kjpoppit,
As posted by others, Mayo is an excellent choice. I had my bone marrow transplant (BMT) a year ago, and I am from South Carolina. Although the University of South Carolina Medical Center also has an excellent reputation in the multiple myeloma field, I chose Mayo because of their reputation. Just as important, I have family near Rochester.
Mayo is an outpatient facility, so having family near that will visit while you're going through the rigors of the BMT and the recovery period is a real comfort to both you and your spouse, who will probably be your caretaker during the entire time you are pre/post op.
My wife was my primary caretaker and, believe me, it was a physically hard and mentally stressful job. Things like training sessions on how to be a caretaker, changing surgical dressings, flushing/cleaning the Hickman port, sanitizing the commode after every bathroom visit, making sure your living environment is clean and sanitized if/when needed etc.
Whatever you decide, good luck to both of you.
Forums
Re: Changing plans? Need to vent.
I have noticed a lot of people pushing for the Mayo option for you. I don't have a 'dog in this hunt,' because my own transplant was done in California, at the City of Hope in Duarte. That was an inpatient procedure. I was there for three weeks.
The thing you need to consider is, all things being equal regarding the care you will receive, is: just how will your insurance company deal with things? That's the first question; can you afford the change? Second, will it delay your treatment? Third, is the support system near the Mayo Clinic going to be good enough that it justifies a delay?
Take a deep breath; I know that this is all confusing, and danged near overwhelming. Just take this one step at a time, get the information, and then make your decision. It may well be that a change is a good thing -- and then again, insurance, travel and treatment options may make it an undesirable thing. You'll figure it out, once you get all the information you need.
Really.
I promise.
The thing you need to consider is, all things being equal regarding the care you will receive, is: just how will your insurance company deal with things? That's the first question; can you afford the change? Second, will it delay your treatment? Third, is the support system near the Mayo Clinic going to be good enough that it justifies a delay?
Take a deep breath; I know that this is all confusing, and danged near overwhelming. Just take this one step at a time, get the information, and then make your decision. It may well be that a change is a good thing -- and then again, insurance, travel and treatment options may make it an undesirable thing. You'll figure it out, once you get all the information you need.
Really.
I promise.
-
dianaiad - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Officially...March 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 63
Re: Changing plans? Need to vent.
I had a nice talk with my husband. I decided to stay with my original plans. The SCCA and Fred Hutchinson are well respected facilities, and I trust they will do a good job. It is just too overwhelming to change things now.
I know it would have been nice for my husband to see his family but. to be honest, I barely know them. I have met his mom and sister once. I talk to them on the phone once in awhile. We have no extended family in Alaska. We are used to going it on our own. We have our children here, mine are grown and his live with their mother. My parents and a sister will have to travel to Seattle to be with me, which they plan to do.
I hope this isn't too selfish of me.
I know it would have been nice for my husband to see his family but. to be honest, I barely know them. I have met his mom and sister once. I talk to them on the phone once in awhile. We have no extended family in Alaska. We are used to going it on our own. We have our children here, mine are grown and his live with their mother. My parents and a sister will have to travel to Seattle to be with me, which they plan to do.
I hope this isn't too selfish of me.
-
kjpoppit - Name: Kim Nelson
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Sept. 19th, 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 47
Re: Changing plans? Need to vent.
First of all- it's not selfish at all, it's the continuation of a well thought out plan. Second of all, even if it were a little selfish, this is your treatment and it should be about what is best for you. If the move to the Mayo Clinic doesn't add anything positive for the patient, and actually adds stress, then it is not necessarily worth doing.
I know it is difficult being the spouse/caregiver (that is my role, plus mom of a 13 year old), but I also know that during the process of my husband's SCT, my job was the easy one. Anything I could have done to make things less stressful for my husband would have been worth it.
I am glad you are going where you are comfortable, with your family flying in to support you. Best wishes on a speedy recovery!
I know it is difficult being the spouse/caregiver (that is my role, plus mom of a 13 year old), but I also know that during the process of my husband's SCT, my job was the easy one. Anything I could have done to make things less stressful for my husband would have been worth it.
I am glad you are going where you are comfortable, with your family flying in to support you. Best wishes on a speedy recovery!
Re: Changing plans? Need to vent.
It was a huge decision getting to the point you were at. I agree with others that the Fred Hutchinson center is an excellent facility with a great reputation.
I'm also glad to see you are choosing what you feel comfortable with and not having to revisit your entire decision making process. With this disease, I think once you've embarked on a path for a particular stage of the process, one needs to fully embrace that choice and not look back. There will be plenty of new decisions to grapple with in the future.
Best of luck to you.
I'm also glad to see you are choosing what you feel comfortable with and not having to revisit your entire decision making process. With this disease, I think once you've embarked on a path for a particular stage of the process, one needs to fully embrace that choice and not look back. There will be plenty of new decisions to grapple with in the future.
Best of luck to you.
-
Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Changing plans? Need to vent.
I believe you have more than enough to think about without feeling selfish. The SCT isn't comfortable, but for me it wasn't all that bad either. It will help having some family drop in.
-
Wayne K - Name: Wayne
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself, my sister who passed in '95
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 03/09
- Age at diagnosis: 70
16 posts
• Page 2 of 2 • 1, 2