One-week pre Autogolous BMT: I'm afraid I'm not prepared

Can you recommend a non-acidic electrolyte drink and preferably no sugar? I’ve been looking but can seem to find one. May not even exist.

My local healthy pharmacy was out of stock of the One electrolyte concentrate that they had that is acidfree- and they saw the desperate look on my face, and told me it's name so I could order it pronto!: BodyBio brand, "E-LYTE" concentrate of pure electrolytes. 4 fluid oz is what I ordered from Amazon, has 16 servings. ( Can't remember cost, and I blocked myself from Amazon- and Etsy!- as I was spending too much money on looking for the key to feeling better...😁). If I feel shaky I put a capful in whatever watered down juice I'm drinking, and it has helped! Good stuff.

Did you find a need for a shower stool?? I know everyone is different but, this condo has a pretty big walk-in shower, I’ve ordered suction type handles because there wasn’t any (odd) just wasn’t sure about the stool

Not everyone will have the same experiences after the transplant but I’m pretty sure most had the fatigue and weakness the first couple of weeks.
It was tough to admit…being the fiercely independent type, but I was very weak and fatigued for that first month. So I did use a shower stool. I also had a Hickman chest port. Not sure if you’ll have the same type of port? It had to be covered with an Aqua-gard adhesive waterproof covering. I swear by the time I wrangled in the lumens and got everything on and sealed on my chest, I was so exhausted that I couldn’t finish the shower…sitting or standing! 😅. Some days I could only manage a sponge bath…in separate attempts.
My sweet husband also bought one of those adapters for the shower to make it into a handheld one for me.

That is odd that there weren’t any handles for the shower in your condo. But your idea of suction cup handles is great just to steady yourself.
I also used a wheel chair to get around the hospital…husband pushing. Mayo has those available everywhere and free to use!

I know this all sounds so scary but really, think of it like a bad case of the flu. I’m sure you’ve had that in your lifetime where you were just bone tired (no pun intended) and just wanted to sleep. You shuffled to the bathroom and everything was an effort. That’s pretty much what this will feel like.
The infusion of your stem cells will be very easy. I think I mentioned it’s just like a blood transfusion and very anticlimactic after all the hoopla! The cells miraculously find their home inside your bone marrow and within 10-15 days or so, they will engraft and set up housekeeping again. Your team will check your blood numbers daily to watch for signs of engraftment. When your wbc starts to increase, bingo!!! You’ll start feeling a whole lot better rapidly.

Having this done as outpatient has its advantages over staying in the hospital. Being ‘home’ you’ll recover sooner, have less exposure to germs, move around more and feel less like a patient. ☺️
It sounds like you have everything ready. And if not, please don’t stress! There is nothing that can’t be gotten as you need it. ☺️ Our nurses at the hospital are a great resource too! I’d asked if I could have a one of those disposable pads they put on patient’s beds just in case. My nurse gave me an entire package. So don’t hesitate to ask your care team for anything that will make you comfy, from anti nausea meds to pain meds if you need them.
I’ll be right there with you in spirit. ☺️

You’re my lil God send, thank you for your time and advice. I’m sure there’s a few more of us out there that need to know your worldly advice. I get my PICC line tomorrow, mine will be in my arm, I’m prepared with Saranwrap Press & Seal (lol) and foam tape for my showers. But looking on Amazon they have all kinds of contraption type sleeves you can get, gonna ask about those tomorrow. I’m afraid of ripping out the line so I’m hoping they give me some kinda of something to put over it, if not AMAZON!! Than you again Lori, your a doll

P.S. Got the Body Bio Electrolyte yesterday, I think I’m loaded for bear

Ohh good for you! A picc line is easy peasy and a Saranwraper will be perfect! You won’t rip out the line! It has a seal placed around it and it’s in until your nurse removes it when no longer needed. So don’t worry about that.
You may not need anything else. Over my months of treatment for AML, I did have 3 different picc lines. One of them was annoying in that the lumens on the picc line would get snagged up in my clothing. *different arm… (lumens are the hook up lines for IVs that dangle off the picc line)
So I had some fun, whimsical knee socks that I cut off at the ankle and used those for the ‘sleeve’ around my arm. ☺️ They had cute designs and my nurses were wondering where I got my cool sleeves. (Sshhhhh. 😆)

LOL. Yes, Amazon can find you anywhere! Even at my hotel for 4 months! 😂.
The bio body electrolyte should be a good means of hydration for you. One thing to note, is that you should run this past your transplant pharmacist first. Just to make sure nothing interferes with your meds.

You’re ready gurlfriend! You’ve got this!! 🧬We’re GO for transplant!

Ok, that makes me feel better too. I think I am ready, I’m ready for all of this to be behind me and just a memory. Maybe I can help others the same way you’ve been able to help me. Thank you again❤️

Good morning, @jstpeachey! Nothing makes me happier as a mentor for Connect than to learn that I’ve succeeded in helping to calm the fears and offer hope to someone heading to bone marrow transplant. I didn’t have anyone to talk with about their experience. My doctors and nurses were amazing but unless you’ve walked that walk, you can’t possibly know what it all feels like.

I learned the value of first hand information when I was waiting in the lab area to be called for blood work. Up until about 1.5 months I was in a private area daily for blood draws along with infusions. After that I was back in general population. Feeling pretty low, I wondered if I’d ever start feeling or looking healthy again. (I had a allogenic transplant). What infused me with hope was a random meeting with 2 previously transplanted patients. One celebrated their 2nd anniversary, the other his 5th. Those 2 people had an impact on me that they’ll never know! But at that moment I learned how important it is to give others hope. ☺️
Actually, few months ago there was a little article the editors at Mayo put together about that experience which inspired me to help others. One of whom is this young woman, Sky who had a bone marrow transplant after her similar AML journey. Here’s the story if you’d like to read it. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/about-connect/newsfeed-post/mayo-clinic-connect-brings-together-2-women-with-leukemia-46-years-apart/

Best wishes as you go forward tomorrow! ☺️

I hear u I’m dominant up to soon to havin it done are using a donor or your own blood