Day 7 thru 10:
The dreaded side effects finally hit me, with diarrhea, nausea and startling fatigue. I didn't have the energy to even think, forget talk or walk! In my weakened condition, the temperature-regulated room felt like an ice-chamber, and only the hot water bag my daughter slipped into the bed kept me warm. I was never so sick in my life ever. My counts dropped to near zero. I passed my time looking at the clock and waiting for the hours to go by.
Day 11 thru 14:
On Day 11 my doctor announced that the blood counts had started nudging up and assured me that after this the recovery would 'zoom'. Just hearing his words breathed new life into me and my counts started improving rapidly. On Day 12, my doctor predicted that he may discharge me in two days if all went well. Just two days ago, I had seemed to be half-dead and could not believe his words. But my energy level kept improving with every hour and by Day 14, I was raring for discharge. I tried to persuade the doctor to remove my central line (CVL), which was quite irritating to bathe with, but he insisted that I keep it for some more days and I was discharged with it.
Day 15:
I'm back in our apartment and suddenly the world seems so much larger and more vibrant than the 20 square meter (215 square foot) hospital room. There's still some nausea and diarrhea and energy levels are low, but otherwise all is well. My daughter cooked me a fantastic welcome meal of chicken curry and Indian rotis! My appetite is suddenly much better than it was in the hospital where I could barely finish a quarter to half of each meal. I'm scheduled to go back tomorrow for a checkup.
All in all, a dreadful experience but I was lucky to get through it without any other complications and thank God for his grace in getting me back before Christmas. We have invited our grandchildren and in-laws to visit us during Christmas and New year season and are eagerly looking forward to the family reunion. It looks like I'm getting back my life after a long long time!
Forums
Re: Ashwin's inpatient stem cell transplant (Singapore)
Ashwin, am so glad you are do so well. Great news! I hope you continue recovering well and wish you lovely Christmas with your family.
-
Gala - Name: Gala
- Who do you know with myeloma?: sister, LgA-k
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 48
Re: Ashwin's inpatient stem cell transplant (Singapore)
Great news Ashwin! Glad to hear you're doing well and eating delicious food.
-
PositiveChris - Name: Chris
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 11/28/2016
- Age at diagnosis: 42
Re: Ashwin's inpatient stem cell transplant (Singapore)
Ashwin, so good to hear that you're through the worst of it and on the road to recovery. Sounds like our experiences were almost identical – miserable days 7-10, and then quickly turned a corner around Day 13 or 14 and steady improvement thereafter. I have thought of you often and prayed for your recovery. I hope that 2017 brings much happiness, health, and a long/permanent remission of your disease!
Lasso, don't give up hope. The treatment is a major inconvenience, but I am more and more optimistic that this is a disease that can be cured or, at worst, controlled. My myeloma specialist told me the other day that there is a good chance that I will die of something else in my 70's or 80's.
Lasso, don't give up hope. The treatment is a major inconvenience, but I am more and more optimistic that this is a disease that can be cured or, at worst, controlled. My myeloma specialist told me the other day that there is a good chance that I will die of something else in my 70's or 80's.
-
chadsnow - Name: Chad Snow
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 19, 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 45
Re: Ashwin's inpatient stem cell transplant (Singapore)
Hi. I couldn't post for several days but am back with updates about my transplant experiences.
Day 4 thru 15:
Day 4 thru 7 were relatively comfortable except for the low room temperature maintained to ward off infection. My wife bought me a fleece-lined hoodie in which I practically lived for the entire duration of my hospitalisation. At night, even this wasn't adequate, so my daughter bought a hot water bag that she slipped under the blanket to keep me warm.
The nausea and diarrhea hit me on Day 8, and I was practically spending half my time in the loo! The anti-diarrhea drugs made no difference, so the doc switched to codeine and that gave me some relief. My blood counts dropped to near zero and my energy level too was practically zero. Perhaps I'd never felt so low in my life before. Days 9 thru 11 were the worst. I'd quickly lost weight and was down to my lowest adult weight ever.
On Day 11 morning, the doc studied my blood counts and declared that he might discharge me by Day 15, as the psychological benefit of the home environment would more than offset the absence of hospital facilities. I was incredulous as it was at my lowest point when he said this. However, his words acted like magic, and I started improving rapidly. My appetite improved rapidly, I could take short walks in the hospital garden, and started regaining lost strength.
