Care of your incision:

The dressing (bandage) over your incision should be kept clean and dry. The dressing is to be removed after 24-48 hours, no longer than 2 days. Once you have removed the dressing, you may bathe or shower. Do Not Rub the incision with a cloth towel, PAT IT DRY.

You may have a slight amount of bleeding or oozing from the incision for the first few days. If you notice this, you may put a light dressing over the incision so that the bleeding does not stain your clothing.

What To Expect

After the operation, YOUR ARM WILL SWELL AND BE BRUISED; THIS IS NORMAL. The swelling and bruising will go away after a few weeks. ELEVATING YOUR ARM above your heart, as high as possible, will decrease your pain and swelling. The doctor will write you a prescription for pain medication to use after the surgery.

LIST OF REMINDERS:

• Avoid putting any pressure on your arm or swinging it around.
• Rest, follow your diet and take your medications.
• Never wear tight sleeves, a watch, bracelets and/or a belt over your graft/fistula site.
• Never carry heavy loads (purse or shopping bags) across your graft/fistula.
• DO NOT sleep on your graft/fistula.
• DO NOT have your blood pressure taken on your graft/fistula arm.
• Never use your graft/fistula for blood draws or IV drugs.
• New fistula patients may be given a rubber ball to exercise with.

PLEASE CALL YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU NOTICE:

• Cold and aching hand
• Extremely numb, weak or paralyzed hand

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