Hi everyone,
Following 4 rounds of Revlimid, Velcade, and dexamethasone (RVD), I received an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) in August and have been very itchy ever since, and have noticed a slight rash, mostly on my neck arms an legs.
I am awaiting my day 100 follow up appointment with my multiple myeloma specialist soon. The only meds I've been on since the ASCT are acyclovir and Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim). I first just assumed the itchiness was from my hair starting to grow back, but it seems to be not going away.
Has anyone experienced any thing like this? If so, what helped?
Thanks in advance,
Larry
Forums
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Larmo222 - Name: Larry M
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: February, 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Itchiness and slight rash following ASCT?
Larry,
I'm 9 months post-transplant and on maintenance Revlimid. I take the same meds as you plus additional for bone damage. I'm fair skinned and had natural drying skin in the winter months but it has been exacerbated by what I believe is the daily Revlimid.
I place Gold Bond body power on my skin after showering and Aveeno lotion throughout the day.
Hope this helped!
Kully
I'm 9 months post-transplant and on maintenance Revlimid. I take the same meds as you plus additional for bone damage. I'm fair skinned and had natural drying skin in the winter months but it has been exacerbated by what I believe is the daily Revlimid.
I place Gold Bond body power on my skin after showering and Aveeno lotion throughout the day.
Hope this helped!
Kully
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kullybunnny1 - Name: Kully
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: August 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 48
Re: Itchiness and slight rash following ASCT?
Hi Larry,
Sorry to hear about the itchiness you're experiencing.
It sounds like something that has been discussed here in the forum before as either "engraftment syndrome" or a form of graft versus host disease after an auto transplant. Here are two forum discussions where the topic has come up:
"Engraftment syndrome," Beacon forum thread started Apr 22, 2011.
"Getting hit with a two ton brick," Beacon forum thread started Oct 6, 2014.
Hope that helps a bit and that you're able to figure out a solution to the problem soon! Let us know how things go.
Sorry to hear about the itchiness you're experiencing.
It sounds like something that has been discussed here in the forum before as either "engraftment syndrome" or a form of graft versus host disease after an auto transplant. Here are two forum discussions where the topic has come up:
"Engraftment syndrome," Beacon forum thread started Apr 22, 2011.
"Getting hit with a two ton brick," Beacon forum thread started Oct 6, 2014.
Hope that helps a bit and that you're able to figure out a solution to the problem soon! Let us know how things go.
Re: Itchiness and slight rash following ASCT?
Bactrim can cause a rash. You would need to discuss this with your doctor, but you could consider holding the drug to see if the rash goes away.
Another consideration (although this is extremely rare) is that some patients undergoing autologous transplantation may develop a mild form of what looks like graft versus host disease (a complication only thought to arise from allogeneic [donor] transplantation). Again, this would be very very uncommon.
Another consideration (although this is extremely rare) is that some patients undergoing autologous transplantation may develop a mild form of what looks like graft versus host disease (a complication only thought to arise from allogeneic [donor] transplantation). Again, this would be very very uncommon.
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Dr. Jason Valent - Name: Jason Valent, M.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
Re: Itchiness and slight rash following ASCT?
My husband had a pretty significant rash pop up several weeks after his autologous transplant. It began on his back, then on to his neck, chest, and face. It was moderately itchy, and the bumps looked similar to acne. He saw a local dermatologist and then a Mayo dermatologist when he was back for his 100 day visit. A punch biopsy was performed. No definite cause could be found.
The dermatologists felt it was some type of graft vs. host response. Several meds were tried. None really helped. My husband was very careful to use mild, non scented soaps, deodorant, etc. It finally burned itself out after about a year. He felt pretty good pretty quickly after his transplant. He found the rash to be the hardest part of the post transplant recovery.
The dermatologists felt it was some type of graft vs. host response. Several meds were tried. None really helped. My husband was very careful to use mild, non scented soaps, deodorant, etc. It finally burned itself out after about a year. He felt pretty good pretty quickly after his transplant. He found the rash to be the hardest part of the post transplant recovery.
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rumnting - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 4/9/11
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Itchiness and slight rash following ASCT?
Thanks everyone.
I will certainly bring this up at my day 100 appointment. next week..
I will certainly bring this up at my day 100 appointment. next week..
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Larmo222 - Name: Larry M
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: February, 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Itchiness and slight rash following ASCT?
I had itchiness all over my body, but no visible rash after my auto SCT. It started just as I was getting out of the hospital around day +25 and lasted for 2 or 3 weeks. My oncologist eventually gave me a prescription for an anti-histamine that helped.
It was a drag to have this problem crop up just when it seemed the worst was behind me. But I was fortunate that it didn't last longer. Good luck!
Mike
It was a drag to have this problem crop up just when it seemed the worst was behind me. But I was fortunate that it didn't last longer. Good luck!
Mike
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mikeb - Name: mikeb
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009 (MGUS at that time)
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Itchiness and slight rash following ASCT?
Hi Larry,
I too was itchy after my SCT. I found relief by having oil baths (rice bran oil) and using a loofa on affected areas. The oil moisturized and the loofa eased the itching (use a coarse loofa).
I did get a rash from Bactrim, turns out I'm allergic to it. But the rash from that was like hives and very itchy also.
Hope that helps.
Vicki
I too was itchy after my SCT. I found relief by having oil baths (rice bran oil) and using a loofa on affected areas. The oil moisturized and the loofa eased the itching (use a coarse loofa).
I did get a rash from Bactrim, turns out I'm allergic to it. But the rash from that was like hives and very itchy also.
Hope that helps.
Vicki
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vicstir - Name: Vic
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: October 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 39
Re: Itchiness and slight rash following ASCT?
I know this is an old thread, but I am currently 50 days post transplant and I have been struggling since day 14 with a rash / hives that itch and are primarily on my face and neck.
My transplant oncologist has stated he does not believe it is transplant-related and told me to see a dermatologist. The dermatologist determined it was seborrhea dermatitis. He prescribed a two-week round of doxycycline with a daily anti-fungal shampoo wash and twice a day topical steroid. I am currently 10 days into the treatment and have seen little to no improvement.
Has anyone successfully treated this post-transplant rash, or is time the only salvation?
My transplant oncologist has stated he does not believe it is transplant-related and told me to see a dermatologist. The dermatologist determined it was seborrhea dermatitis. He prescribed a two-week round of doxycycline with a daily anti-fungal shampoo wash and twice a day topical steroid. I am currently 10 days into the treatment and have seen little to no improvement.
Has anyone successfully treated this post-transplant rash, or is time the only salvation?
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KLD
Re: Itchiness and slight rash following ASCT?
Hi KLD,
I can sympathize with you! I had the same problem. Just when you think you are coming out of the woods with the SCT, it's super discouraging to get hit with itchiness.
A prescription anti-histamine helped me get past the itchiness. I don't recall exactly which anti-histamine it was though.
Good luck!
Mike
I can sympathize with you! I had the same problem. Just when you think you are coming out of the woods with the SCT, it's super discouraging to get hit with itchiness.
A prescription anti-histamine helped me get past the itchiness. I don't recall exactly which anti-histamine it was though.
Good luck!
Mike
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mikeb - Name: mikeb
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009 (MGUS at that time)
- Age at diagnosis: 55
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