Well, today is my husband's last induction treatment. Hopefully, if all his pre-tests check out (we start those Monday), he will check into the hospital on June 1st for the high-dose chemo and infusion of stem cells on June 3rd!
Our myeloma specialist does not suspect there will be a hold up as all his labs are normal, including serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP, for measuring the M-spike) and serum kappa and lambda free light chains. My hubby feels like his ole self and has no ill effects from the chemo. He is allowed 20% plasma cells in his repeat bone marrow test, which we have Tuesday. They were 70% at diagnosis.
Everyone keep good thoughts for us and check back to this thread, as I plan on posting often through the process. I have gained so much support and knowledge from others who have done this and I would like to give back.
Forums
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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
Thank you, Dogmom, for volunteering to share your husband's stem cell transplant experience with members of the Beacon community. We hope the transplant experience is a smooth one for him (and for you!).
For others reading this who may be new to the Beacon forum, you should know that there are many other forum threads like this one, describing the stem cell transplant experiences of other Beacon community members. There is a list of these "transplant journal" threads at the end of this Beacon forum posting:
"Useful links to existing forum discussions"
in the section labeled
"Stem Cell Transplant Experiences of Beacon Forum Members"
Note that this "Useful links" posting is always listed as the first discussion thread in the "Treatments & Side Effects" section of the forum.
There also is a link to the "Useful links" posting in the sidebar that appears on every page of the forum. It's the last link in the part of the sidebar titled "Forum Discussions - View By Specific Subject".
For others reading this who may be new to the Beacon forum, you should know that there are many other forum threads like this one, describing the stem cell transplant experiences of other Beacon community members. There is a list of these "transplant journal" threads at the end of this Beacon forum posting:
"Useful links to existing forum discussions"
in the section labeled
"Stem Cell Transplant Experiences of Beacon Forum Members"
Note that this "Useful links" posting is always listed as the first discussion thread in the "Treatments & Side Effects" section of the forum.
There also is a link to the "Useful links" posting in the sidebar that appears on every page of the forum. It's the last link in the part of the sidebar titled "Forum Discussions - View By Specific Subject".
Re: Dear hubby's stem cell transplant saga
Good luck to you and your husband. I will keep good thoughts in the air for both of you. I will watch his journey with great interest as it looks like I may be only a few weeks behind him (still not scheduled).
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Mark Pouley - Name: Mark
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: April 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Dear hubby's stem cell transplant saga
Hi Cathy,
I’ve enjoyed reading your comments over the past few months, and wish you and your husband all the best in the next step in your journey.
If it is any consolation, I am on Day +14 of my autologous stem cell transplant (released from hospital on Day +12), and the experience (“knock wood”) has been much easier than I had anticipated. Granted, the stem cell re-infusion and days +5 to +10 were not pleasant, but overall, it has not been as bad as I had dreaded. Currently, I’m just dealing with extreme fatigue and the issue of food tasting “off”.
Wishing you all the best,
Karen
I’ve enjoyed reading your comments over the past few months, and wish you and your husband all the best in the next step in your journey.
If it is any consolation, I am on Day +14 of my autologous stem cell transplant (released from hospital on Day +12), and the experience (“knock wood”) has been much easier than I had anticipated. Granted, the stem cell re-infusion and days +5 to +10 were not pleasant, but overall, it has not been as bad as I had dreaded. Currently, I’m just dealing with extreme fatigue and the issue of food tasting “off”.
Wishing you all the best,
Karen
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KarenaD - Name: Karen
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November 4, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Dear hubby's stem cell transplant saga
Thanks for the good wishes all.
Mark, I see where you are a photographer. So is my husband. He is a sports action photographer local in our area. It is his side gig, but he likes it. He has not been able to do much lately but hopes after this myeloma journey he can get back to it full force.
I think now he would feel well enough, but since the stem cell transplant is just around the corner, he must focus on that.
