Has anyone NOT gotten sick from the high-does chemo (melphalan) before their stem cell transplant?
Just wondering.
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6 posts
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dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Did you NOT get sick from high-dose melphalan?
I had very little sickness with melphalan. Only one day of nausea, a few days of diarrhea. No mouth sores. The nurses made sure I took the anti-nausea drugs, and they really pushed Ativan. I drank ginger ale as needed and ate a mild diet. I considered myself fortunate to not be very sick.
Good luck.
P.S.: I was out patient and did not see anyone with nausea the 17 days I was there.
Good luck.
P.S.: I was out patient and did not see anyone with nausea the 17 days I was there.
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brandywine - Name: brandywine
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 67
Re: Did you NOT get sick from high-dose melphalan?
I had some consistent nausea if I let the Ativan level in my body get low. If I didn't do that, I was fine. There was some diarrhea but nothing extreme or difficult to deal with in the least. No mouth sores.
Overall, my two weeks in the hospital after the melphalan were easier to handle than a bout of the flu and not even close to as bad as a medium level hangover.
Overall, my two weeks in the hospital after the melphalan were easier to handle than a bout of the flu and not even close to as bad as a medium level hangover.
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Mike F - Name: Mike F
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 18, 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Did you NOT get sick from high-dose melphalan?
Thanks guys. I so hope this is true for dear hubby. I have told him to take nausea meds before you start throwing up. lol If you wait, it is too late. I had chemo for breast cancer some years ago, and I found that to be true after each round of chemo I had.
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dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Did you NOT get sick from high-dose melphalan?
I only had one day of nausea and one bout of loose stools. No mouth sores. I sucked popsicles during infusion and the hospital gave me glutamine packets to mix with water every day and drink. Don't know if all that helped, but I'm not kidding when I say I ate my way through transplant recovery and had no loss of appetite. I found myself channel surfing then ending up watching cooking shows on TV much of the day and hankered for things I wasn't allowed to eat. I remember I always ordered yogurt as part of breakfast and I did try to eat healthy and stay away from sugar and junk.
The hospital where I ate actually had very good desirable food choices (Sodexo was the food service provider) and one could order anything off the "transplant" menu from early morning to early evening. I remember one night they delivered a massive plate of chicken Parmesan with spaghetti and green beans that was excellent with portion enough for two. I ate the whole thing without even a bellyache. Even the nurses were floored at the amount of food I ate.
Despite eating like crazy I didn't gain weight because I walked circles in the room though I had bad neuropathy up arms and legs - that was worst part for me the pain and body aches and neuropathy, probably from the high dose chemo and Neupogen shots everyday. Also, unfortunately all that eating didn't help me engraft. I couldn't get out of the hospital for 4 weeks because my ANC was so low, then sent to apartment across road for 3 weeks until stronger and transfusion free.
Anyhow I was frightened I'd be sick and nauseated and vomiting during ASCT, but the opposite was true. One of the pleasures I had to look forward to being in lockdown was eating all day and I sure did eat .
So one never knows. We brought an electric percolator we had tucked in the attic for morning coffee in the apartment. Coffee was so hot and good we still drink perced rather than go back to drip. You need to be sure your foods are thoroughly cooked and free of harmful bacteria while your counts are low.
Good luck. Don't fear.
The hospital where I ate actually had very good desirable food choices (Sodexo was the food service provider) and one could order anything off the "transplant" menu from early morning to early evening. I remember one night they delivered a massive plate of chicken Parmesan with spaghetti and green beans that was excellent with portion enough for two. I ate the whole thing without even a bellyache. Even the nurses were floored at the amount of food I ate.
Despite eating like crazy I didn't gain weight because I walked circles in the room though I had bad neuropathy up arms and legs - that was worst part for me the pain and body aches and neuropathy, probably from the high dose chemo and Neupogen shots everyday. Also, unfortunately all that eating didn't help me engraft. I couldn't get out of the hospital for 4 weeks because my ANC was so low, then sent to apartment across road for 3 weeks until stronger and transfusion free.
Anyhow I was frightened I'd be sick and nauseated and vomiting during ASCT, but the opposite was true. One of the pleasures I had to look forward to being in lockdown was eating all day and I sure did eat .
So one never knows. We brought an electric percolator we had tucked in the attic for morning coffee in the apartment. Coffee was so hot and good we still drink perced rather than go back to drip. You need to be sure your foods are thoroughly cooked and free of harmful bacteria while your counts are low.
Good luck. Don't fear.
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Melpen - Name: Melissa
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 5, 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 57
Re: Did you NOT get sick from high-dose melphalan?
My husband, whose ASCT was February 4, 2016, had no ill-effects at all! He was given anti-nausea meds and did the ice chewing routine during the chemo. It was all good! The worst thing was he lost most of his hair, but not all.
Good luck!
Good luck!
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Halches - Name: Carol S
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 7/15
- Age at diagnosis: 73
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