Stem cell harvest and heart issues: Looking for encouragement

Posted by chriswhpple @chriswhpple, Mar 1 8:53am

I am being admitted to the hospital this Friday for at least a week for my stem cell harvest because of heart issues. I have arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy along with multiple myeloma. Has anyone had both diagnoses and what was your experience with a stem cell harvest. The first time we tried, I went into a severe arrhythmia with a heartbeat of 190 bpm. I know stem cell harvest and stem cell transplant can be hard on your heart. Just looking for some encouragement and hope.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) & CAR-T Cell Therapy Support Group.

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Mar 1 10:38am

@chriswhipple While we wait for other members to reply, let me know how you are feeling today? I am not stem cell transplant eligible, but understand it can be really hard on your whole system. When you had the arrhythmia before, did they stop the harvest?
Ginger

chriswhpple | @chriswhpple | Mar 2 8:43am

In reply to @gingerw "@chriswhipple While we wait for other members to reply, let me know how you are feeling..." + (show)

@gingerw yes, my first harvest was stopped because of the arrhythmia. I’m anxious now to have this one done, but being in the hospital I can get help much quicker if I start having problems.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Mar 14 2:36pm

In reply to @chriswhpple "@gingerw yes, my first harvest was stopped because of the arrhythmia. I’m anxious now to have..." + (show)

@chriswhpple, I know you posted here about the stem cell harvest having to be stopped because of heart complications.

- Anyone had stem cell harvest canceled because of heart complications? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/stem-cell-harvest-canceled-because-of-heart-complicationd/

I'm glad to read that you are able to proceed with the stem cell transplant for multiple myeloma as an inpatient. I'm not sure if you're able to reply at the moment. I know @loribmt will want to know about this development and added your discussion to the BMT support group.

Thinking of you.

chriswhpple | @chriswhpple | 4 days ago

Quick update. After nine days in the hospital and 25 hours of apheresis, I was only able to collect 2.2 million stem cells. I was pretty disappointed. I was told I could do a bone marrow transplant with 2.2 million stem cells, but that the recovery would be longer and harder on my heart. I go back to the bone marrow transplant unit the second week of April to discuss my options. Some have asked about using donor stem cells. Unfortunately because of my heart issues that’s not a great option for me because of GVHD.

Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | 4 days ago

In reply to @chriswhpple "Quick update. After nine days in the hospital and 25 hours of apheresis, I was only..." + (show)

@chriswhpple
Hi Chris. I can understand your disappointment with the low harvest numbers. But from what I’ve learned from other stories over the past few years, it’s not uncommon for people to have to repeat the harvest cycle more than once to gather enough cells. The collected cells are preserved and additional cells harvested until there is an adequate amount. I wonder if this will be an option for you?

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