On Day 13, the doctor counselled me on precautions to be taken at home and discharged me on Day 15 as envisaged. It was like being released from prison! My family made a small and simple celebration taking me out for pizzas, and it felt fantastic to be out of the hospital finally.
Day 16 thru 45:
They did my blood counts regularly, and I met up with my doctor twice a week. He cautioned me to avoid outside food and allowed me go out only for short walks in the park avoiding all crowded areas. Christmas vacation had begun, so my elder daughter came to stay with us with her kids. Playing with the grandchildren worked more magic on me than all the drugs combined! My energy levels improved, and the additional activity bumped up my appetite.
I had sporadic dizzy spells and mild nausea with diarrhea, but the doctor told us not to worry as such problems were routine and to be expected. He was more concerned about any unexpected problems or setbacks to recovery. Fortunately, these problems settled down eventually, and the doctor allowed us to return back to India.
We left Singapore on Day 43. I had absolutely no problem during the 5-hour flight, and it was one of my life's happiest day when I stepped into my own house after two and a half months!
On Day 45, that's today, we met up with our local doctor, who studied all the transplant reports and advised me to stay at home for another month for rebuilding lost strength and to avoid catching any infection. So I'm now recovering at home and thinking of ways in which I can resume some work from home so that I reclaim my life, albeit partially.
Day 4 thru 15:
Day 4 thru 7 were relatively comfortable except for the low room temperature maintained to ward off infection. My wife bought me a fleece-lined hoodie in which I practically lived for the entire duration of my hospitalisation. At night, even this wasn't adequate, so my daughter bought a hot water bag that she slipped under the blanket to keep me warm.
The nausea and diarrhea hit me on Day 8, and I was practically spending half my time in the loo! The anti-diarrhea drugs made no difference, so the doc switched to codeine and that gave me some relief. My blood counts dropped to near zero and my energy level too was practically zero. Perhaps I'd never felt so low in my life before. Days 9 thru 11 were the worst. I'd quickly lost weight and was down to my lowest adult weight ever.
On Day 11 morning, the doc studied my blood counts and declared that he might discharge me by Day 15, as the psychological benefit of the home environment would more than offset the absence of hospital facilities. I was incredulous as it was at my lowest point when he said this. However, his words acted like magic, and I started improving rapidly. My appetite improved rapidly, I could take short walks in the hospital garden, and started regaining lost strength.
On Day 13, the doctor counselled me on precautions to be taken at home and discharged me on Day 15 as envisaged. It was like being released from prison! My family made a small and simple celebration taking me out for pizzas, and it felt fantastic to be out of the hospital finally.
Day 16 thru 45:
They did my blood counts regularly, and I met up with my doctor twice a week. He cautioned me to avoid outside food and allowed me go out only for short walks in the park avoiding all crowded areas. Christmas vacation had begun, so my elder daughter came to stay with us with her kids. Playing with the grandchildren worked more magic on me than all the drugs combined! My energy levels improved, and the additional activity bumped up my appetite.
I had sporadic dizzy spells and mild nausea with diarrhea, but the doctor told us not to worry as such problems were routine and to be expected. He was more concerned about any unexpected problems or setbacks to recovery. Fortunately, these problems settled down eventually, and the doctor allowed us to return back to India.
We left Singapore on Day 43. I had absolutely no problem during the 5-hour flight, and it was one of my life's happiest day when I stepped into my own house after two and a half months!
On Day 45, that's today, we met up with our local doctor, who studied all the transplant reports and advised me to stay at home for another month for rebuilding lost strength and to avoid catching any infection. So I'm now recovering at home and thinking of ways in which I can resume some work from home so that I reclaim my life, albeit partially.
-
ashwin13 - When were you/they diagnosed?: Diagnosed two and half years ago
- Age at diagnosis: 64
Re: Ashwin's inpatient stem cell transplant (Singapore)
Congratulations Ashwin. I am very happy for you, especially that you are back in your own home. That makes such a huge psychological difference. I hope that you keep getting stronger daily.
I am on Day 63 now and doing better than I thought I would at this time.
Take care and keep on improving.
Regards
Barbara
I am on Day 63 now and doing better than I thought I would at this time.
Take care and keep on improving.
Regards
Barbara
-
Barbara SA - Name: Barbara SA
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 55
16 posts
• Page 2 of 2 • 1, 2
Return to Treatments & Side Effects