I have a close and dear co-worker who will be moving to Nashville on Sunday for a stem cell transplant on the 24th. She was diagnosed with Stage 3 multiple myeloma in August 2015.
After the first couple of weeks of chemo, she responded and her numbers came down. In December they were giving her a rest from the chemo and, when she went back for a bone marrow biopsy to check, her cancer numbers had risen dramatically. She was on double chemo January, February, and March. They harvested her stem cells in early April. After another biopsy later in April, her numbers had tripled. She has been continuing on triple chemo until last week. The doctors told her the cancer had become very aggressive and hard to treat. They had no choice but to try the transplant.
The pain has gotten bad enough that she is on high doses of oxycodone. The doctor said he could not promise that the transplant would get her in remission. She has enough stem cells harvested for 2 transplants. The doctor would not even promise that 2 transplants would do it.
I am grateful to find this site and your story. We live 2 hours away from Nashville and this will be quite an undertaking for her family. I will follow your journey along. Prayers for your family and a complete recovery.
Forums
Re: Dear hubby's stem cell transplant saga
Gigi, I wish your friend good results from her transplant.
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dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Dear hubby's stem cell transplant saga
Cathy,
I wouldn't make too many arrangements concerning your furry friend. I'd bet you are really close to going home if you demonstrate your willingness to maintain your daily outpatient appointments with your hour or so commute. Congratulations
I wouldn't make too many arrangements concerning your furry friend. I'd bet you are really close to going home if you demonstrate your willingness to maintain your daily outpatient appointments with your hour or so commute. Congratulations
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blueblood - Name: Craig
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Dear hubby's stem cell transplant saga
His WBC is 1.0 and his ANC is 0.6. They have doubled since yesterday. His platelets are 19,000 and his HGB is 7.7. Both of these are within the limits of our facility to not give blood products. His rash is looking better and all vitals are good. He is drinking well and slowly beginning to eat again. We are sprung to go back to the hotel today. Not quite as good as all the way home, but we will take it! 
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dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Dear hubby's stem cell transplant saga
Day +15
His WBC yesterday was 3.2, ANC 1.6. His platelets were still 18,000. They are not increasing but holding. His hemoglobin was up some to 8.6.
They gave us the weekend off and we are to go back to clinic on Monday. They said he would be able to lose the mask soon. He will be glad of that. He hates it! It smothers him.
His WBC yesterday was 3.2, ANC 1.6. His platelets were still 18,000. They are not increasing but holding. His hemoglobin was up some to 8.6.
They gave us the weekend off and we are to go back to clinic on Monday. They said he would be able to lose the mask soon. He will be glad of that. He hates it! It smothers him.
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dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Dear hubby's stem cell transplant saga
Dogmom,
Sounds like hubby is doing great. Don't worry too much about the platelets. According to my transplant team, they are the last of the components to recover. I did an inpatient transplant, and was released to go home on day 17, I was given a platelet infusion immediately before discharge. I am not sure what my numbers were, but they were probably in the same range as hubby's.
How's his appetite doing?
Hope you get home soon!
Ellen Harris
Sounds like hubby is doing great. Don't worry too much about the platelets. According to my transplant team, they are the last of the components to recover. I did an inpatient transplant, and was released to go home on day 17, I was given a platelet infusion immediately before discharge. I am not sure what my numbers were, but they were probably in the same range as hubby's.
How's his appetite doing?
Hope you get home soon!
Ellen Harris
Re: Dear hubby's stem cell transplant saga
He is doing really good. He is not eating like he did before transplant, yet! Lol. He is eating and no nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, so not having any tummy issues is great. He still gets tired easily, but you can tell he feels so much better.
Thanks to all of you for your advice and support. We hope by the end of next week they will pull his port and release us to go home. It will be three weeks since transplant on Friday.
Thanks to all of you for your advice and support. We hope by the end of next week they will pull his port and release us to go home. It will be three weeks since transplant on Friday.
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dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Dear hubby's stem cell transplant saga
So glad things are still going well. We were almost exactly a year ahead of you guys on this journey. We got home from hubby's transplant the first week of June 2015. Home had never looked so good! After this whirlwind you'll finally have time to catch your breath.
Have a great week!
Debra
Have a great week!
Debra
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reece93 - Name: reece93
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: October 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 57
Re: Dear hubby's stem cell transplant saga
Just got back from picking up our little dog (ok'd by doctor). He has not seen his daddy in almost 3 weeks. They are both happy guys.
- So happy to see daddy!
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dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Dear hubby's stem cell transplant saga
Day + 17
Well, he is making platelets now. His platelet count was up to 48,000 today. WBC holding at 3.5 and hemoglobin holding at 8.6.
He got to lose his mask today. He was excited. No more mask!
We do not have to go back until Thursday. They think we will get to blow the motel and go home the first part of next week. We see the PA on Thursday and then the doctor on Monday. The doctor will make the decision on pulling the line and letting us go home. The PA seems to think if he continues to do well, this will be the case.
Well, he is making platelets now. His platelet count was up to 48,000 today. WBC holding at 3.5 and hemoglobin holding at 8.6.
He got to lose his mask today. He was excited. No more mask!
We do not have to go back until Thursday. They think we will get to blow the motel and go home the first part of next week. We see the PA on Thursday and then the doctor on Monday. The doctor will make the decision on pulling the line and letting us go home. The PA seems to think if he continues to do well, this will be the case.
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dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
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