What did you all use for the pain?
It was not morphine, but something close to that. Not an extreme dose, but sufficient.
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Re: What to expect during stem cell harvest / collection?
Dragon62 asked:
It was not morphine, but something close to that. Not an extreme dose, but sufficient.
It was not morphine, but something close to that. Not an extreme dose, but sufficient.
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Lev - Name: Lev
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 57
Re: What to expect during stem cell harvest / collection?
I had my collection about 3 weeks ago.
Got chest catheter installed
Then overnight in hospital for IV of Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide) and etoposide
Then started Neupogen shots (which I did for 10 days)
and 3 days of dex after Cytoxan
and a 4 day round of antibiotics
Stomach was fairly messed up after Cytoxan / etoposide. Little appetite, mild nausea. Didn't take a lot of the anti-nausea meds though, but drank lots of fresh ginger tea. Lost a few pounds, but quickly gained it back.
After 4 days on Neupogen I did have the bone pain. Did take the pain killers for a couple of days. Neupogen is a hormone, and it was making my whole body feel quite weird and achy, and my mind was a bit weird like when I am on dex. Neupogen gave me headaches which I took Tylenol for.
I was really glad when I was done. Harvest was very successful though - 13.2 million stem cells in 2 days!
So take it easy and don't expect to be too productive during that 2 week period. You will be very tired from quick changing blood levels.
My hair started falling out after about 12 days after Cytoxan, so I had it shaved off.
Good luck!
RT
Wishing peace to all suffering from myeloma and its pharmaceutical interventions
Got chest catheter installed
Then overnight in hospital for IV of Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide) and etoposide
Then started Neupogen shots (which I did for 10 days)
and 3 days of dex after Cytoxan
and a 4 day round of antibiotics
Stomach was fairly messed up after Cytoxan / etoposide. Little appetite, mild nausea. Didn't take a lot of the anti-nausea meds though, but drank lots of fresh ginger tea. Lost a few pounds, but quickly gained it back.
After 4 days on Neupogen I did have the bone pain. Did take the pain killers for a couple of days. Neupogen is a hormone, and it was making my whole body feel quite weird and achy, and my mind was a bit weird like when I am on dex. Neupogen gave me headaches which I took Tylenol for.
I was really glad when I was done. Harvest was very successful though - 13.2 million stem cells in 2 days!
So take it easy and don't expect to be too productive during that 2 week period. You will be very tired from quick changing blood levels.
My hair started falling out after about 12 days after Cytoxan, so I had it shaved off.
Good luck!
RT
Wishing peace to all suffering from myeloma and its pharmaceutical interventions
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RadiantTiger - Name: Radiant Tiger
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself, my deceased uncle
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: What to expect during stem cell harvest / collection?
Thank you all. I managed to have 1.5 million harvested the first day. After a shot of Mozobil (not sure if this is spelled right), 8 million were harvested. Tell you the truth I do not think there is never enough cells harvested the first day. With that said, I really had no bone pain or any side effects at all. The central line will remain as I am scheduled for a transplant on 1 December. Just have to go in once a week to get the line flushed.
Anything to look forward to during the transplant?
Thank you all.
Anything to look forward to during the transplant?
Thank you all.
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Dragon62 - Name: Robert Fuller
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Blood disorder
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3 Jul 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: What to expect during stem cell harvest / collection?
Dragon 62, I am a month ahead of you. My only thought is that they have me flushing my central line daily. They gave me the saline syringes and showed me how to do it. Maybe ask if weekly is enough or if you can do it yourself at home to save you a weekly trip to the hospital.
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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: What to expect during stem cell harvest / collection?
Gardengirl,
It is a weekly trip to the hospital for the flushing of the central line. Back to Revlimid / dex for a cycle before transplant. So far so good.
It is a weekly trip to the hospital for the flushing of the central line. Back to Revlimid / dex for a cycle before transplant. So far so good.
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Dragon62 - Name: Robert Fuller
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Blood disorder
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3 Jul 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: What to expect during stem cell harvest / collection?
OK everyone,
I am now 42 days post stem cell transplant. Not as bad as I thought it would be. The worst part was mucositis, you know, the mouth sores. 4 days of the worst pain I have ever endured in my life. Other than that it was smooth sailing. I somehow lost my mustache during this, I do dot remember shaving it off. It is starting to come back, you know the peach fuzz.
Apparently the procedure has as my oncologist put it, "normalized counts are in remission". I was pretty hesitant about this procedure, but the good outweighed the bad so I had it done and I am glad I did.
I am now 42 days post stem cell transplant. Not as bad as I thought it would be. The worst part was mucositis, you know, the mouth sores. 4 days of the worst pain I have ever endured in my life. Other than that it was smooth sailing. I somehow lost my mustache during this, I do dot remember shaving it off. It is starting to come back, you know the peach fuzz.
Apparently the procedure has as my oncologist put it, "normalized counts are in remission". I was pretty hesitant about this procedure, but the good outweighed the bad so I had it done and I am glad I did.
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Dragon62 - Name: Robert Fuller
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Blood disorder
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3 Jul 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: What to expect during stem cell harvest / collection?
Dragon (Robert): Thank you for the update and best of luck for a continued good response and hopefully improvement. Regards,
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JPC - Name: JPC
Re: What to expect during stem cell harvest / collection?
Keep ice chips in mouth when taking chemo. This will help in not getting the sores in the mouth.
Re: What to expect during stem cell harvest / collection?
Hello everyone,
I am now 71 days post stem cell transplant. I am doing fine. I had been off work for 2 months. Not necessarily due to the transplant itself, it was all of those follow-up appointments. The stem cell transplant put me in complete remission. I did ok.
I am now 71 days post stem cell transplant. I am doing fine. I had been off work for 2 months. Not necessarily due to the transplant itself, it was all of those follow-up appointments. The stem cell transplant put me in complete remission. I did ok.
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Dragon62 - Name: Robert Fuller
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Blood disorder
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3 Jul 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: What to expect during stem cell harvest / collection?
Congratulations on the CR, Dragon!
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JPC - Name: JPC
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