The new edition of the Beacon's Weekly Poll asks: Just how difficult was your first autologous stem cell transplant?
A few clarifications:
First, “difficult” is obviously a broad and subjective term. We are using it in this case to capture in one word everything that is challenging about a stem cell transplant – the fatigue and exhaustion transplants create, the pain and discomfort, the stomach upset, and so on.
Second, this question is for readers who have multiple myeloma and have had at least one autologous stem cell transplant (that is, a stem cell transplant involving a patient’s own stem cells – not stem cells from a donor).
Third, if you are a caregiver or family member of a myeloma patient who has had an autologous stem cell transplant, feel free to answer on their behalf.
As always, feel free to post comments, thoughts, or feedback in the space below.
Details of your own stem cell transplant experience – what sort of challenges you had, how severe they were, and how you dealt with them -- will be very useful to other readers.
This poll was previously run in 2011. Results from that poll can be viewed here:
https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/weekly-poll-the-challenge-of-an-auto-stem-cell-transplant-t731.html
Forums
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Re: Weekly Poll - The Challenge Of An Auto Stem Cell Transpl
The harvesting and transplant part wasn't bad, but the side effects were terrible. I had nausea vomiting and diarrhea for 3 weeks plus a c-diff infection. I never felt so sick. Even after my diarrhea was eliminated, I had N+V for 4 months afterward. Hoping that I won't need another, especially since the doctor said, next time I need a donor transplant,
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WeatherNurse13 - Name: Gracie
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 10/2012
- Age at diagnosis: 49
Re: Weekly Poll - The Challenge Of An Auto Stem Cell Transpl
It was and still is very difficult for me. After the Chemo was given, I had nausea, vomiting and diarrhea for a month and an extreme case of mucositis. for 6 weeks, so I couldn't eat, not that I really wanted to. I am 18 months post transplant and I still feel about one third the man I used to be before transplant. I will never do that again. However, there were people at the Transplant Center, who had the same treatment as me and it didn't seem to bother them at all; at least that is what they said.
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GeorgeLJurak - Name: George Jurak
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan. 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 59
Re: Weekly Poll - The Challenge Of An Auto Stem Cell Transpl
Relatively speaking, mine was not difficult at all. I had about as easy an experience as one can have. I have amyloidosis as well and therefore they gave me a smaller dose of the Melphalan than they give to most (I got 140 and usually it's 200) and that's what I attribute the ease to.
It was still hard, don't get me wrong. I've had 2 actually, the 2nd one was even easier. I did not have any major complications (a couple small things) but no throat problems and no nausea really.
I did achieve complete remission after the 2nd one and it's stayed for over a year now
It was still hard, don't get me wrong. I've had 2 actually, the 2nd one was even easier. I did not have any major complications (a couple small things) but no throat problems and no nausea really.
I did achieve complete remission after the 2nd one and it's stayed for over a year now
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RayGunter - Name: Ray Gunter
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Sept 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 38
Re: Weekly Poll - The Challenge Of An Auto Stem Cell Transpl
My ASCT went well. Unfortunately, I did experience fatigue, diarrhea, and no appetite for a few days, but, fortunately, I had no infections. The medical staff were excellent.
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switcher
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