This is my machine and bags pre-setup. I put the cassette on top of the bag that's warming so that the cassette gets a little warmed up, too.
This is the cycler starting it's priming cycle - it'll be ready for me to hook up to in about 15 minutes.
Oops, this one is a little blurry. Anyway, you can maybe see that the cycler is the same height as my bed - that makes for easier filling and draining. I think I went through 4 or 5 different types of shelves, etc. before settling on this one. It's the right height, plus it can double as a bookcase. :) I modified a TV stand to make it work.
You'll also notice the bottle of hand sanitizer to the left of the picture. This is ALL I use when I set up. I do not mask or glove up - your dialysis nurses will probably tell you to. I know that the Baxter manual also tells you to do that. When you first start on PD and your exit site is healing, it's probably a good idea, but I have been on PD long enough that 1-my exit site is closed, and 2-the dressing I wear over my catheter covers it up so no bugs are crawling in. :) I was paranoid at first and I still take VERY GOOD care of my exit site, but the paranoia wears off pretty fast and once you're adept at hooking up, you'll do it pretty quickly. I can hook and unhook half asleep, in the dark, and not make any mistakes (eg. touching the open catheter to my skin - a huge no-no to dialysis nurses everywhere).
Hopefully this gives you a better picture (haha) and if there's anything you want to see or hear about, let us know!
RT
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