the catheter in her stomach is almost unbearable sometimes. Oh, how I wish I could take her pain away from her.