Hi Jet, I had my SCT just over 2yrs ago and being honest I didn't think it was as bad as I was expecting it to be. I live in France and my treatment was first class, I was given lots of preventative meds and I think this helped me alot. The day I went in I was put on a drip immediately to keep me hydrated and started on the mouthwash, it was a new one and they monitored me with it, I had to use it 6 times a day..and I didn't get any ulcers or sore mouth etc at all, it was brilliant! I was given Melphalan the 2nd day and was put on an anti-sickness drip before they gave me it to help with the sickness. The Melphalan only took about half an hour to go in, and within an hour the diarreah (spelling?) started but again they quickly gave me Immodium and other meds to stop it… my advice to you would be to ask for meds as soon as possible to help you. I had my stem cells put in 2 days after the Melphalan and they only took about 20 minutes but the smell was awful! It smelt of tinned tomatoes…I was expecting sweetcorn 😉 lol! I was knocked for six, no energy, no appetite and lack of concentration…reading a magazine/book or watching a dvd etc was enough after a few minutes. I had a tiny spot on my thigh which stupidly I picked at and it ended up infected 🙁 I didn't even think about it, but I was very poorly for a week. I had a big black hole in my leg where the spot was and from my thigh down to my knee it was bright red, swollen and sore 🙁 Not nice at all! Don't pick any spots if you have any 😉 When I left hospital I thought i'd be ok but I was very weak and it took alot to walk from the lift to the car which was just outside the hospital doors…after spending 3 weeks and only walking 3 feet to the bathroom it was a bit of a shock. When I got home I slept alot, still had no appetite and no energy. I tried to get out in the garden a couple of times a day just to have a wander but some days I couldn't manage that. It was very hard and frustrating to have Daren and my kids doing everything, I just wanted to be 'normal' and do the most mundane things which we all take for granted…puting washing in the maachine, making lunch etc but I just couldn't do it. It took me a long time to build back up again, and it's only been the last 6 months where I actually feel 'ok' It's taken alot longer than I expected but as you say and we all know, we are all different and react differently to drugs, treatments etc. Even now I still struggle with energy levels and i'm nowhere near as fast at walking, doing housework etc pre MM but i'm learning to live with it, albeit being very very hard. Sorry to waffle on Jet, I hope i've not worried you in any way, certainly not my intention. I really hope your SCT goes without any hitches and minimal side effects. Take care of yourself love n hugs Lorraine xxx
