Hi @lorieliebrock My husband and I were just reflecting on our life 7 years ago this week! We’d relocated to Rochester June 12th 2019 and the 5 days of testing began the 14th. That’s where I coined the phrase, “Being Mayo-naised”. LOL
“Mayo-naised” [Meaning: to experience the immersion into Mayo Clinic’s compassionate and collaborative blender of care and hope”]. My 15 minutes of fame in Google.

So here’s a rundown of what will happen when you get to Rochester. You’ll set up your lodging to make it your home for the next 3 months. I read in your other reply that you have gone down the packing lists. If you don’t have everything, there are grocery stores, Hy-Vee, drug stores, and a mall nearby where your husband can easily grab food, supplies and such. After a few weeks you’ll be up for an adventure out in public and can join him. But for the first couple of weeks, your life will revolve around the clinic.

Ok, here’s my chemo and hospital experience…but to my knowledge the protocol has remained the same because statistics and validation from the health of patients show it works.

You’ll have 25+ appointments in 5 days. Should be in your portal soon! Sounds like a lot but it’s incredibly efficient and you’ll breeze through the day. Pack a little carry bag with water, snacks, ipad, etc. YOU and your caregiver. Because there’s a great deal of time for your caregiver to wait during your appointments. For many, your husband will be with you. But then some are X-rays, or pulmonary tests, etc., where you’ll be involved while your husband waits in the reception room. So plan accordingly.
You’ll have a ton of educational classes along with the tests so you and your husband will be provided notebooks and brochures, etc. You’ll have a tour of the transplant floor, affectionally referred to as Station 94.

A day or so before the chemo starts, you’ll have a little surgery for the Hickman port installation…where you turn into a cyborg. LOL. That’s how I felt! You might be a little tender for the first day or so but you’ll love that port!! So easy to get blood work AND all your chemo and meds get infused into the port so no more feeling like a pincushion all the time!

Chemo day. In my personal experience I had 5 days of chemo. Here was my schedule:
6/22 Day -6 Fludarabine 30 min infusion
6/23 Day -5 “ “ “ “ Out patient
6/24 Day -4 “ “ “ “
6/25 Day -3 Fludarabine 30 min infusion
Melphalan 1 hour infusion
6/26 Day -2. Fludarabine 30 minute infusion -In Patient
Melphalan 1 hour infusion.
6/27 Day -1 Rest Day (Fluids pushed that day)
6/28 Day -0- Transplant Day.
You begin this treatment as outpatient and admitted to the hospital if necessary.

So, outpatient the first 4 days. Then by day 5, I was admitted to the Methodist hospital Station 94. (The transplant floor)
Day 0 is transplant day. It takes about 15-30 minutes? You’ll have 2 nurses with you verifying the donor cells with your ID and they’ll be with you for an hour or so. You’ll have some meds before the transplant. The transplant itself is anticlimactic. The bag hangs like any infusion bag and drips into your port line. Easy peasy. Since my cells arrived later in evening it was about 11:30 pm when I had my transplant. I was discharged the next morning to go to my place of lodging! So much hype leading up to a 20 minute infusion! LOL

Once you’re back ‘home’ in your home away from home, you’ll become increasingly fatigued. So naps will be expected. But I found being an outpatient ideal and I felt I recovered faster being able to move around more, get my own food (that my husband had ready for me) and sleep in the peace and quiet of a home environment. You’ll report to Mayo daily, for labs, any fluids or meds you may need.

The team on 94 is incredible. You’re in amazing hands there.
One thing, you may not see your doctor much during the next month or so until you transition back to general population. Your care will be done by the transplant team. However, your doctor will be behind the scenes calling all the shots!
Ok this was way longer than intended. But it was a fun trip down memory lane for me!