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Average hospital stay for stem cell transplant?
I have been hospitalized for 7 days already. I had the chemo and had my own stem cells given to me. I wanted to know how much longer do I need to stay at the hospital for. What is the average length of the hospital stay for an own (autologous) stem cell transplant?
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6ixsilencer - Name: anthony paz
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: around may 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 16
Re: Average hospital stay for stem cell transplant?
Hello Six:
I recall that we asked that question. About two years ago at Sloan-Kettering in New York City, if you were slotted in to an inpatient procedure, I recall that the average was in the range of 22 to 24 days. If you are doing super good, I have heard that the best case is in the range of about 13 to 15 days.
Good luck to you.
I recall that we asked that question. About two years ago at Sloan-Kettering in New York City, if you were slotted in to an inpatient procedure, I recall that the average was in the range of 22 to 24 days. If you are doing super good, I have heard that the best case is in the range of about 13 to 15 days.
Good luck to you.
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JPC - Name: JPC
Re: Average hospital stay for stem cell transplant?
It depends on how the program is set up. Is it a partial or complete hospital stay protocol?
My husband's was a combo inpatient and outpatient. He was in for 3 days at initial transplant and then readmitted for four more at engraftment for a fever. However, since we did not live within 30 minutes of the facility, we were required to have housing nearby. Between all of it, we were away from home for 3 weeks.
Good luck.
My husband's was a combo inpatient and outpatient. He was in for 3 days at initial transplant and then readmitted for four more at engraftment for a fever. However, since we did not live within 30 minutes of the facility, we were required to have housing nearby. Between all of it, we were away from home for 3 weeks.
Good luck.
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dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Average hospital stay for stem cell transplant?
When I had my transplant (inpatient) in June 2014 at The James Cancer Center (Ohio State), I was release after 16 days, which is what the doctor told me prior to the transplant was a typical stay for the procedure. At that time I was told the quickest anyone had been discharged was 11 days.
Good luck!
Good luck!
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Steve Mohr - Name: Steve Mohr
- Who do you know with myeloma?: No one
- When were you/they diagnosed?: April 20 12
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Average hospital stay for stem cell transplant?
When I had my autologous stem cell transplant in November 2012 at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, I did it as an outpatient, and I was lucky that I didn't have any complications so I didn't spend any night in the hospital.
Good luck.
Good luck.
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Kaew
Re: Average hospital stay for stem cell transplant?
I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma at age 57, two years ago. Found out by back pain, which MRI showed a crushed L-3 vertebra. Had kyphoplasty. I had an autologous stem cell transplant at Northside in Atlanta in March 2015. I had to book an apartment for a minimum of 30 days, which insurance gave me an allowance for housing, travel, food, etc. (so very thankful for that).
I went to the clinic every day for 30 days to be checked for levels and such and then was released in April. The care I received was unrivaled to anything I have ever heard about in relation to transplants. I did however catch the flu during transplant, as did 10 of us in the clinic, and had to be hospitalized at Northside for 7 days.
Transplants are no easy road, but at least having an apartment made it bearable compared to having to stay in the hospital for that long.
I went to the clinic every day for 30 days to be checked for levels and such and then was released in April. The care I received was unrivaled to anything I have ever heard about in relation to transplants. I did however catch the flu during transplant, as did 10 of us in the clinic, and had to be hospitalized at Northside for 7 days.
Transplants are no easy road, but at least having an apartment made it bearable compared to having to stay in the hospital for that long.
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debbie c
Re: Average hospital stay for stem cell transplant?
I had my autologous stem cell transplant at the University of Miami in May. I was in for 17 days. During my stay, my doctor, nurses, and I developed a calendar and we took bets on when I would be released. I would have been released on the 14th day if it were not for a rash that I developed. Some part of the stay is patient dependent. Luckily I had no sores in my mouth because I chewed on ice for 2 solid hours (I did not start eating ice again until July 
);
I also made sure I ate something every day, which is hard but critical for recovery; and I made sure I walked as much as possible every day, even taking the IV up and down the hallways. All three of these items will help in decreasing the stay during an inpatient transplant and getting those stem cells to star producing the cells needed for the counts to be high enough to leave. What I heard over and over at UM was that those who did not take the ice chewing seriously ended up staying longer and their journey was more problematic.
