| Author |
Message |
keith elliott
Member
Username: Keith_elliott
Post Number: 228
Registered: 11-2010
| | Posted on Monday, March 19, 2012 - 04:19 am: | 
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While my transplant still appears perfectly ok at the moment I'm starting to get to within a year or two of its expected life and so am starting to think about home haemo vs pd and what might suit me best. On the face of it it looks like home haemo would be better but this obviously means having a fistula.
Part of my decision process is to try to figure out how much a fistula would affect some of my hobbies. I was wondering if anyone who has a fistula did any of the following :
- Horse Riding (would there be issues when larger horses get strong whilst on a hack)
- Violin/Guitar (how much is manual dexterity / feeling compromised?)
- Golf (would a fistula at/near the wrist be an issue?)
- Cycling (forearm strength on hills etc ?)
I'm assuming that swimming and long walks (with dog) wouldnt be a problem with a fistula.
If anyone does play musical instruments, ride horses, play golf or cycle with a fistula I'd be really grateful if you could give me some feedback on what the compromises / limitations are like.
many thanks
take care
Keith |
ed
Forum Leader
Username: Ed2001
Post Number: 305
Registered: 03-2010
| | Posted on Monday, March 19, 2012 - 05:35 am: |
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Keith,
You got a lot of hobbies there, not to mention the time for them.
Anyways, I can't tell you about the other activities, but as for golf, the fistula is no problem. Mine was on my left arm (upper forearm, close to where it the elbow bends), and I'm right handed. It never gave me a problem. I took it out about 4 years ago as suggested by my doc.
A friend has his on the wrist and is a golf nut, playing at least 3x a week. He was told to keep his fistula despite his good functioning kidney. His fistula is on the left wrist and he's likewise right handed. He's had no issues with it.
Kidney Transplant
April 2001 |
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CiscoKidney07
Forum Leader
Username: Gregg
Post Number: 5381
Registered: 03-2008
| | Posted on Monday, March 19, 2012 - 07:34 am: |
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I don't do most of the "activities" you mentioned, except that I ride a bike quite a bit in the summer. (rode 5 miles yesterday) I also lift weights. My fistula is placed where ed has his and there has never been an issue.
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ivy
Member
Username: Norman1
Post Number: 51
Registered: 02-2012
| | Posted on Monday, March 19, 2012 - 08:00 am: |
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Hi keith i am sure your kidney will last for donkeys years i started getting twitchy about mine when i was reaching the average life span of transplant (9 years) but now i am at 17 years?
By the way vitamin D back 46 apparently classed as deficient? |
keith elliott
Member
Username: Keith_elliott
Post Number: 229
Registered: 11-2010
| | Posted on Monday, March 19, 2012 - 11:47 am: |
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Thanks for the feedback .. I guess horse riding is the real possible risk then .. big horses need a LOT of holding when they get strong ... but if I only lose one hobby it isn't so bad 
My match was only 1/6 Ivan so I take more than double the drugs you do (5mg tacro+150mg aza+2.5-5mg pred)- hence more toxicity and digestive issues, but the average life for a spousal donated tx is about 12 years. I guess I'm just planning for the worst and crystallising my fears now and dealing with them to make me better adjusted when it comes to the fact of dialysis at some future point. Hopefully I'll have plenty more years yet but I like to deal with things well in advance!
Your vit-d sounds almost perfect .. 46 at this time of year (ie straight after the winter) is way better than most folk who have no health issues might reasonably hope for ! (50 is the normal lower end .. but vit-d is lower just after winter and higher just after summer - so 46 now is nothing to worry about ... mine is 18 and I'm not too fussed but taking vit d3 for good measure)
Thanks for the feedback,
take care
Keith |
Lizzie
Member
Username: Lizzie
Post Number: 26
Registered: 11-2007
| | Posted on Monday, March 19, 2012 - 11:48 am: |
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Hi,
I've had a fistula for the last 6 years or so and even though I'm nearly 5 years post-transplant with no problems my doctor wants me to keep the fistula just in case.
I have ridden and shown horses for the last 10 years or so. I ride english and jump. I've also ridden my fair share of larger horses and my own horse is a very large horse. My fistula has not affected my ability to ride horses at all. If a horse is getting strong I still have the arm strength and dexterity to sit it on its butt if I need to. The only way the fistula has slightly affected my riding is it is always in the back of my mind that when I fall off I could injure or hurt my fistula. I make sure and let my trainer and friends know if I fall off and hurt my left arm take me to a hospital right away.
I also play guitar--not very well though--and it doesn't affect my ability to do this at all. My fistula is near my wrist on my left arm and I am right handed. |
keith elliott
Member
Username: Keith_elliott
Post Number: 230
Registered: 11-2010
| | Posted on Monday, March 19, 2012 - 12:48 pm: |
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Thanks Lizzie ... I think you're probably a way better rider than me .. and nice pic too
Good to know that riding may not be an issue ( I wasn't really expecting violin or guitar to be a problem .. but also good to know!)
thanks again all ..
take care
Keith |
Susan
Member
Username: Fishgirl
Post Number: 73
Registered: 06-2011
| | Posted on Monday, March 19, 2012 - 08:29 pm: |
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Keith I hope you are not at the end of the life of your kidney. I'm 28 yrs post TX and just getting to the end of the life of my kidney.
But if you have Questions about where you may have a fistula talk to your neph dr.
My neph Dr. likes to put fistulas in the upper arm that may be a good option for you.
First cadaver kidney 09/29/1982 due to Alports
2nd cadaver kidney.07/07/1984
On 05/16/1994 I stopped the anti-rejection drugs (I still take Prednisone).
See my post " Getting Off Antirejection drugs"
AS OF 12/12/2011
creatinine: 2.3
BUN:26
Calculated GFR: 22.3 |
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