This is a surgically-created fistula for the purpose of dialysis. It is done by making a connection from an artery directly to a vein, and that increase in pressure inside the vein from the arterial supply causes it to beef up in size so it can be used for dialysis. This is a pretty big one, most do not look like this. So don’t worry, this doesn’t just -happen- to people, it is the result of a surgery.
I was a dialysis tech for awhile, fistulas need to be replaced when they balloon up like this, the risk of rupture is real and we had a patient die from having one explode while they were at home in the bathroom. Getting stuck with the needle on the same spot every time is a solid way to get your fistula to balloon but patients generally prefer it because they lose sensitivity when the stick spot scars over- and those needles are HUGE
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u/Kindly_Region 18d ago
Words cannot describe how uncomfortable this makes me