This is my first post on this site. My wife and I are almost 6 months into our myeloma journey and have found a lot of information and comfort here at the Beacon.
We checked in yesterday to Sloan Kettering in New York City for our autologous stem cell transplant. Since we have 3 grade school level children, we decided to do inpatient (outpatient option required that I be available 24/7). Liz, my wife, had a cold last week, so we had to postpone the start date a week.
Liz received her melphalan last night at midnight along with a steroid that kept her up all night. I left at 1:30 a.m. to get home (90 minute drive) so I could be there in the morning to get the kids off to school.
Today has been uneventful. Liz has been feeling great. We walked around the halls tethered to her IV drip tree (14 laps = 1 mile). We are currently waiting to move to our permanent room on the 14th floor.
Tomorrow at 11 a.m. Liz will receive approximately 4 million of the 25 million stem cells they harvested a few weeks ago. We have been told it is a fairly uneventful procedure that takes all of 5 minutes to complete.
So far so good. It's the days that lie ahead that we are most concerned with.
I will post an update tomorrow (Day 0) and report on the transplant.
Forums
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Thaler - Name: David Thaler
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Wife
- When were you/they diagnosed?: January 12th 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 49
Re: Our Transplant Journey (Sloan Kettering Inpatient)
Sending your wife lots of love for a smooth transplant and recovery. Hopefully you and your children will weather the coming days and weeks of her recovery without too much difficulty.
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
Re: Our Transplant Journey (Sloan Kettering Inpatient)
To David, Liz, and Family:
Best of luck to you both and your children on getting through your ordeal together. I supported my wife going through this in the same center in February. We have 4 kids, but they are a little older than yours (college age). The entire staff their was great, including all the support folks, like the steward who served the food. Not only professional, but friendly and supportive. We hope Liz can "skate" through it, as they say. Best of Luck.
Best of luck to you both and your children on getting through your ordeal together. I supported my wife going through this in the same center in February. We have 4 kids, but they are a little older than yours (college age). The entire staff their was great, including all the support folks, like the steward who served the food. Not only professional, but friendly and supportive. We hope Liz can "skate" through it, as they say. Best of Luck.
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JPC - Name: JPC
Re: Our Transplant Journey (Sloan Kettering Inpatient)
Thanks for your posting, David. I hope your wife's transplant goes as smoothly as possible and that you and the rest of the family also hold up well during it.
Re: Our Transplant Journey (Sloan Kettering Inpatient)
Quick update.
Liz had her transplant at 11 a.m. Everything went as planned and she is feeling good. A bit tired from the Benadryl and Ativan. Definitely smelled and tasted the creamed corn.
She is sleeping now after being serenaded off to sleep by the lovely staff music therapist. We plan on walking a couple of miles after lunch.
Liz had her transplant at 11 a.m. Everything went as planned and she is feeling good. A bit tired from the Benadryl and Ativan. Definitely smelled and tasted the creamed corn.
She is sleeping now after being serenaded off to sleep by the lovely staff music therapist. We plan on walking a couple of miles after lunch.
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Thaler - Name: David Thaler
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Wife
- When were you/they diagnosed?: January 12th 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 49
Re: Our Transplant Journey (Sloan Kettering Inpatient)
We are now well into Day +3 and so far so good. Liz has been feeling very good. Her counts have not dropped yet, so we are still anticipating a bumpy road ahead. We are walking 2 miles a day and eating less than normal, but ok.
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Thaler - Name: David Thaler
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Wife
- When were you/they diagnosed?: January 12th 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 49
Re: Our Transplant Journey (Sloan Kettering Inpatient)
Dear David,
Having just gone through an ASCT, I was the beneficiary of so many wonderful people sharing prayers and thoughts with me.
I will keep you, your wife and family in my prayers for a speedy engraftment and recovery process so she can go back home. That is the one thing that kept me going, envisioning me in ruby slippers, clicking my heels together and saying that there is no place like home.
Denise
Having just gone through an ASCT, I was the beneficiary of so many wonderful people sharing prayers and thoughts with me.
I will keep you, your wife and family in my prayers for a speedy engraftment and recovery process so she can go back home. That is the one thing that kept me going, envisioning me in ruby slippers, clicking my heels together and saying that there is no place like home.
Denise
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computerteacher - Name: Computer Teacher
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November/December 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Our Transplant Journey (Sloan Kettering Inpatient)
Denise-
I like your vision of the ruby slippers and "no place like home". Mine was cell dancing. I asked people to do cell dances for me so that my numbers would begin to climb and climb quickly. The day after I put out the request, not only had my numbers begun to climb from zero, but they climbed in a dramatic jump.
We all need our little mantras, prayers, positive energy, cell dancing, etc, to go through the ASCT, or allo, with our emotions intact. Every little bit helps us survive and thrive again.
Nancy in Phila
I like your vision of the ruby slippers and "no place like home". Mine was cell dancing. I asked people to do cell dances for me so that my numbers would begin to climb and climb quickly. The day after I put out the request, not only had my numbers begun to climb from zero, but they climbed in a dramatic jump.
We all need our little mantras, prayers, positive energy, cell dancing, etc, to go through the ASCT, or allo, with our emotions intact. Every little bit helps us survive and thrive again.
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
Re: Our Transplant Journey (Sloan Kettering Inpatient)
Thank you all for your kind words. Liz's numbers have just dropped to zero; it's day six.
She has felt good so far. Definitely feeling nervous about germs and keeping them away. Now that she can't leave the room, she is getting a little depressed, but all in all an uneventful journey so far.
She has felt good so far. Definitely feeling nervous about germs and keeping them away. Now that she can't leave the room, she is getting a little depressed, but all in all an uneventful journey so far.
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Thaler - Name: David Thaler
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Wife
- When were you/they diagnosed?: January 12th 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 49
Re: Our Transplant Journey (Sloan Kettering Inpatient)
Hi David,
I second everything JPC said. I had my ASCT at MSKCC in May 2013. Everyone there was great and really on top of things!
Your wife is in probably the roughest stretch of the entire process right now. It's tough being locked up in the room, but things will get better.
Best wishes to you, your wife, and family for a smooth recovery from the SCT and for the treatment to work well against your wife's multiple myeloma.
Mike
I second everything JPC said. I had my ASCT at MSKCC in May 2013. Everyone there was great and really on top of things!
Your wife is in probably the roughest stretch of the entire process right now. It's tough being locked up in the room, but things will get better.
Best wishes to you, your wife, and family for a smooth recovery from the SCT and for the treatment to work well against your wife's multiple myeloma.
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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