I am relatively new to nightly Peritoneal dialysis. I am finding it impossible to sleep while the machine goes through its cycles,

[Quintillius]

Does anyone have any tips about coping with the loneliness, depression and boredom of nightly dialysis. How about combatting side effects like cramp too? All suggestions welcome.

[fredinspain]

You will have trouble sleeping to start with. For one thing you are not relaxed because it's new to you. That will pass. Try the disposable earplugs and don't worry you will still hear the alarms. I was on 6 nights a week for 3 years with one off but now I can't sleep without my machine on and my results were a bit poor so I asked to be put on 7 nights a week. I also take a Vallium to help me sleep, as here in Spain they still give them as a sleeping aid. Because my dwell times are 90 minutes I do my first fill around 10 pm and then disconnect myself and watch TV and chat to my wife until it alarms. Then I take the laptop into the bedroom and usually play on that until my second drain is finished and then I get into bed and fall asleep, with 40% of my dialysis complete.

[Quintillius in reply to fredinspain]

Thank you for the advice. I am trying a different regime now, but value your comments thank you.