Stem Cell Transplant

i am about to begin stem cell collection - and the transplant on the 5th, with a month in the hospital

what can i expect,  in how i feel and what pain involved..etc ,

has anyone aleady done this,,,and what was your outcome and how have you felt?

i have been on doxil , an velcade and chemo ,

now ,,,prep for sem cell ,,,,,i just want to know what to expect ,,from someoen who has been thru it ,

i

Hi Danielle,

I had my stem cell transplant last July and this is my expericence. The collection of stem cells will take between 3-5 days. It will take about 5 hours each day to collect enough stem cells to do 2 transplants. The resaon why they collect enough stem cells to do 2 transplants because there is a chance that you will relaspe and they will need to do the stem cell transplant again. Once they got enough stem cells you will then check into the hospital. The room that you check in is a germ free room, that is, they are continously recycle air to elimiate pathogens. Also, visitors have restrictions when you are in the hospital. They can visit you anytime durning the day but they must be clean. My family wanted to come and visit me but they were afraid of getting me sick. On the second day,  I recieved my high dose chemo through my port that killed off my immune system. They will give you ice to suck on because this will help elimiate sores in your mouth. I never got the sores so it might not happen to you. Your WBC will go down to zero so infections are your biggest worry. Also, a person that recieved high dose of chemo will start to lose their hair about a two weeks after receiving the dose... losing your hair is a slow process.  Also, I vomit about once a day but they have medicine to prevent you from vomiting. 48 hours after the high dose chemo (usually melphan) the doctors give back you stem cell. They will unfreeze you stem cells and send them through your portal. When the doctor is pushing the stem cell back through your portal you will get a fruity taste in your mouth and you will feel the cold stem cells flowing through your veins but that is about all the discomfort you will feel. Then the hospital will monitor WBC and when it get to a certain level they will release you. I was in the hospital for 7 days. However, the high dose of chemo did not effect me that bad. I was pretty much myself. I felt a little weak and I vomit sometimes but for the most part I felt okay. I was very bored during that 7 day hospital stay so bring a computer, books, or whatever item that will keep yourself entertain. When you get out of the hospital you are not done. You will recieve many different pills to help prevent infections. Because I live 150 miles away from Kansas City, I had to stay at the American Cancer Society building in KC so I can go to the hospital every morning to do my blood work. They will test your blood to make sure WBC count is going up and replace any fluids that you might be missing. This will take 4-6 hours each day for at least a month. After a month they said I could go home and I did. They told me if I feel sick go to my local hospital emergency room and get it check out. I went once because my head was spinning (I had ear infection) but I sent home the same day. I went into hospital July 1st and start to work again on August 1st. Since then, I started to run and lift weights again to strenghten my back (had a large tumor in my Lumbar 1). I am in complete remission and I feel good with little to no pain. But I am 43 and I think that has something to do with my quick recovery.

Scott         

From Anna,

Hi Danielle, Dad had two transplants.  That was 10 years ago. They used his own stem cells.  The chemo is tough. You will have no immune system.  They will keep you in isolation probably. Now when Dad was ready for his his Dr. let him stay home after the transplant cause we had just built a new house and we all figured it was cleaner than the hospital.  We just had to keep people away.  Don't remember all the details sorry.  I do remember they got enough cells for 2 transplants. They gave him only half of them back. When that didn't work they gave him the rest back later.  Of course he went though chemo again. I remember his got sours in his mouth from the chemo. I might be able to find some old emails on what happened if you like. Let me know.  Everyone does different though.  So you might have something happen no one else has.  If you want me to find anything on Dad  let me know.

Your friend,

 Anna