My husband has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma and ESRD in October 2015. He also has had 4 cycles of Velcade and dex, and he just ended his first of three cycles with Revlimid added. The doctors at Dartmouth Hitchcock have talked about having an autologous stem cell transplant but haven't said more on that subject. However, it's my understanding that they are planning this for June 2016 if his numbers are where they want them.
I'm new to the boards and wondering what I may need to do before he returns back home. I have heard a few nightmarish things like pack up the whole house and repaint all the walls. Make if free of all dust. Is this true? If anyone can help answer, I'd appreciate it.
If its true, then I'll start that process now.
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Re: Preparing a house for a stem cell transplant patient
Hi Debbie:
In our case, based on reading the same type of stuff that you and talking to people, we did the following. My wife had an autologous stem cell transplant in February of 2015. We are in our early 50's and have four boys in their teens and 20's. We had a couple of small projects in the house and yard that could have been sources of dust. We closed them all up. We had not regularly used a cleaning service, but when my wife was in the hospital, we had a heavy duty team from a service come in, and do the entire house, all the rooms. It was a very thorough cleaning, and we paid maybe double the going rate, but it was not anything special like hospital grade.
Since then, we have been keeping up with it weekly for the past year (and we all love it, most of all my wife, who is sort of a clean freak). We have a dog; in our case, we decided to send it to a friend for one month after my wife came back, though I know other posters have kept their dog or cat.
My wife did not actually get any bad colds for quite a while (this January was the first one). The one thing I would say is to get an indoor exercise machine (bike or treadmill). In the Northeast, in the winter, it was hard to get out, and in other seasons we can have a week straight of mostly rainy weather. Trying to get daily (or at least regular) exercise, even if it starts at a low level, I think is important.
Good luck.
In our case, based on reading the same type of stuff that you and talking to people, we did the following. My wife had an autologous stem cell transplant in February of 2015. We are in our early 50's and have four boys in their teens and 20's. We had a couple of small projects in the house and yard that could have been sources of dust. We closed them all up. We had not regularly used a cleaning service, but when my wife was in the hospital, we had a heavy duty team from a service come in, and do the entire house, all the rooms. It was a very thorough cleaning, and we paid maybe double the going rate, but it was not anything special like hospital grade.
Since then, we have been keeping up with it weekly for the past year (and we all love it, most of all my wife, who is sort of a clean freak). We have a dog; in our case, we decided to send it to a friend for one month after my wife came back, though I know other posters have kept their dog or cat.
My wife did not actually get any bad colds for quite a while (this January was the first one). The one thing I would say is to get an indoor exercise machine (bike or treadmill). In the Northeast, in the winter, it was hard to get out, and in other seasons we can have a week straight of mostly rainy weather. Trying to get daily (or at least regular) exercise, even if it starts at a low level, I think is important.
Good luck.
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JPC - Name: JPC
Re: Preparing a house for a stem cell transplant patient
Hi Debbie,
I guess I'm the other extreme - I didn't do anything to the house. And I am not a neat freak! The doctor told us that very few issues associated with stem cell transplant come from the environment. Most issues are specific to the patient and the health issues he/she may already have.
The only thing I did make a point to be careful about was food. We ate a lot of prepackaged, processed food during EJ's recovery.
Lyn
I guess I'm the other extreme - I didn't do anything to the house. And I am not a neat freak! The doctor told us that very few issues associated with stem cell transplant come from the environment. Most issues are specific to the patient and the health issues he/she may already have.
The only thing I did make a point to be careful about was food. We ate a lot of prepackaged, processed food during EJ's recovery.
Lyn
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Christa's Mom - Name: Christa's Mom
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: September, 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Preparing a house for a stem cell transplant patient
We were in between the last two posts, probably closer to the latter. Our house has mostly hardwood floors, but the family room (where I'd be spending most of my time after the stem cell transplant) has carpeting. I shampooed that carpeting before I went in for the treatment. While I was in the hospital, my wife's best friend came out and helped her do some further cleanup work. That was about it. We have cats, but the doctors indicated that as long as I didn't sleep with them or clean their litterboxes, I would be ok. I had no issues once I got home.
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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: Preparing a house for a stem cell transplant patient
I did a deep cleaning before going into the hospital (dusted, cleaned carpets, etc.) mainly because I knew my family wouldn't have been so thorough (LOL!). I also took my plants to a neighbor's house.
When I came home, we had Clorox wipes stationed around the house and my family was very good about wiping everything constantly (bathrooms, phones, remotes, counters).
I have a dog that slept in my room, but I did not hug her for 8 weeks (that was hard!).
And finally, I had my own section in the refrigerator since they tell you not to share food items for awhile.
You both will have to attend a pre-transplant class where they will explain EVERYTHING to you.
No construction is to be done either, so if you need something done, do it beforehand.
When I came home, we had Clorox wipes stationed around the house and my family was very good about wiping everything constantly (bathrooms, phones, remotes, counters).
I have a dog that slept in my room, but I did not hug her for 8 weeks (that was hard!).
And finally, I had my own section in the refrigerator since they tell you not to share food items for awhile.
