speaking of nxStage vs BabyK

Boswife, sorry I didn't see this earlier. Here is a post I made back in 2011 when lmunchkin was asking about the BabyK. Mind you, much of it refers specifically to nocturnal, though you can use the BabyK for short daily, too. I did short daily on the BabyK while I was in training but didn't really see the difference in my health till I got home and started nocturnal.

The Pros
I dialyze every other night for 8-10 hours. It has allowed me to keep my fluids under control, because even if I gain a lot my ultrafiltration rate never goes above about 350 and is usually around 190: an easy, gentle rate.

My blood chemistry has been fantastic: I have been able to keep things like potassium and phosphorus within range without altering my diet by much (just practicing moderation). I eat chocolate, drink milk, have pizza on Fridays... pretty much like I used to, just a little more mindful of the portions (e.g.: 4 or 5 mini Snickers instead of the whole bag). I don't have to take any binders and I've been able to drop my BP medication as well.

I have a much lower blood flow rate, which is easier on my access (a fistula). I have yet to crash (though I think I did come close once).

Doing nocturnal allows me to sleep (theoretically) while I dialyze which means my days are my own.

I feel fantastic doing it this way - downright normal - and have achieved everything that was a priority for me.

The Cons

The Baby K uses a LOT of water. Your water bill will at least double. I must admit the water waste makes me cringe. If we ever buy a house of our own we're going to install underground water storage tanks and divert the waste water there for irrigation.

The supplies take up a LOT of room, but you're already used to dealing with NXstage supplies, so I'm sure you've got a system all in place. What I do is break everything down into treatment boxes; every box contains everything needed for one treatment, right down to the gauze pads and syringes. I'm usually done with the boxes within one hour of my supply delivery being made. However, you're still going to be hauling around heavy boxes. I never move the boxes of bicarb because they're far too heavy, but I do move around the boxes of acid - also heavy (4 gallons per box) but manageable IF my back is feeling okay. My supply delivery driver is wonderful about putting everything in the general areas where they're going to end up, so moving heavy stuff around is pretty minimal.

The machine and RO system take up a lot of room. You're not taking this machine anywhere, but then it's really not that difficult to make arrangements with clinics if you want to travel. And then you don't have to worry about taking ANYthing (except maybe blunts if you've got buttonholes; the clinic I visited in NJ didn't have anyone with buttonholes).

They do need both a dedicated electrical circuit and a dedicated tap.

Not only is there a dialysis machine to clean and maintain, there is also an RO system that must be fed and cared for. The time to set up the machine for the treatment takes exactly 35 minutes - a working 35 minutes, meaning you'll always be doing something WHILE the machine is doing its thing. If you include the rinse (I always rinse the machine before treatment), add 15 minutes. That just involves pushing a button and walking away. I also regenerate my water softener earlier in the day - turn on the tap, turn the dial to 30 minutes, walk away. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

Break down just involves taking off all the bloodlines, putting some vinegar in a container and letting the machine suck it up for 15 minutes. Afterwards you just hit the 'heat disinfect' button and walk away; that takes about 30 minutes, I think, and the machine shuts itself off when it's done. Every Monday everything gets bleached inside and out. Again, with the machine it's just pushing a button and walking away but you also have to bleach and rinse the bicarb jug/wand (this can sometimes aggravate my back if I fill up the jug too far) and wipe everything down with bleach as well. Once a month the RO unit gets disinfected with peracetic acid and the bulk of that time is just letting it dwell for an hour.

At this point I have everything down to such a fine science it really doesn't seem to take much time at all.

Oh, I could go on and on (hmmm, already have, I think)! If you have any questions, ask away! I'd be happy to answer any questions I can for you! And if you want pictures, let me know - I've got tons.