Today was the day I've been waiting for for six months – the "transplant" of my autologous stem cells. I arrived at the treatment center at 7:00 a.m. and had blood drawn and vitals taken. Around 10:00 a.m., the rep from the lab that stored my stem cells showed up with a large cryogenic storage container and began thawing out bags of the cells. I had three bags with a total of 3.5 million stem cells. The nurse hooked them up to the IV attached to my PICC line and I could literally see the individual cells going through the line. I'm trying to upload some pictures, because it is fascinating how the whole process worked.
The nurses had put some Benadryl in the IV, so I was very tired through much of the procedure. As with everything in my experience with the transplant, I was surprised at how easy everything was. Totally painless, just laid in the bed and rested. I know there is a storm coming here in a couple of days, probably around Day +3 or so. Glad I'm doing my transplant outpatient as recommended by many on the Forum – I'd be going nuts in that hospital room! IF you have the choice, so far I highly recommend it.
Dean, still praying for your bed, brother! Someday maybe we'll meet and catch a Chelsea match!
BarbaraSA - Keep us posted on your progress. I found it so helpful to read experiences from many different multiple myeloma patients. Best of luck to you.
Forums
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chadsnow - Name: Chad Snow
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 19, 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 45
Re: Chad's Autologous Stem Cell Transplant Journal
Hi Chad,
Pleased to hear you have got to a good start. Let's hope the storm won't be too bad for you. Now that's a nice thought, us watching a Chelsea match. We are all big fans of Chelsea, my wife is more of a fan then me. Our door is always open.
If you ever decide to treat yourself to a London city break, just let me know. I drive a London black cab for a living, so you can have a free tour of London on me.
Good luck, keep us posted.
Dean
Pleased to hear you have got to a good start. Let's hope the storm won't be too bad for you. Now that's a nice thought, us watching a Chelsea match. We are all big fans of Chelsea, my wife is more of a fan then me. Our door is always open.
If you ever decide to treat yourself to a London city break, just let me know. I drive a London black cab for a living, so you can have a free tour of London on me.
Good luck, keep us posted.
Dean
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Dean UK - Name: Dean
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: April 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 41
Re: Chad's Autologous Stem Cell Transplant Journal
Thank you for posting. Hope all goes well for you. Looking forward to reading the rest of your story.
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PatB
Re: Chad's Autologous Stem Cell Transplant Journal
Hi Chad,
I hope all is well with you. I've been thinking about you.
Today (as I'm typing) my husband is getting his central line put in. Tomorrow he starts his four-day treatment of dex. He gets the high-dose chemo on Sunday. We learned yesterday that he will get a slightly lower dose of the melphalan since his kidneys are still compromised because of the disease. We are hopeful that it will still work as intended. I'm trying to prepare him for the eating of the ice while he's getting the chemo. The nurse told us to have him start on the way in to prepare his mouth.
I hope all is well with you. I've been thinking about you.
Today (as I'm typing) my husband is getting his central line put in. Tomorrow he starts his four-day treatment of dex. He gets the high-dose chemo on Sunday. We learned yesterday that he will get a slightly lower dose of the melphalan since his kidneys are still compromised because of the disease. We are hopeful that it will still work as intended. I'm trying to prepare him for the eating of the ice while he's getting the chemo. The nurse told us to have him start on the way in to prepare his mouth.
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TCG - Name: Tara
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 43
Re: Chad's Autologous Stem Cell Transplant Journal
Chad,
Thank you for keeping us posted on your progress and glad that things are going well so far! Pretty soon things will start to get "exciting", but I hope the rougher days pass quickly and your recovery is uneventful.
I previously posted about my husband (43 years old) who underwent his autologous stem cell transplant in August, and I am pleased to say he is doing splendidly. We got the results of his 100-day tests last week and his bone marrow biopsy was minimal residual disease (MRD) negative, all light chains and bloodwork normal.
He's back at work full-time, back to going to the gym, and has much more energy – basically a healthier version of himself pre-diagnosis. (He's actually pleased that the 10 pounds he lost during the hospital stay helped his pants fit better.) We're just waiting to find out more about what his maintenance will be.
Toasting to you and all the other patients with his first glass of bourbon tonight in nine months.
Thank you for keeping us posted on your progress and glad that things are going well so far! Pretty soon things will start to get "exciting", but I hope the rougher days pass quickly and your recovery is uneventful.