We also have a small farm and he works full time as a manager at a barge building company, so something had to be put on the back burner for a time. He was a burn-the-candle-at-both-ends kinda guy before multiple myeloma. It has been hard for him to let that go.
Mark, I see where you are a photographer. So is my husband. He is a sports action photographer local in our area. It is his side gig, but he likes it. He has not been able to do much lately but hopes after this myeloma journey he can get back to it full force.
I think now he would feel well enough, but since the stem cell transplant is just around the corner, he must focus on that. We also have a small farm and he works full time as a manager at a barge building company, so something had to be put on the back burner for a time. He was a burn-the-candle-at-both-ends kinda guy before multiple myeloma. It has been hard for him to let that go.
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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
Karen, thanks for the update on your recovery from the ASCT. I hope that all continues to go smoothly for you! Best wishes to you and your husband also, Dogmom, and to you, Mark W.
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Dear hubby's stem cell transplant saga
Well, 24-hour urine test on Sunday and all the x-rays , echo, PFT on Monday. CT on Tuesday, and meet and greet with the transplant staff on Wednesday. He has his repeat bone marrow with labs and H/P on Thursday. Whew. Full week ahead! 
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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
Holy cow, what a week you have ahead. I hope you two can find a minute or two for yourselves this weekend to relax.
I started down the photography road as the team cameraman for my kids' soccer teams. As I bought better equipment and put more time in, I focused on landscape and nature photography. Even before my diagnosis, photography and art shows were therapeutic. I haven't been shooting a lot since diagnosis (for a long time I was mentally unable to do a lot of things I love), but I hope to get back to it soon.
I started down the photography road as the team cameraman for my kids' soccer teams. As I bought better equipment and put more time in, I focused on landscape and nature photography. Even before my diagnosis, photography and art shows were therapeutic. I haven't been shooting a lot since diagnosis (for a long time I was mentally unable to do a lot of things I love), but I hope to get back to it soon.
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Mark Pouley - Name: Mark
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: April 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Dear hubby's stem cell transplant saga
I am at Day +34. I had a few issues after my autologous stem cell transplant. I developed mucositis in my throat and had difficulty swallowing which made it hard to eat, drink, and take meds. I had mine as an outpatient but at Day+8 I had a high fever and had to spend 4 days in the hospital. Those were the worst 4 days of the entire process. I was released to my local oncologist at Day +16.
Once I hit Day +30 I noticed a marked improvement. Prior to that, I had been experiencing some nausea and light headedness in the morning. That is almost completely gone now and I'm feeling almost as good as I did prior to the transplant. I have been fortunate to not be experiencing any of the fatigue that seems to plague most people post transplant. I correlate this to trying to remain active and exercising regularly.
I will be seeing my doctor in 2 weeks and am expecting to be released to return to work at that time.
Good luck to your husband. My advice to him is to keep a positive attitude and try to get at least some exercise every day.
Once I hit Day +30 I noticed a marked improvement. Prior to that, I had been experiencing some nausea and light headedness in the morning. That is almost completely gone now and I'm feeling almost as good as I did prior to the transplant. I have been fortunate to not be experiencing any of the fatigue that seems to plague most people post transplant. I correlate this to trying to remain active and exercising regularly.
I will be seeing my doctor in 2 weeks and am expecting to be released to return to work at that time.
Good luck to your husband. My advice to him is to keep a positive attitude and try to get at least some exercise every day.
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deeboz
Re: Dear hubby's stem cell transplant saga
Well, day one of pre-transplant testing done. We got our patient education notebook today and I read it while my hubby was in getting all his test. Not too many surprises. Most of the info I already knew and had picked up here on the Beacon 
I do hope I can master the CVC maintenance. The cleaning and flushing I am not too worried about, but putting on the sterile glove technique ... hmmm ... not too sure
We go for chest and sinus CT tomorrow afternoon.
I do hope I can master the CVC maintenance. The cleaning and flushing I am not too worried about, but putting on the sterile glove technique ... hmmm ... not too sure
We go for chest and sinus CT tomorrow afternoon.
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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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