Stem Cell Transplant

I had a stem cell transplant on October 2.  On January 10 I had my 100day evaluation which included a bone marrow biopsy.  I won't have the results of that for two weeks.  I am feeling good.  There are days I don't have all my usual energy, but that is improving.  I find myself having days of ups and downs not knowing what is happening.  I feel very comfortable with my care giving team.

 

On 1/12/2008 Audrey68 wrote:

I had a stem cell transplant on October 2.  On January 10 I had my 100day evaluation which included a bone marrow biopsy.  I won't have the results of that for two weeks.  I am feeling good.  There are days I don't have all my usual energy, but that is improving.  I find myself having days of ups and downs not knowing what is happening.  I feel very comfortable with my care giving team.

Hi Audrey

I am scheduled to have a stem cell transplant (autogenic) in a couple of months and would be very interested to hear of your experience of the process.  Any other readers experiences would also be welcomed.

Regards

Cameron

 

 

On 1/12/2008 Audrey68 wrote:

I had a stem cell transplant on October 2.  On January 10 I had my 100day evaluation which included a bone marrow biopsy.  I won't have the results of that for two weeks.  I am feeling good.  There are days I don't have all my usual energy, but that is improving.  I find myself having days of ups and downs not knowing what is happening.  I feel very comfortable with my care giving team.

Hello Audrey;

I too am scheduled for an ASCT in early Feb. and am curious of the procedure.

Do you recall your numbers prior to the transplant? I am specifically interested in your M-spike and IGG's prior to and post transplant if you can recall them.

Thanks;

Kevin

Oh man here we go.... My brothers IgG level went from 9400 to 2300 in one month and myeloma count from 90% to 23%  (velcade dex and thalidimide ) worked. I have to be prepared to donate 1 to 2 quarts of marrow and will take specific drugs to boost the t cell count. The doctors have informed us that they want to do the transplant with his  own (allo) and mine (matching brother) at the same time. My question is what is the chance if a host verses graft kick back. and is it unusual for this type of transplant and what are the chances of my good chromosomes re-wrighting his bad ones??

 

On 1/18/2008 zazu1234 wrote:

Oh man here we go.... My brothers IgG level went from 9400 to 2300 in one month and myeloma count from 90% to 23%  (velcade dex and thalidimide ) worked. I have to be prepared to donate 1 to 2 quarts of marrow and will take specific drugs to boost the t cell count. The doctors have informed us that they want to do the transplant with his  own (allo) and mine (matching brother) at the same time. My question is what is the chance of a host verses graft kick back. and is it unusual for this type of transplant and what are the chances of my good chromosomes re-wrighting his bad ones??

Good Evening Ron;

FANTASTIC news about your brother! As a matter of fact, his IGG's are just slightly out of the normal range of 700-1600. How low has his M-spike dropped?

I have not heard of a co-donor transplant. But they are trying new techniques to combat this horrific disease. I believe the Graft Vs. Host runs 20-40% for matching HLA.

Nonetheless, this should make both of you very happy and positive going into the transplant. Again, I'm glad for both of you regarding this great information!

Take care;

Kevin

 

On 1/22/2008 Lynn0959 wrote:

The transplant was not as bad as I expected. I spend 3 weeks in the hospital. I had about one bad week the rest of the time was just resting, really the end of the stay was the hardest because I just wanted to go home. Take things to keep yourself busy. Laptop, puzzles etc. 

I hope this helps you. I will be keep you in my thoughts, best of luck.

Brenda

Good Evening Brenda;

"Take things to keep yourself busy. Laptop, puzzles etc." 

I was told that I could not take my laptop into the hospital because it would disrupt the medical equipment. At first I thought this was ridiculous as the nursing staff sits in front of computers.

Did you have anyone prohibit you from using your laptop while in your room?

Take care;

Kevin

Hi Kevin! As you know I didn't have a transplant, but when I was last in hospital I did have my laptop brought in and there was no problem for anyone!  I know, I'm in Australia and things could be different here! -- but the problem that I had was that the laptop was not 'on-line' while I was in the hospital.  I could use it as a typewriter, play games, etc, but couldn't access the internet which was very frustrating. I don't really understand how this laptop is set up, but somehow its attached to our phone line and has a magic stick that 'reads' a gismo on the desk in another room -- too high tech for me!!   If you do take yours in -- and you work out how to access the internet while in there -- I would be very interested!!  Basically I wrote letters and did a BIG mail out once I got home!!  It was theraputic and if it were to happen again I might consider it a golden opportunity to start my personal biography which everyone is asking me to do, but I would really prefer to be able to 'talk' with all of you!!  Best wishes on the upcoming hospitalisation -- stay fit and be as well as possible so that you give this opportunity your BEST shot!!  Take good care mate!  Cath

My guess would be that each institution would have a different policy based on how they are wired for Internet access. While in isolation during the SCT, they provided me with a cable to their Internet site. Further, while in the infusion labs, etc they had WiFi available.

I was encouraged to keep busy during that period and was able to do a lot of advance planning work as well as e-mail communications. Over-all it worked well, just had to shut down and take a few naps during the recovery period.

Later reviewing some of the work I had completed, I did find that in some instances, the chemo must have gotten to me. 

  

 

Kevin