I previously posted about my husband (43 years old) who underwent his autologous stem cell transplant in August, and I am pleased to say he is doing splendidly. We got the results of his 100-day tests last week and his bone marrow biopsy was minimal residual disease (MRD) negative, all light chains and bloodwork normal.
He's back at work full-time, back to going to the gym, and has much more energy – basically a healthier version of himself pre-diagnosis. (He's actually pleased that the 10 pounds he lost during the hospital stay helped his pants fit better.) We're just waiting to find out more about what his maintenance will be.
Toasting to you and all the other patients with his first glass of bourbon tonight in nine months.
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texgal79 - Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 43
Re: Chad's Autologous Stem Cell Transplant Journal
Hello again Chad,
I see you wrote soon after you had your stem cells transplanted. I hope you are doing ok and the "storm" isn't hitting you too hard, or even better, not hard at all even better!
Our doctor discussed doing transplant as inpatient instead of outpatient as you are. Hmmmm.. We will have to discuss which one will be best for us. I read and doc discussed how outpatient you need a caregiver and unfortunately with a new baby, another young child, and working myself, I have my hands too full. Maybe that's why our doctor thought it was best for inpatient for my husband.
Please keep us posted on how you are doing and your journey as my husband is to go through this in a few months. Prayers to your recovery and everyone else that is fighting this disease!
I see you wrote soon after you had your stem cells transplanted. I hope you are doing ok and the "storm" isn't hitting you too hard, or even better, not hard at all even better!
Our doctor discussed doing transplant as inpatient instead of outpatient as you are. Hmmmm.. We will have to discuss which one will be best for us. I read and doc discussed how outpatient you need a caregiver and unfortunately with a new baby, another young child, and working myself, I have my hands too full. Maybe that's why our doctor thought it was best for inpatient for my husband.
Please keep us posted on how you are doing and your journey as my husband is to go through this in a few months. Prayers to your recovery and everyone else that is fighting this disease!
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AZ mom - Name: Amy
- Who do you know with myeloma?: spouse
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Oct 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 46
Re: Chad's Autologous Stem Cell Transplant Journal
Day +5
As you can see, I've been lying low for a few days and haven't reported anything.
Days +1 and +2 were totally uneventful, just laid around waiting for the storm to hit. By the night of Day +3, I started feeling the typical symptoms of the melphalan – extreme fatigue, slight nausea, dizziness, and some stomach cramping. I've been told it feels like a bad hangover and, never having been hung over, now I guess I know what that feels like. Just a general yucky, crummy, feeling.
I've been going into the treatment center every morning to have my labs drawn and today (+5) my numbers also had gone down quite a bit. They said I should be to 0 by Day +7.
I also found out that I have a fun little infection called C. diff which has been the cause of some of my bowel discomfort. They have me on a strong antibiotic for that.
Overall these last few days, I'm just extremely fatigued, don't have much of an appetite, and slightly sick to my stomach. In the experience of the doctors and nurses, Days 5-10 are usually the most difficult, so I'm right in the middle of that right now. I'll keep everyone posted on more later.
AzMom - Inpatient might not be a bad idea in your circumstances. This transplant is really a lot harder on the caregiver than it is on the patient. We're sedated most of the time. The caregiver has to track food intake, activity, a ton of medications, bowel movements, keep the area totally clean, cook wacky meals at wacky times of the day. It's a burden for sure. I know Mayo is very conservative on who they let do the outpatient, and for good reason.
Texgal - Seeing your post gave me the light at the end of the tunnel I needed! Thanks! Those are exactly my goals now. Great for your husband. '
Tara - I've been thinking and praying for you and your husband this week also. I think he's only a couple days behind me in the process. Hope it's going well.
Dean - Ever get a bed, mate?
As you can see, I've been lying low for a few days and haven't reported anything.
Days +1 and +2 were totally uneventful, just laid around waiting for the storm to hit. By the night of Day +3, I started feeling the typical symptoms of the melphalan – extreme fatigue, slight nausea, dizziness, and some stomach cramping. I've been told it feels like a bad hangover and, never having been hung over, now I guess I know what that feels like. Just a general yucky, crummy, feeling.
I've been going into the treatment center every morning to have my labs drawn and today (+5) my numbers also had gone down quite a bit. They said I should be to 0 by Day +7.
I also found out that I have a fun little infection called C. diff which has been the cause of some of my bowel discomfort. They have me on a strong antibiotic for that.
