I will have an autologous stem cell transplant in the next few weeks. I have been told I will be in the hospital for a day or so, and also told up to 3 weeks.
How long will the hospital stay actually be?
My doctor hasn't given me a timeframe yet, and I don't see him for another fortnight. Two other doctors at the hospital have given me this information. Unfortunately I am fast finding out it sometimes depends on what doctor you talk to.
Cheers,
Greg
Forums
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GregSydney - Name: Greg
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 52
Re: Length of hospital stay for a stem cell transplant?
Hi Greg,
Just had one last year at Royal Prince Albert and I think I was in there for 12-13 days after the infusion. Total all up was 16 days. I was pushing very hard to get out the last day with one doctor suggesting I stay a bit longer, but managed to talk them around as I was keen to get home.
The first couple of days I was able to get out and about a bit, but the day after the stem cells were infused I was pretty much confined to the ward.
I was told up to 3 weeks as well when in there initially, just depends how lucky you are not to get any infections etc.
John
Just had one last year at Royal Prince Albert and I think I was in there for 12-13 days after the infusion. Total all up was 16 days. I was pushing very hard to get out the last day with one doctor suggesting I stay a bit longer, but managed to talk them around as I was keen to get home.
The first couple of days I was able to get out and about a bit, but the day after the stem cells were infused I was pretty much confined to the ward.
I was told up to 3 weeks as well when in there initially, just depends how lucky you are not to get any infections etc.
John
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JohnHamill - Name: John Hamill
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 50
Re: Length of hospital stay for a stem cell transplant?
My husband was in for three days for chemo and infusion of stem cells. And then landed back in with fever and mild engraftment syndrome for four more days when his stem cells began to engraft, which is not uncommon.
We did have to stay within 30 minutes of the hospital for the first three weeks so we relocated to a motel nearby as we live an hour away.
Good luck to you.
We did have to stay within 30 minutes of the hospital for the first three weeks so we relocated to a motel nearby as we live an hour away.
Good luck to you.
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dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Length of hospital stay for a stem cell transplant?
It just depends on when your blood counts recover. I was in for 17 days, not because I was in bad shape (for a transplant patient), but that's how long it took for my counts to get to the point where I could be released.
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DallasGG - Name: Kent
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 6/20/2013
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Length of hospital stay for a stem cell transplant?
My experience was similar to Kent's. I didn't have any significant problems during the process, but they wouldn't let me out until my blood counts were back up. Fifteen days total for me from start to finish.
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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: Length of hospital stay for a stem cell transplant?
Hi Greg,
It sounds like your doctors have not yet decided whether your transplant should be "inpatient" or (mostly) "outpatient".
When a transplant is done inpatient, the patient stays in the hospital 100 percent of the time for at least two weeks.
When a transplant is done outpatient, the patient is not fully admitted to the hospital for more than a couple of days, if at all, but goes to the hospital regularly for testing, medication, and other care that is necessary. An outpatient transplant is only possible, however, if the patient is able to stay in the general vicinity of the transplant center for 2-3 weeks after the treatment with high-dose melphalan.
Some centers do only inpatient transplants. Some do mostly outpatient transplants, although I think those centers still do some transplants on a completely inpatient basis.
It sounds like your doctors have not yet decided whether your transplant should be "inpatient" or (mostly) "outpatient".
When a transplant is done inpatient, the patient stays in the hospital 100 percent of the time for at least two weeks.
When a transplant is done outpatient, the patient is not fully admitted to the hospital for more than a couple of days, if at all, but goes to the hospital regularly for testing, medication, and other care that is necessary. An outpatient transplant is only possible, however, if the patient is able to stay in the general vicinity of the transplant center for 2-3 weeks after the treatment with high-dose melphalan.
Some centers do only inpatient transplants. Some do mostly outpatient transplants, although I think those centers still do some transplants on a completely inpatient basis.
Re: Length of hospital stay for a stem cell transplant?
Hi Greg:
I agree with MikeF, and DallasGG, I was inpatient – that's just the way my oncologist and facility prefer. I lived closer than 30 minutes and they wouldn't let me stay at home. I couldn't leave until my counts were acceptable, and for me that was 12 days.
