Cart or table for PD cycler with shelf?

[IOnlyGet5]

Due to complication from PD catheter placement surgery my dialysis training has been delayed a few more weeks.

PD nurse said at checkup I need a cart or table that can be sterilized to put cycler on & it should have one or more shelves & a drawer if possible.

What would the shelf or shelves be used for?

Does shelf or shelves need to be a certain distance from the cycler? What kinds of things do you need access to that would go in a drawer?  Would a cabinet work instead of a drawer?

Does cycler need to be at eye level while lying down for dialysis or would having it higher or lower help for any reason?

Do you have to monitor or read anything while it's working or just start it & forget it?

What kind of set up do other PD patients use for their cyclers?

How much room do you need between yourself & the cycler?  Is a cycler heavy? Does it need to be on something with wheels or can it remain in fixed position?

My estranged hubby needs to order the table or cart before I start training so any help you can give is appreciated.

[sahern]

I have my Machine on a cart that that I picked up at Sears.  It is heavy duty plastic that has a top section for the machine and bag and a bottom shelf that I put a five gallon drain bucket on.  The cart has wheels so I can move it out to the living room to watch TV.  We do not have a TV in the bedroom.  I use a bucket as the drain line will not reach the bathroom from the living room. It has worked well for me for two years.  All of my supplies are stored on a shelf that I bought at Walmart for around $40.00.  I put a aluminum top on it to help keep it clean.  The shelf is about 30in by 30in and has one shelf that is divided in half.  Think of four squares.  It is made out of a heavy plastic and looks like wood.  It holds everything that I need.  When the nurses do home inspections they take pictures to show other how to set up their areas.  If I can figure out how to post a picture I will so you can see my set up.

[kickingandscreaming]

I use a metal cart (on wheels) for my cycler.  I would be lying if I said it was "sterile."   The cart has 3 shelves.  On the top shelf I keep the cycler (which weighs abour 26lbs), room for 1 or 2 6-liter bags and a small basket with some sanitizer, mask,etc.

On the 2 lower shelves: I have room for one additional 3-liter bag of fluid
I have a bunch  of office-type plastic storage containers which involve drawers.  I store gauze, adhesives, minicaps, heparin, syringes, more gauze, masks, clamps, etc.

There's a lot of stuff involved in PD. I have outpockets of storage for PD stuff all around the house.

I'm very happy that the cart can roll easily.  A couple of months ago I injured my back.  Cyclers are in the habit of alarming fairly easily.  So these alarms would go off in the middle of the night and I had to lurch out of bed to shut them off--each time it would have killed my back if I couldn't have wheeled the cart closer to my bed.

My cycler's bottom is positioned about 6-8" above my mattress and that works well.  My cycler is to my right and my catheter is also on my right.. and that works well.

[Cupcake]

Fresenius gave me a plastic cart that can be wiped down with Clorox wipes. I also use a small folding table that is plastic for all my supplies and I lay out the bags on it when setting up. then I use that flat surface for my drain site care. I keep everything else in the spare room so my bedroom doesn't look so junky; just have to remember to replenish supplies from guest room before I hook up as the 20 ft cord doesn't reach that far. I use a drain line to the shower and that keeps me from tripping over it in the night. I have the liberty cycler. its a 35 pound beast.

On the lower shelf of the drain cart I keep extra drain bags as I don't always drain completely on the cycler. Unfortunately you need to be able to see the front of the cycler at night so when it beeps off you can deal with that. you can set it to go dark after a few minutes, but it still makes some noise like a fax machine.

I don't use the table or cart for anything but dialysis, and every few days I wipe everything with Clorox wipes. Including light switches and door knobs just in case. The bathroom sink gets cloroxed daily. about once a week I wipe off the bottles of exsept and alcavis.

I plan is to sleep blissfully thru the treatment and wake up, all ready to unhook and go! But I don't sleep as soundly as I used to due to the noise from the machine and anxiety whether I have pinched off the cord in my sleep.

I like PD much better than in center hemodialysis that was rough on my mother. I still have some residual kidney function and PD helps preserve that. Plus the dietary/fluid restrictions aren't nearly as strict. Good luck, you'll get the hang of it.

There are Youtube videos of people hooking up to their PD machine. check it out. You'll do great.

[Simon Dog]

When I was on PD, Fresenius issued me a card custom designed for the Fresenius Liberty cycler.  The cart also included built in hooks for hanging all the bags.

[kickingandscreaming]

Baxter doesn't give out "free" carts.  I had to buy mine.

[Simon Dog]

Nobody gives out free carts.  The issue is how much your clinic is willing to spend on ancillary doodads.

[IOnlyGet5]

You guys are the best!  Thank you so much!

[IOnlyGet5]

I would love to see your cart/table set up!  It sounds perfect for me but I'm a visual learner so photos would help a lot.

I start training next week I believe so I'm getting a little nervous about everything coming together. No idea how soon supplies will arrive but I want it all set up before they come if possible. Are we allowed to share personal info like a cell # or email Addy that photos can be sent to?  My ihatedialysis.Com screen has a place for +Attachments and other options
Does yours? Does posting a photo there even work? I can't post photos to Facebook anymore for some reason. Looking forward to seeing your setup --Dana ionlyget5.

[kickingandscreaming]

I would love to see your cart/table set up!

I don't know whose cart you want to see, but I have no way to get a picture of mine.  But here's a link to Amazon where I bought it.
https://amazon.com/gp/product/B008ALBHWQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Charlie B53]

The 3 1/2 years I was on PD the only time I moved my Cycler ws to take it to Daughters house for a visit.

Fortunately my bedroom is large enough I placed an old fish tank table along one wall.  I covered the shelves with heavy aluminum foil that I could easily wipe down with Clorox wipes.  My Cycler easily fit on top with plenty of room left over as a work surface.  The one large undershelf I kept the case of cartridges, a box of Ico and a box of patient extension hoses.  I had my IV pole standing alongside to hang the second and third bags and a 5 gallon bucket next to that for my drain. 

With the 3 prong cartridge set and one patient extension hose I had the freedom to move about almost half of the house.  It worked just great.  Sorry, I never took any pictures.