← Return to My Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT/SCT) story: Will you share yours?

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@loribmt

Good morning, @caregiverx2 This sounds so trite, but the first thing I want you to do when you read this message is to pause, take a couple of deep, slow breathes…exhale slowly through your lips. It’s a simple but successful way to calm the jitters.

Understandably, tomorrow will be a big day for both you and your husband. It is the start of his countdown to his second chance at life. This opportunity to have a stem cell transplant may give him and you, many more healthy years together. So believe me, I understand the underlying anxiety you’re feeling today as you approach day -7.
I think you’ll find the first couple of days won’t change much in the scheme of things. Pre transplant conditioning will take place daily with an infusion of meds, usually as an outpatient procedure. If I remember correctly at day -4, I as admitted for the last 2 days of chemo, then day of rest/flushing fluids and then Day 0.

The actual infusion of stem cells is very anticlimactic. It generally takes less than 20 minutes or so. You’re at Mayo where SCT’s are outpatient procedures so by the next day after the infusion, your husband most likely will be back with you at your place of lodging.
That can feel daunting but honestly, you're never far from the clinic. You’ll both return daily for blood work and possible infusions of meds or supplements like magnesium.
And, if there is EVER an issue, you have numbers to call the BMT/SCT team at the clinic 24/7 to get guidance. I did have a small issue about 7 days in and was readmitted immediately to the hospital. I promise you, that the teams at Mayo are exemplary with taking care of their transplant patients!! They will do everything in their power to keep your husband safe and comfortable. He’s in the very best of hands!
Has he had his port installation yet? What is worrying you the most?

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Replies to "Good morning, @caregiverx2 This sounds so trite, but the first thing I want you to do..."

@loribmt
Yesterday, they removed the PICC line from his arm and put a Tri fusion catheter in his chest and he also had the last (#8) lumbar puncture (intrathecal chemo).

All of his pre transplant conditioning will be inpatient. He will have to stay in the hospital from tomorrow until approximately September 11 (day -7 until at least day +18). I'm not so much worried about when he is in the hospital; it is when he is released that is worrying me the most. When he transitions to outpatient he will have to stay within 30 miles of the hospital. We live 45 miles from the hospital. We have a place to stay (thank you Hope Lodge) so that is a non-issue. But, I will be juggling to make sure he has 24-hour care, going to work, and taking care of the pets and house. We do not have family close by and we will have to hire someone to stay with him while I work and do everything else. This is going to cost more than I make but I have to keep my job in order to have health insurance. I have faith that it will all work out somehow. But that doesn't make my worries go away. The whole thing scares me.