You're going to get a LOT of boxes of supplies, especially considering this is your first shipment. So in addition to the dialysate (usually in boxes of 4 bags each), you'll have boxes of masks, gauze pads, gloves, a scale, tape, etc, all of which you will need ready access to (or develop a system where you resupply a storage contrainer in your dialysis area with the needed supplies).

I recommend drawing out what your dialysis area is going to look like, how much room it's going to take, including the IV pole, a chair, the scale, your real-time supplies, your discharge bag and keep in mind whether you're going to be doing manual exchanges or using a cycler from the beginning (different space needs depending on what system you're using). Be sure you keep clear spaces for moving around the room, changing clothes, cleaning, etc. And plan for a place in your house or apartment where you'll have space to break down the boxes as they're used so they'll take up less space and be available for recycling.

Then give Baxter a call and ask them how much stuff they're going to be bringing. Then plan your storage needs accordiningly. Dialysate boxes are heavy and you have weight restrictions for lifting, so you don't want those dialysate boxes stacked to your ceiling. But you also need access to your other supplies as well and will probably find a way to keep the supplies you need now available in your dialysis area and the extra supplies in other boxes.

Baxter will put everything where you want it to be, you just need to tell them where that is. Remember to keep open clear paths to all rooms and the bathroom, keep supplies out of the bathroom if they dont' belong there (not enough room and you run the risk of ruining a full package of something if it gets wet). Don't store anything behind doors to rooms (a hazard when trying to close doors and a fire hazard when trying to get in and out of the house). The first shipment may be a learning experience, but you'll become an expert in no time flat and figure out your own plan, what works best for you and your living environment.

Hopefully some others on PD will chime in and let you know the size of their first shipment; I only know what a friend experienced.

I wish you well!
Ruth

Thanks a lot that really helped Ruth. :)

HI

I do PD (with a different supplier Fresenius)

I go through roughly one 10 Kg box per day of dialysis stuff.

I am on a night cycler machine on a trolley which takes up a little room also. I got a plastic container on wheels with a handle that I use to take my full bags to the bathroom to drain.

I get 30- 35 boxes delivered per moth plus two other boxes of supplies (caps, drain bags etc) . I have them in the Garage and sleep out and I bring them in one at a time (or my husband - at the moment I can't lift much as I had hernia surgery last week. Hernia is a real problem in folks who do PD, so listen to them when they say no heavy lifting. I gave myself the hernia fooling around with my daughter giving her a merry go round. My Dad does PD and he has a hernia as well.

It is hard to remember not to lift and to ask for help all the time. I am not good at that.

THe closer you can have your dialysis room to a bathroom the better as you are back and forth with the hand-washing a bit. You don't want to be tempted to skip any of that - as peritonitis is no fun.

I am not familiar with the Baxter system, but once you get the hang of PD it is really simple. Each exchange takes me around 20 mins and now I cycle at night so I am pretty much free during the day.

Getting rid of all the cardboard and plastic waste gets a little tedious. But hey! Its not that big a deal for something that is going to keep you alive and give you a pretty good quality of life.

TAke care