Hi,
I have been following the Beacon since my husband was told he had multiple myeloma. Thank you so much for sharing, it's been a huge help.
My question is: Has anyone used fasting to help with side effects of high-dose chemo for stem cell collection and transplant?
Forums
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Ellen w - Name: Ellen
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: January 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 52
Re: High-dose chemo and fasting
If you are referring to the high dose chemo you receive FOR the stem cell transplant, he will be fasting (for the most part) whether he wants to or not. I had zero appetite shortly after receiving the melphalan along with a lot of nausea. They have good medications to control the nausea, but it really didn't help my appetite.
Also, for what it's worth, they want you to eat. They won't try to force you to, but they do want you to (at least in my case).
Also, for what it's worth, they want you to eat. They won't try to force you to, but they do want you to (at least in my case).
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Blackbird - Name: Rick Crow
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb, 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: High-dose chemo and fasting
According to the doctor in Canada, high-dose cyclophosphamide is used before stem cell collection. She said it was standard. Is it normal elsewhere?
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Ellen w - Name: Ellen
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: January 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 52
Re: High-dose chemo and fasting
Prior to my stem cell collection I gave myself shots of neupogen to stimulate stem cell production for the collection.
My induction chemo (prior to the stem cell collection) consisted of Velcade and dex. They added 25 mg Revlimid towards the end when my numbers started to plateau.
Nothing that I was given was consider "high dose" until I received the melphalan for the sct.
My induction chemo (prior to the stem cell collection) consisted of Velcade and dex. They added 25 mg Revlimid towards the end when my numbers started to plateau.
Nothing that I was given was consider "high dose" until I received the melphalan for the sct.
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Blackbird - Name: Rick Crow
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb, 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: High-dose chemo and fasting
You won't have to worry about fasting after the transplant as you will be so nauseous that you won't want to eat for months. Popsicles help with the nausea.
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Joneman
Re: High-dose chemo and fasting
I agree that the others; fasting during a stem cell transplant is basically involuntary. I wouldn't recommend fasting any more than comes naturally. It is important to eat as much as possible for at least two reasons: calories are needed to rebuild the tissues destroyed by the chemo and not eating makes you much weaker and makes recovery longer and harder. Whenever I didn't eat a meal the kitchen sent up a bottle of Ensure, a protein drink.
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Ginny - Name: Ginny
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self and four friends
- When were you/they diagnosed?: October, 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 62
Re: High-dose chemo and fasting
Forgot to say ... I had fairly high-dose cyclophosphamide before my cell harvesting, then high-dose melphalan before the transplant.
Good luck!
Ginny
Good luck!
Ginny
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Ginny - Name: Ginny
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self and four friends
- When were you/they diagnosed?: October, 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 62
Re: High-dose chemo and fasting
I had my stem cell transplant in 2010 and will be back on chemo next month. In the hospital they gave me 2 different anti-nausea drugs and they worked. When I got home, I had some pills that I hardly needed. I did find that even the angel hair pasta that I started eating had a metallic taste. It was suggested that I use plastic knives and forks. That did the trick.
In the hospital, I had almost no desire to eat, not from the nausea but from fatigue. Nausea should not be a problem in the hospital. I got one drug and about an hour later a different one, when needed, and it worked great. I was very tired from not eating and that can be a problem. I felt it important to eat when I could to keep my strength.
Best of luck and I hope this helps.
In the hospital, I had almost no desire to eat, not from the nausea but from fatigue. Nausea should not be a problem in the hospital. I got one drug and about an hour later a different one, when needed, and it worked great. I was very tired from not eating and that can be a problem. I felt it important to eat when I could to keep my strength.
Best of luck and I hope this helps.
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stinky
Re: High-dose chemo and fasting
At Mayo Rochester after a SCT, one has a daily appointment with a nutritionist who checks a booklet in which one keeps track of food and calories consumed each day. Since I never felt like eating, I lived on root beer floats at the hospital (which taste just as they should) and strawberry milkshakes, which my husband prepared every evening. Each tasteless bite of any other food (soup, yogurt, oatmeal) had to be forced down. I now hate even the smell of Ensure. Nearly fasting, but not my choice!
In spite of the loss of appetite and taste, I was never nauseated and took no medicine to combat it. In the final analysis, I was pleased with my weight loss and maintained it for two years until the next treatment, which included dex.
In spite of the loss of appetite and taste, I was never nauseated and took no medicine to combat it. In the final analysis, I was pleased with my weight loss and maintained it for two years until the next treatment, which included dex.
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Barbarah - Name: Barbarah
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 11-2008
- Age at diagnosis: 66
Re: High-dose chemo and fasting
My wife had nausea during her transplant. We finally figured out that it was mostly caused by the anti-fungal agent. Too bad no one figured that out and gave her an alternative.
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Robert spano
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