Best of luck to you.
Kathleen
I agree with MikeF, and DallasGG, I was inpatient – that's just the way my oncologist and facility prefer. I lived closer than 30 minutes and they wouldn't let me stay at home. I couldn't leave until my counts were acceptable, and for me that was 12 days.
Best of luck to you.
Kathleen
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kshornb - Name: kshornber
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 52
Re: Length of hospital stay for a stem cell transplant?
Hi Greg,
Greetings from the states. My husband is now 53 and celebrated his birthday 19 days after his stem cell transplant here in San Francisco.
Our transplant in June was all outpatient and we were lucky to do it from our home. From chemo infusion to PICC line out was 15 days, or "Day +13" as the transplant doctors define it. All the days before your stem cells are called "Day Minus". We went to the infusion center for the melphalan on Wednesday (Day -2), the stem cells on Friday (Day 0), and then started daily visits for IV fluids and labs the following Monday (Day +3), spending about 3 hours at the clinic. He required one platelet transfusion but no RBCs.
Inpatient transplants here follow the same course; so 14-21 days total inpatient days if your center goes that route.
Good luck to you. My husband was very tired and had some GI issues but the transplant was more mental for us both than anything else. Even now at day 75 our memories of it are that it was less work and anguish than our first chemotherapy cycle, when we were both overwhelmed.
Rick
Greetings from the states. My husband is now 53 and celebrated his birthday 19 days after his stem cell transplant here in San Francisco.
Our transplant in June was all outpatient and we were lucky to do it from our home. From chemo infusion to PICC line out was 15 days, or "Day +13" as the transplant doctors define it. All the days before your stem cells are called "Day Minus". We went to the infusion center for the melphalan on Wednesday (Day -2), the stem cells on Friday (Day 0), and then started daily visits for IV fluids and labs the following Monday (Day +3), spending about 3 hours at the clinic. He required one platelet transfusion but no RBCs.
Inpatient transplants here follow the same course; so 14-21 days total inpatient days if your center goes that route.
Good luck to you. My husband was very tired and had some GI issues but the transplant was more mental for us both than anything else. Even now at day 75 our memories of it are that it was less work and anguish than our first chemotherapy cycle, when we were both overwhelmed.
Rick
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rick - Name: rick
- Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: nov 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 50
Re: Length of hospital stay for a stem cell transplant?
My center did inpatient transplants and I was I the hospital for 18 days. I had a lot of nausea problems so was glad I didn't have to come to center each day, I just didn't have the energy. I also had to stay in the area an additional 19 days to get my potsassium levels up. I was receiving potassium every day at hospital and every day of clinic. The nausea also made me get a lot of fluids. No anti nausea meds seemed to work even though they were giving them on schedule I was taking four different ones. But all in all the transplant wss no bad. Just getting my energy level back. Good luck on your transplant. Keep a positive attitude.
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Music box lady - Name: Margie
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Length of hospital stay for a stem cell transplant?
I'm at Day+36, so everything is fresh. I did inpatient transplant in San Francisco and was hospitalized exactly 14 days. They told me anywhere from 2-3 weeks, so I was happy with 2.
In retrospect, I'm glad we choose inpatient simply because 6 hours after the melphalan I was horribly nauseated. We live about an hour away and the thought of going in each day with that level of nausea confirmed my decision. I also needed multiple IV medications for the nausea plus daily potassium, magnesium, and fluids. Luckily, I only needed 2 units of platelets. It would have been tough to be in a car that much when not feeling well.
Still have intermittent nausea, but otherwise feeling great. Walking 2.0-2.5 miles each day, walking helps a lot! Good luck to you, LP
In retrospect, I'm glad we choose inpatient simply because 6 hours after the melphalan I was horribly nauseated. We live about an hour away and the thought of going in each day with that level of nausea confirmed my decision. I also needed multiple IV medications for the nausea plus daily potassium, magnesium, and fluids. Luckily, I only needed 2 units of platelets. It would have been tough to be in a car that much when not feeling well.
Still have intermittent nausea, but otherwise feeling great. Walking 2.0-2.5 miles each day, walking helps a lot! Good luck to you, LP
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loveparis - Name: loveparis
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 61
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