How I Set Up My Peritoneal Dialysis Machine at Home — Step by Step
- Justin Pham
- Jan 23
- 2 min read
Updated: 6 hours ago
Every night I set up my peritoneal dialysis cycler from scratch. After years it's second nature but when I first started it felt overwhelming.
This is my personal routine. Always follow your own care team's instructions — every patient's setup is slightly different. But if you're newly starting PD and want to know what a real night looks like, here's mine. As time went on, I find myself just washing my hands then wearing gloves. I even plug my nose so I don't wear a mask lol! But don't listen to me. I do it cause I find it faster and easier if I just wash my hands!
What you need every night
Your PD cycler
PD solution bags
Drain line and supply line
Transfer set and cap
Sterile gloves, mask, antiseptic wipes ( to be safe )
My step by step routine
Step 1 — Wash hands. 60 seconds minimum every single time. Infection prevention is everything in PD. This step never gets skipped no matter how tired I am. ( That is why I don't wear the mask and gloves everyday.
Step 2 — Set up your workspace. Clean surface, everything within reach. I lay out
supplies in the same order every night so nothing gets missed.
Step 3 — Warm your solution bags. Cold solution going into your body is uncomfortable. The machine will do this, depending on what you are using though. If you do manual. You will need to warm it up yourself though.
Step 4 — Connect the lines. Following the exact sequence your care team taught you. Sterile technique is critical here. ( it is colored coded anyways, It will be easy for you to follow)
Step 5 — Program the cycler. Enter your prescribed settings — fill volume, dwell time, drain cycles. Your nephrologist sets these for you.
Step 6 — Connect and start. Hook up your transfer set, confirm everything is connected correctly, and start the machine.
Step 7 — Sleep. The machine runs 9 to 10 hours overnight. Set your alarms, get comfortable, and let it do its job. ( that is my personal time, it is all different depending on your body.
Tips I've learned along the way
Keep a spare set of supplies in case something is contaminated
Set your phone alarm as backup if the machine alarm doesn't wake you
Keep the room warm — being cold makes treatment uncomfortable
Wear comfortable clothing with easy access — I wear my Platinum Kidney thermal every night. ( yes I do!, even during pd. I still wear my thermals! )
Want clothing that makes your PD routine easier? The Platinum Kidney zip sleeve thermal was designed for exactly this. [Shop Now →] (link to: platinumkidney.com/category/all-products)
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