My dad is at Day +2 after an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). He's been doing great and eating things like spaghetti and meatballs, French toast, a cheeseburger, and chicken pot pie. Crossing my fingers that it continues to go well but since grafting is still several days away, I know it may not all be smooth sailing.
So far, he's had normal bowel movements, but I know the melphalan destroys the digestive tract and everyone gets diarrhea at some point. His caregivers want to be prepared. How long does it take to feel these effects from the high dose chemo?
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BallerinaBritt - Name: BallerinaBritt
- Who do you know with myeloma?: dad
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November 3, 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Diarrhea after ASCT - when does it start?
Hello, Brit
GI issues can kick in rather quickly. If you don't get major GI issues within about a week, that's a very good sign for the whole process, but there could still be a delayed reaction Two days is a bit early to get a good read on it.
While your father is eating well, he should do so, as weight loss could be a problem, and is one of the issues that sometimes inhibits recovery later on down the road. For my wife recently, she did have significant impact on the taste buds (nothing tasted right, not even water), but almost no nausea or other bad issues that people report.
GI issues can kick in rather quickly. If you don't get major GI issues within about a week, that's a very good sign for the whole process, but there could still be a delayed reaction Two days is a bit early to get a good read on it.
While your father is eating well, he should do so, as weight loss could be a problem, and is one of the issues that sometimes inhibits recovery later on down the road. For my wife recently, she did have significant impact on the taste buds (nothing tasted right, not even water), but almost no nausea or other bad issues that people report.
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JPC - Name: JPC
Re: Diarrhea after ASCT - when does it start?
Good to know. Thanks JPC!
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BallerinaBritt - Name: BallerinaBritt
- Who do you know with myeloma?: dad
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November 3, 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Diarrhea after ASCT - when does it start?
It was about 3 days after my transplant and I began vomiting; could not swallow pills or food. Went in hospital for about 5 days, they gave me everything IV for a few days, then I slowly could start eating and taking pills.
Hope all goes well with your father. My transplant was 3 and half years ago
Hope all goes well with your father. My transplant was 3 and half years ago
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Liz brown
Re: Diarrhea after ASCT - when does it start?
Hi,
In my case, after 4 days of constipation. No nausea initially, but at day 8 a really bad 6 hours or so of overwhelming nausea. Loperamide (Imodium) did not help. Metoclopramide (Reglan, Maxolon) did.
I was outpatient, we have two bathrooms and one was now solely used by me. No toilet paper, only showering of behinds without soap. Single use of towels all the time, separate for hands which were washed with soap, no antiseptics. Family members at 2 meters distance for 2 weeks. Daily intake of 2 glasses (1 in morning, 1 in evening) of vitamin C rich berry juice.
This scheme took me through 2 weeks of diarrhea without baboon-like behinds, no hospitalisation, temp max 38 C (100.4 F) once for an hour, went to 37.5 C (99.5 F) by lifting off the extra blanket used against the winter cold weather.
I know I was lucky, but I think there is something to learn from this. Blueberry or cranberry juice is rich in vitamin C, which your white blood cells need for their killing of the bacteria that the gut is trying to keep out. Use the juice, as I call it. The juice might contain other stuff, like antiviral flavonoids, that we still have a lot to learn about. So don't go for any empty vitamin tablets. Use the juice.
And this is the time to really use your laundry machines.
Good luck
In my case, after 4 days of constipation. No nausea initially, but at day 8 a really bad 6 hours or so of overwhelming nausea. Loperamide (Imodium) did not help. Metoclopramide (Reglan, Maxolon) did.
I was outpatient, we have two bathrooms and one was now solely used by me. No toilet paper, only showering of behinds without soap. Single use of towels all the time, separate for hands which were washed with soap, no antiseptics. Family members at 2 meters distance for 2 weeks. Daily intake of 2 glasses (1 in morning, 1 in evening) of vitamin C rich berry juice.
This scheme took me through 2 weeks of diarrhea without baboon-like behinds, no hospitalisation, temp max 38 C (100.4 F) once for an hour, went to 37.5 C (99.5 F) by lifting off the extra blanket used against the winter cold weather.
I know I was lucky, but I think there is something to learn from this. Blueberry or cranberry juice is rich in vitamin C, which your white blood cells need for their killing of the bacteria that the gut is trying to keep out. Use the juice, as I call it. The juice might contain other stuff, like antiviral flavonoids, that we still have a lot to learn about. So don't go for any empty vitamin tablets. Use the juice.
And this is the time to really use your laundry machines.
Good luck
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Erik2
Re: Diarrhea after ASCT - when does it start?
I think that I developed diarrhea about day +3 or +4. It lasted for 2 days and then I was fine. Nausea started about the same time and lasted for about 2+ months.
Nancy in Phila
Nancy in Phila
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NStewart - Name: Nancy Stewart
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/08
- Age at diagnosis: 60
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