Overall these last few days, I'm just extremely fatigued, don't have much of an appetite, and slightly sick to my stomach. In the experience of the doctors and nurses, Days 5-10 are usually the most difficult, so I'm right in the middle of that right now. I'll keep everyone posted on more later.
AzMom - Inpatient might not be a bad idea in your circumstances. This transplant is really a lot harder on the caregiver than it is on the patient. We're sedated most of the time. The caregiver has to track food intake, activity, a ton of medications, bowel movements, keep the area totally clean, cook wacky meals at wacky times of the day. It's a burden for sure. I know Mayo is very conservative on who they let do the outpatient, and for good reason.
Texgal - Seeing your post gave me the light at the end of the tunnel I needed! Thanks! Those are exactly my goals now. Great for your husband. '
Tara - I've been thinking and praying for you and your husband this week also. I think he's only a couple days behind me in the process. Hope it's going well.
Dean - Ever get a bed, mate?
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chadsnow - Name: Chad Snow
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 19, 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 45
Re: Chad's Autologous Stem Cell Transplant Journal
Hi Chad,
Hold in there, and good to hear from you.
Still a no go, mate. Like you, I started a forum thead about my transplant, but so far after 2 weeks I'm still waiting and nothing to report. If I feel rough, I'm not sure I will update my thread, but will try. Maybe I get lucky today. Who knows?
Keep us all updated. Fingers crossed things start to improve soon. Sorry to hear about your infection. I'm sure you'll pick up soon. I've still got all this to look forward to. Did you try any anti-sickness meds to help?
All the best,
Dean
Hold in there, and good to hear from you.
Still a no go, mate. Like you, I started a forum thead about my transplant, but so far after 2 weeks I'm still waiting and nothing to report. If I feel rough, I'm not sure I will update my thread, but will try. Maybe I get lucky today. Who knows?
Keep us all updated. Fingers crossed things start to improve soon. Sorry to hear about your infection. I'm sure you'll pick up soon. I've still got all this to look forward to. Did you try any anti-sickness meds to help?
All the best,
Dean
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Dean UK - Name: Dean
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: April 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 41
Re: Chad's Autologous Stem Cell Transplant Journal
Chad,
Hang in there. This was the worst time for my husband. After engraftment started, he felt better fairly quickly.
Hope you can manage to have a good Thanksgiving.
Hang in there. This was the worst time for my husband. After engraftment started, he felt better fairly quickly.
Hope you can manage to have a good Thanksgiving.
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dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Chad's Autologous Stem Cell Transplant Journal
Hi Chad,
Thanks for the update. I've been thinking of you and checking to see if you posted any updates. Take care and hopefully you will start to be on the upwards portion of this journey very shortly.
My husband had his transplant yesterday and it went relatively smoothly. We are doing it outpatient as well. I'm not sure my husband could do inpatient as he likes the freedom to move around and doesn't like to be confined in a hospital.
I'm sort of sitting here waiting for the other shoe to drop of when he starts to feel bad. So far nothing but a bad case of the hiccups caused by the dex. Not fun for him. They gave him a muscle relaxer to hopefully ease up the hiccups. They said that after his last day of dex (tomorrow) his numbers should start to drop (the dex masks some of the true numbers). So this weekend should be fun. I just hope he tolerates they symptoms well.
I will continue to pray for you.
Dean, I'm so glad to hear you have a bed. You will only be a few days behind us. I think I'm 4 days behind Chad as we are at Day +1
Thanks for the update. I've been thinking of you and checking to see if you posted any updates. Take care and hopefully you will start to be on the upwards portion of this journey very shortly.
My husband had his transplant yesterday and it went relatively smoothly. We are doing it outpatient as well. I'm not sure my husband could do inpatient as he likes the freedom to move around and doesn't like to be confined in a hospital.
I'm sort of sitting here waiting for the other shoe to drop of when he starts to feel bad. So far nothing but a bad case of the hiccups caused by the dex. Not fun for him. They gave him a muscle relaxer to hopefully ease up the hiccups. They said that after his last day of dex (tomorrow) his numbers should start to drop (the dex masks some of the true numbers). So this weekend should be fun. I just hope he tolerates they symptoms well.
I will continue to pray for you.
Dean, I'm so glad to hear you have a bed. You will only be a few days behind us. I think I'm 4 days behind Chad as we are at Day +1
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TCG - Name: Tara
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 43
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