[keithmtParticipant]

That’s good news Izzie, I had my SCT 19 days ago and remember well how great I felt for the 2 days following. I had my post SCT review 3 days ago and apparently the transplant has taken. Cells have grafted to my bones and have rebuilt my bone marrow. My neutrophils are already back to “normal” levels so I’m all set to climb out of the after effects of the Melphalan which can’t come quick enough.

I’m lucky that I’ve avoided and major PN so far so I can’t offer any advice but will offer my thoughts and prayers as you go through this.

All we can all do is to repeat the Mantra ……. “Things will get better”

Best wishes for a successful SCT for you.

Keith

[keithmtParticipant]

Sorry to have dropped off the radar for a while. My time in hospital post-SCT was much harder than I had expected.

I felt very unwell at times with a swollen mouth (but not sore), very sore throat and oesophagus meant I couldn’t eat and diarrhoea meant I didn’t feel like eating. For reasons unknown I had my dreaded hiccups back (normally comes with steroids), my temperature went up to 37.7 and my blood pressure down to 90/60. The nurses dealt with all of my issues but we never got on top of diarrhoea.

I’ve been home 3 days now and although I still have no appetite, my sore throat is very gradually feeling better, hiccups have gone but diarrhoea is still an issue. I’m having a full review on Thursday so I’m hoping for some good news about my blood recovery.

[keithmtParticipant]

Like others, I am so very sorry to hear of your wife’s problems.

I had my SCT 14 days ago and was very pleased to be in hospital as I felt very unwell at times. Swollen mouth (but not sore), very sore throat and oesophagus meant I couldn’t eat and diarrhoea meant I didn’t feel like eating. I’ve been home 3 days now and although I still have no appetite, my sore throat is very gradually feeling better.

I hope you manage to sort out your wife’s issues, I think that like others have said you have to insist you get some answers.

Kind regards

Keith

[keithmtParticipant]

Dear Mandy,

I’m sure we are all touched by your situation and your tough choices. Faced with the same I can’t even imagine what I’d do but I know I’d consider the views of the specialists and my family, as I’m sure you are.

My thoughts, hopes and prayers are with you.

Kind regards

Keith

[keithmtParticipant]

Three days post S cT and feeling pretty low at the moment with a swollen mouth and throat (not sore), zero appetite (Carole’s right, can’t stand the look of food at the moment), very tired as well and occasional tummy troubles.

I took the option of staying home during the first of my 3 weeks post SCT and I’m trying to avoid giving in and turning up at Royal Marsden before Sunday when I’m due in for 2 weeks.

Keith

[keithmtParticipant]

Hi John

I had my SCT 3 days ago, preceded the previous day by Melphalan. Feeling pretty low at the moment with a swollen mouth (not sore), zero appetite (Carole’s right, can’t stand the look of food at the moment), very tired as well.

I took the option of staying home during the first of my 3 weeks post SCT and I’m trying to avoid giving in and turning up at Royal Marsden before Sunday.

Best of luck with your treatment, the encouraging news is that so many people on this forum get through this stage so we should both focus on the end-game when we’re feeling rubbish.

Positive vibes to you.

Keith

[keithmtParticipant]

Thanks Jane, I’ve sent my wife out for ice-pops as I’ve woken with a slightly swollen mouth. I thinks she’s pleased to get out of the house and the smell of the jolly green giant, ho ho ho. Strange, I can’t smell it at all.

So, the transplant seemed to go well yesterday and I had a good solid nights sleep. Hiccups were a problems yesterday (Thanks Dex!) but these are slowly subsiding. They even gave me a pill for them in hospital (not the one someone mentioned in another post) but it had no effect.

Anyway, as well all say, one day at a time and keep an eye on the end game.

Thanks for all the kind and useful feedback. Let us know your results from your blood/marrow tests davidbr

Keith

[keithmtParticipant]

Thanks Rebecca

Yes, the big green giant is in the building, how very strange eh?

I’m psyched up for the coming weeks and will take each day as it comes as you suggest.

Kind regards

Keith

[keithmtParticipant]

Thanks for all the tips guys and gals. Very useful.

I’ve just had my stem cells put back in; a very quick process pushed in through a cannula. The cells come to the ward frozen and they’re defrosted in trays here. Then they’re drawn up into syringes and pumped in, still very cold!

No immediate reaction to this so fingers crossed all is OK. I’ll be back at Royal Marsden on Sunday for 2 weeks whilst I jump the infection an side-effect hurdles.

[keithmtParticipant]

I had nothing like the awful reaction to Dex that you’ve described here (thank God) but I did have 5 days of non-stop hiccups during my first cycle. They reduced the dose and that that reduced the hiccups but I always get them to some degree, as I did last night.

My only reason for mentioning my trivial reaction is that I asked my consultant what the purpose of steroids actually was. He said that there’s not a clear answer to that except they know that the steroids make all the other drugs work that much harder. For that reason, he really didn’t want to stop them all together if I could manage.

Cheers

Keith

[keithmtParticipant]

Hi Tom,

I’m pleased I’m not the only one who can’t sleep after Dex. I think I managed an hour.

Still, I’ll be having my transplant today so that’ll be a 9 hour opportunity to doze off.

When you say mouthwash, would the hospital provide that or is there a particular type I should take in?

Cheers

Keith

[keithmtParticipant]

Hi Carol,

Wow, you did exceedingly well then at 15m cells. I’m about to post my stem cell transplant journey under a new thread so will add some more details there.

Kind regards

Keith

[keithmtParticipant]

Hi David,

I found out today that they collected 10.2 million stem cells during my collection day last week. The nurse said this was very good but I have nothing to compare that with.

Cheers

Keith

[keithmtParticipant]

Actually I don’t know although I have sent an email asking as I’m fascinated to know.

I must admit I’m surprised by the amount of detail on this forum that people have about their treatment. They talk about light chains and all sorts of things I’ve never been connected to. I don’t know if that’s because they’re at different stages to me but all I’ve ever been told about are my paraprotein levels.

If I find out the blighter-count I’ll let you know.

[keithmtParticipant]

Hi Rebecca,

I think you are absolutely right on all counts, the realisation that you’re over that stage (and all its side effects) and now so close to the final stretch must have a positive effect.

I know the transplant is going to be a big climb but I’m mentally prepared to take it on and get this rubbish cancer dealt with as best I can so I can get on with my life. I look upon this whole thing as a minor hiccup in my life which I just have to get through; just because it’s called “cancer” doesn’t matter a jot. I have far too many things yet to enjoy to let this get in the way.

[Author]

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