You both will have to attend a pre-transplant class where they will explain EVERYTHING to you.
No construction is to be done either, so if you need something done, do it beforehand.
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gardengirl - Name: gardengirl
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Nov. 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 47
Re: Preparing a house for a stem cell transplant patient
Hi Debbie,
I had my stem cell transplant in June 2014. My doctor also told me that there was much more danger of my contracting something from my own body than from anything in my house. The only restrictions I was given were to avoid very crowded places for a certain amount of time after the transplant, not eat food from buffets/salad bars, and generally to maintain good personal hygiene and avoid sick people. I wasn't given any instructions to deep-clean the house or even to avoid my dog, other than to not pick up her poop for a while (and I was too tired post-transplant to walk her, anyway.)
I would wait and see what the transplant team tells you once the time is closer. As others have said, you'll get all the information you could possibly need (or want!) But I think it's safe to say that you won't have to decontaminate the house or pack everything up.
I had my stem cell transplant in June 2014. My doctor also told me that there was much more danger of my contracting something from my own body than from anything in my house. The only restrictions I was given were to avoid very crowded places for a certain amount of time after the transplant, not eat food from buffets/salad bars, and generally to maintain good personal hygiene and avoid sick people. I wasn't given any instructions to deep-clean the house or even to avoid my dog, other than to not pick up her poop for a while (and I was too tired post-transplant to walk her, anyway.)
I would wait and see what the transplant team tells you once the time is closer. As others have said, you'll get all the information you could possibly need (or want!) But I think it's safe to say that you won't have to decontaminate the house or pack everything up.
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Karen - Name: Karen
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 51
Re: Preparing a house for a stem cell transplant patient
Debbie-
I agree with Karen. I did my regular cleaning routine pre and post transplant. Nothing special other than to make sure all cooking utensils were especially clean and that I washed my hands more often than usual. I have cats who came and slept with me again the afternoon that I came home. It took them a while to recognize me because my odor from all of the chemicals that were still in my body was different. I didn't clean litter boxes for about 8 weeks.
I also was told to avoid crowds, sick people, and children who had been immunized recently. So, I went out shopping, to the movies, and to restaurants in the afternoon for about 8 weeks. I went out walking every day even though we had had a couple of blizzards while I was in the hospital and the walks and streets weren't necessarily cleared well. I had my transplant in 2010, the worst winter in Philadelphia ever.
Your transplant hospital will give you a packet of information about what you are, or aren't supposed to do, pre- and post-transplant. They may also have a pre-transplant education class. While in the hospital and after you come home, try to exercise some every day. This can be walking around the hospital unit, riding a stationary bike, doing low-level strengthening exercises, etc. Your transplant hospital's PT dept may have bikes that they can bring to your room while you are there. I know that where I had my transplant the PT dept has acquired more bikes so that people in for transplants and other long-term admissions can have one in their room. In addition, the PT cancer therapists have developed an exercise program for people who are in for transplants, etc. The nurses on the transplant floor also encourage patients to get out of their rooms to walk. They have calculated the distance and number of circuits of the transplant floor that equals a mile.
Don't get too crazy about the transplant yet. You and your husband still have time. You will receive more information from the transplant team when it closer to the time of the actual procedure. I had a relatively easy time of it and was way more anxious and worried than I really needed to be. Easy for me to say now many 6 years post transplant.
All the best to your husband and to you,
Nancy in Phila
I agree with Karen. I did my regular cleaning routine pre and post transplant. Nothing special other than to make sure all cooking utensils were especially clean and that I washed my hands more often than usual. I have cats who came and slept with me again the afternoon that I came home. It took them a while to recognize me because my odor from all of the chemicals that were still in my body was different. I didn't clean litter boxes for about 8 weeks.
I also was told to avoid crowds, sick people, and children who had been immunized recently. So, I went out shopping, to the movies, and to restaurants in the afternoon for about 8 weeks. I went out walking every day even though we had had a couple of blizzards while I was in the hospital and the walks and streets weren't necessarily cleared well. I had my transplant in 2010, the worst winter in Philadelphia ever.
Your transplant hospital will give you a packet of information about what you are, or aren't supposed to do, pre- and post-transplant. They may also have a pre-transplant education class. While in the hospital and after you come home, try to exercise some every day. This can be walking around the hospital unit, riding a stationary bike, doing low-level strengthening exercises, etc. Your transplant hospital's PT dept may have bikes that they can bring to your room while you are there. I know that where I had my transplant the PT dept has acquired more bikes so that people in for transplants and other long-term admissions can have one in their room. In addition, the PT cancer therapists have developed an exercise program for people who are in for transplants, etc. The nurses on the transplant floor also encourage patients to get out of their rooms to walk. They have calculated the distance and number of circuits of the transplant floor that equals a mile.
Don't get too crazy about the transplant yet. You and your husband still have time. You will receive more information from the transplant team when it closer to the time of the actual procedure. I had a relatively easy time of it and was way more anxious and worried than I really needed to be. Easy for me to say now many 6 years post transplant.
All the best to your husband and to you,
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
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