Has anyone had their stem cells harvested and then stored? If so, could you give me the process and what to expect from stomach upset to hair loss?
Thank you!
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Re: Stem cell harvesting and storage - what to expect?
Had 22 million cells collected over 2 days at Hackensack Med Center 6/10
2 weeks of of Neupogen injections given to me by my wife in side of stomach in May 2010.
Side effects some discomfort in chest and hips, transplant specialist told me that feeling was stem cells reacting a very good sign.
Relax on day of transplant. Takes about 4 hrs hook up port to small machine you watch your blood flow out and back in thru tubes. Great experience looks like Teqilla Sunrise, bag is placed in Coleman cooler for storage.
Took 2 days to collect cells very fortunate I was.
First transplant 7/10/10. 7 million cells given to me. Second transplant 7 million given.
6 million still in bank a tremendous feeling to have made it thru you can do it.
Stay Strong!
2 weeks of of Neupogen injections given to me by my wife in side of stomach in May 2010.
Side effects some discomfort in chest and hips, transplant specialist told me that feeling was stem cells reacting a very good sign.
Relax on day of transplant. Takes about 4 hrs hook up port to small machine you watch your blood flow out and back in thru tubes. Great experience looks like Teqilla Sunrise, bag is placed in Coleman cooler for storage.
Took 2 days to collect cells very fortunate I was.
First transplant 7/10/10. 7 million cells given to me. Second transplant 7 million given.
6 million still in bank a tremendous feeling to have made it thru you can do it.
Stay Strong!
Re: Stem cell harvesting and storage - what to expect?
The procedure is fairly simple and is not painful. I had a tunnel catheter installed in the my left chest, as an outpatient operation. Then my wife gave my Neupogen shots twice a day for about ten days.
After 10 days I developed pain in my joints which the doctor said was from the stem cell forcing their way out. He said that was a good sign.
I was then hooked up to a machine thru the tunnel catheter and the stem cells were separated out and the remaining blood was returned to the body. It took 4 days at about 4-5 hours a day to collect about 7 million stem cells. I received half of them back a couple days later. That was over 4 years ago. Good luck.
After 10 days I developed pain in my joints which the doctor said was from the stem cell forcing their way out. He said that was a good sign.
I was then hooked up to a machine thru the tunnel catheter and the stem cells were separated out and the remaining blood was returned to the body. It took 4 days at about 4-5 hours a day to collect about 7 million stem cells. I received half of them back a couple days later. That was over 4 years ago. Good luck.
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Jon49
Re: Stem cell harvesting and storage - what to expect?
I started the process with an infusion of Cytoxan for 1 hour and an infusion of something to protect my bladder from the Cytoxan for 24 hours. I had a little nausea the next morning that was resolved with anti-nausea medication. Then 10 days of Neupogen injections in the abdomen to help to mobilize the stem cells. On the day of the harvesting, I first had a central line placed in the right side of my chest. Then I went to the pharesis center where I was hooked up to a machine that filtered out the stem cells from my blood and replaced the remaining blood. That took 4 hours and enough cells were collected for 2 transplants.
The side effects that I had were:
1. I began to lose my hair about 10 days after the Cytoxan.
2. Achy bones and joints for 2 days prior to stem cell collection. I had been warned about this ahead of time and told it was a good sign that the stem cells were leaving the bone marrow. I took Acetaminophen for the discomfort and it helped.
3. A vibration sensation when the harvesting began. The nurse had warned me that this might happen. When it did she gave me some TUMS to try to relieve it. She said that it was from calcium being leached from the bones. This didn't help so she gave me a calcium infusion for the rest of the time that the harvesting took. This stopped the vibration almost immediately.
Not a bad process at all. I was most concerned about doing the Neupogen injections, but had no problems doing them myself. My cats made sure that I did them correctly by sitting on the table opposite from me and keeping an eye on me while I did the injection each day.
Nancy in Phila
The side effects that I had were:
1. I began to lose my hair about 10 days after the Cytoxan.
2. Achy bones and joints for 2 days prior to stem cell collection. I had been warned about this ahead of time and told it was a good sign that the stem cells were leaving the bone marrow. I took Acetaminophen for the discomfort and it helped.
3. A vibration sensation when the harvesting began. The nurse had warned me that this might happen. When it did she gave me some TUMS to try to relieve it. She said that it was from calcium being leached from the bones. This didn't help so she gave me a calcium infusion for the rest of the time that the harvesting took. This stopped the vibration almost immediately.
Not a bad process at all. I was most concerned about doing the Neupogen injections, but had no problems doing them myself. My cats made sure that I did them correctly by sitting on the table opposite from me and keeping an eye on me while I did the injection each day.
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: Stem cell harvesting and storage - what to expect?
"Christa's Mom", a person on this forum, suggested taking Claritin for the neupogen bone pain. I believe that this really helped me. I hadn't taken any Claritin yet by day 5 of the neupogen. I suddenly had very bad throbbing pain in my bones at 6pm that night.. I took some Tylenol and a Claritin. By the next afternoon, I had no more pain. About 3 days later, I woke up with throbbing in my ears/head. I realized that I had forgotten the Claritin that day so I took one and the throbbing stopped within 2 hours. I took the Claritin for the rest of my Neupogen days plus a couple more days and had no more problems.
Check with your doctor before taking any meds. My doctor said the Claritin was fine to take and that it helped some people. If you get the okay to take it, I think it's better to start taking it on Day1. I used the regular 24 hour Claritin and not the Claritin D.
BTW, I harvested over 10 million stem cells in 6 hours.
Check with your doctor before taking any meds. My doctor said the Claritin was fine to take and that it helped some people. If you get the okay to take it, I think it's better to start taking it on Day1. I used the regular 24 hour Claritin and not the Claritin D.
BTW, I harvested over 10 million stem cells in 6 hours.
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Joy - Name: Joy
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 52
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