I know for everyone the ice chewing gets tough even if you are a ice lover, but if the sores develop it will cause so many more complications. Also, if you do not walk everyday, then you are not helping your bone and stem cells. I know it's easier said than done on the walking because for some days it's tough to walk, but the reward of leaving quicker is what kept me going.
On the calendar, what was interesting was that my wife chose the day I would have been released if I did not have the rash and my daughter picked the exact date I was going to be released. I guess both of them knew something I did not know when I started the stem cell transplant.
AC
P.S. - I posted regularly in the forum about my transplant as it was ongoing; the postings are in this forum thread: "AC's stem cell transplant in South Florida".
); I also made sure I ate something every day, which is hard but critical for recovery; and I made sure I walked as much as possible every day, even taking the IV up and down the hallways. All three of these items will help in decreasing the stay during an inpatient transplant and getting those stem cells to star producing the cells needed for the counts to be high enough to leave. What I heard over and over at UM was that those who did not take the ice chewing seriously ended up staying longer and their journey was more problematic.
I know for everyone the ice chewing gets tough even if you are a ice lover, but if the sores develop it will cause so many more complications. Also, if you do not walk everyday, then you are not helping your bone and stem cells. I know it's easier said than done on the walking because for some days it's tough to walk, but the reward of leaving quicker is what kept me going.
On the calendar, what was interesting was that my wife chose the day I would have been released if I did not have the rash and my daughter picked the exact date I was going to be released. I guess both of them knew something I did not know when I started the stem cell transplant.
AC
P.S. - I posted regularly in the forum about my transplant as it was ongoing; the postings are in this forum thread: "AC's stem cell transplant in South Florida".
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Aclinkboca - Name: AC
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Dec 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 46
Re: Average hospital stay for stem cell transplant?
This is a topic that interests me as well. I'm getting ready to start my testing for my transplant, and I'm wondering what the average length of the hospital stay is for an autologous stem cell transplant? They are telling 4 to 6 weeks. Is this about normal?
I'm very nervous. I've been doing induction therapy for about 4 months now and will continue till my transplant team tells me to stop for the procedure.
Thank you so much and God bless you all.
I'm very nervous. I've been doing induction therapy for about 4 months now and will continue till my transplant team tells me to stop for the procedure.
Thank you so much and God bless you all.
Re: Average hospital stay for stem cell transplant?
Hello,
It is of course really patient dependent, but in the case of my wife, we were told that the average is 3 weeks. She did get out before that and stayed 2.5 weeks total. She developed bad diarrhea and had hard time eating again.
However, after she had been released, she was asked to do blood work twice a week and regular checkup at the hospital for the following 10 days (but we live very close).
4 to 6 weeks seems to me a bit extreme.
Good luck
It is of course really patient dependent, but in the case of my wife, we were told that the average is 3 weeks. She did get out before that and stayed 2.5 weeks total. She developed bad diarrhea and had hard time eating again.
However, after she had been released, she was asked to do blood work twice a week and regular checkup at the hospital for the following 10 days (but we live very close).
4 to 6 weeks seems to me a bit extreme.
Good luck
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Pauillac - Name: Louise Rose
- Who do you know with myeloma?: my wife
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March 2017
- Age at diagnosis: 42
Re: Average hospital stay for stem cell transplant?
I did tandem transplants, first was 21 days, and second was 20 days. I had a lot of nausea problems, so very glad I was inpatient. I was required to go to clinic every day for 14 days after release, then every other day for another two weeks before I was released to come home (I was over 100 miles from home).
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Margie C
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