[DebbieJ54]

Outpatient stem cell transplants and stairs

by DebbieJ54 on Sat Feb 13, 2016 7:51 am

I will be undergoing an outpatient stem cell transplant next week. I am wondering if anyone had any troubles negotiating stairs when neutropenic? I will have to go down and up them at least once each day to go to the day hospital. I am very fit otherwise, but wonder about the level of fatigue and if this will be an issue.

[Tracy J]

Re: Outpatient stem cell transplants and stairs

by Tracy J on Sat Feb 13, 2016 9:39 am

Hi there! It's possible you will have difficulty. It's really hard to tell specifically how a person will do. I know several people who had an easier time than I did. But I was 40 and very fit at my auto stem cell transplant in 2012. At my nadir, there were about two days I really needed a wheelchair. The other days I was fatigued, but I could negotiate stairs fine. I might have needed to stop at the top to catch my breath. Keep in mind you might be off balance too. Falling down stairs while your platelets are nil could spell absolute disaster, as in massive brain bleeding. You will have someone with you all the time to help, right?

By the way, I recovered completely. In fact, last summer I hiked a 4,000 foot mountain!!

[Nancy Shamanna]

Re: Outpatient stem cell transplants and stairs

by Nancy Shamanna on Sat Feb 13, 2016 10:13 am

Hi DebbieJ54, i agree with Tracy that you should have someone with you when going to and from your outpatient clinic for a stem cell transplant. I was fortunate to have family members with me every time we went to an appointment there. There were concrete stairs in the parking lot we parked at and I used a walking stick, or even leaned on a walker. (Had to ask for help folding the walker and bringing it up the stairs though.) I was recovering from compression fractures in my back also at that time. Is there an elevator that you could use?

For people who did not have a friend or family member to take them to the clinic, there is a volunteer driver program at our cancer centre. The volunteers would also help to take the patient in to their appointment. A patient was not allowed to drive themself, call a cab, or take the bus on their own to and from appointments at the outpatient bone marrow clinic.

Hope that helps!

[goldmine848]

Re: Outpatient stem cell transplants and stairs

by goldmine848 on Sat Feb 13, 2016 10:43 am

I have a fairly long staircase in my house and did an outpatient transplant. I had no issues with the stairs.

[DebbieJ54]

Re: Outpatient stem cell transplants and stairs

by DebbieJ54 on Sat Feb 13, 2016 11:15 am

Thank you so much for your input! I have a long staircase at my house, and our bedroom is upstairs. There is a landing half-way up, so I could rest there. And my husband will be here to help me up and down the stairs. I hadn't really thought about this before, but as time gets closer, I realized that during my low-point, this could be an issue.

[JPC]

Re: Outpatient stem cell transplants and stairs

by JPC on Sat Feb 13, 2016 3:42 pm

Hello Debbie:

I think there are several issues that could pose a problem. There will be a level of fatigue with the stem cell transplant. However, if you do not have bad GI issues, if you stay hydrated, if you are able to maintain at least a minimal caloric input, and you are going in fit, then in my view it would most likely be OK to slowly do a fight of stairs, even on the days of the lowest counts. If you get a fever (not uncommon), then you will probably be admitted, and be in bed until the fever passes. I hope you "skate" through it. Good luck.

[cdnirene]

Re: Outpatient stem cell transplants and stairs

by cdnirene on Sat Feb 13, 2016 4:42 pm

I was hospitalized because of balance / falling issues several months ago. Before I left the hospital, I had a session with the occupational therapist which included practicing the safest way to go up stairs. Grasp the railing with both hands. Bring one foot up to the next stair. Then raise your second foot to join the first foot on the same stair. Repeat. Give it a try now.

[CabinGirl]

Re: Outpatient stem cell transplants and stairs

by CabinGirl on Sat Feb 13, 2016 8:06 pm

I did my transplant as an outpatient and walked between hospital and hotel each day and sometimes twice a day. I was in pretty good shape before my transplant. However, during the days where your levels bottom out, you will be very fatigued, possibly light-headed, nauseous, and maybe even have labored breathing since you should be wearing a mask. Stairs could certainly pose a problem. On the days where I was the weakest, I used a wheelchair (mostly I used it as a walker where I slowly pushed it). However, there were a couple instances where I actually had to sit down in it because I was too weak to continue.

Each of us is different, but you may wish to possibly find an alternative to the stairs on the days where you will be at your weakest point. Best of luck to you.

[NStewart]

Re: Outpatient stem cell transplants and stairs

by NStewart on Tue Feb 16, 2016 4:49 pm

Debbie-

Since you have a landing on your stairs, try putting a chair there so that you can rest 1/2 way up. I was inpatient for my transplant, but I walked the halls a few times a day every day while in the hospital. When my numbers bottomed out, I was much more tired and only was able to do one circuit of the floor for 2-3 days. I know this is a lot less demanding than managing stairs, but it can give you an idea of fatigue levels.

Remember that just going to and from the hospital every day is going to be fatiguing on its own.

All the best to you,
Nancy in Phila