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

Hi @sally66. Ooo gurl, take a deep breath let it out slowly…I’ve got your back. ☺️ Your team will do everything they can to keep you comfortable. You’ll be supplied with anti-nausea meds ahead of time so that you have them on hand should they be needed.

From my experience at Mayo-Rochester, the pre-conditioning chemo was outpatient for the first 4 days. So, day 6, day 5, day 4, day 3 were outpatient chemo infusions.
Day 2, I was admitted for chemo and to stay as inpatient.
Day 1 is a day of rest. No chemo, but IV fluids to flush the body
Day Zero is transplant day.
I remember that the first 3 days I was fine. By day 4
I do recall getting a bit fatigued and was ready to get admitted.
However, I know of people who were admitted on Day 6 at the start of their chemo. I think it depends on what your personal pre-conditioning will be and your doctor’s directions. We don’t all get the same chemo.

The transplant itself is fairly anticlimactic. 2 nurses will be in the room with you for an hour or so. You’ll be given medications to help prevent any unexpected reaction to the infusion of the cells. The bag of cells look very much like a transfusion bag and does hang from the IV cart. The bag is hooked to your port line and it takes about 15 minutes to an hour to infuse the cells. That’s it! Within a day you’re back to outpatient status.

And yes, I know, that thought of being turned loose had me concerned as well. But the worry is unfounded. You’ll be given a number to call for the transplant floor… Station 94. Or 9-4. You can call that number 24/7 and a coordinator answers immediately! We had to use that number a couple of times over the 100 days. The response immediate and direct. You don’t have to go sit in the ER unless it is truly an emergency. In my experience, there were 2 times I needed to return to 94 in the middle of the night and was immediately admitted. They are that responsive.
You’ll also be returning to 9-4 daily for blood work, checks, med checks and infusions. So you’re well attended and supported!

I am still singing the praises of my BMT team at Rochester. I’m almost 6 years post and had an issue over the holidays and 1250 miles from home. It wasn’t directly related to my transplant but I needed immediate guidance. So I called 94 and spoke to a nurse. Together with the provider on call, I got the help I needed and meds were called into pharmacy where I was staying. My team and transplant doctor followed up with several contacts over the follow weeks. They really meant it when they told me at the time of transplant “that we’re married for life”.

If you haven’t gone through it already, you have a busy week of pretesting, educational classes and meetings coming up! You’ll also have a port installed to make the process of blood draws and infusions a whole lot easier on you and your body!
Do you have any specific questions for me? Did you find lodging?

Good morning Lori,
Since you were a patient at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, I'm assuming you went through the chemo right before transplant. I have 6 days of what I think they called conditioning chemo, leading up to my BMT a couple days after. . Is that in patient or out patient? Also, you've spoken highly about the post transplant team. Are they available 24/7? For example, what would a person do if some kind of complication arose in the middle of the night or on the weekend?? I'm assuming and praying that person would not have to go sit in the ER!?
Thank you,
Sally

That is funny about the elevator. I know vacationers are in Florida and all over the East coast too. I am glad Covid brought in masks, and in California, the Asian community has always worn them, so it is not big deal here. I would hope a pack of coughers would shy away and stick together. It is surprising how many go out sick and coughing including parents and kids with no masks.

I have had vaccinations every visit as you said for months, and on the 17th i had the 2nd of the kid ones. I have one scheduled for the 31st. I started making a chart for my vaccines that i realize i did not update after I stopped asking for the papers with each vaccine's info. It is time to update.
This last vaccine my arm hurt for 6 days. Painful to touch. I hope that is a reason for the CMV rise. My new system is trying to keep out any and all invaders. Overall, I feel good and if sleep comes at 9pm it is because I am up between 4-5am to get my day started. I thank my 26yr old for this for sure.

Well, your CMV is a sneaky little dickens, just creeping up slowly. It will interesting with the next result to see if the numbers are up or down. Fingers crossed for a decline ☺️.
If you need another med, they aren’t generally long term.

It is a nudge to be more vigilant with the masking if you’re out in public though. Especially if you’ve not been feeling quite as energetic and healthy. A few months ago you started the post-BMT immunization protocol. Vaccinations can tax the immune system while it’s working to recognize and defend against the real thing! Even though you have a new immune system, it will never be as robust as the original factory installed model. So hang in there, Kat!
This is a time for no-guilt vegging during the day.

Truth be told I don’t mask 100% either. But if I’m out in stores, elevators, or close proximity such as a meeting, I do wear my mask just in case. I heard that measles, whooping cough and mumps are on the rise, besides the obvious covid, flu, noro virus and RSV. You’ve not been vaccinated yet with the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) so you definitely want to avoid those. Ugh I got stuck in the elevator with a family that scooted in just as the door was closing. Little germ bombs!! I was so thankful I had my mask on because they were all coughing! I must have looked like a deer in the headlights as I shrank back into my corner. 😂

Ah ha. My second CMV is 336. I got the message a new test result was in and i went right in to see the result. As i was typing a note in the portal, my NP Hannah called. She just got it and knew i would have a question. I am going back in Jan 31st, so if i hit the magic number of 500, my body may get the other pill. My donor fellows' cells are slow moving in there. Does he like shingles, chicken pox and herpes? Geez guy!! There just could be people in my neighborhood stores with any one of these illnesses as any time. Being honest, I have not worn the mask 100%. This is my reminder.

meg1685
City of Hope nurses got me a huge glass of ice cubes and a cup of popsicles and told me during the chemo to keep my mouth frozen. Keep it full of something cold and it will stop that chemo from taking hold in my mouth. I never had cold sores. Not a one.

Yes, I originally had the knee high. The original dr never said different. When i still had a swollen ankle after 6 months on Eliquis and another thinner, I asked for a referral to the vein specialist. It was there I was told surgery was not needed for my DVT but I needed to wear a thigh high stocking as the DVT is on the back of my right thigh. I was also sent to be fitted for the right size.

I will try putting my leg up daily. I sit for my workday, walk a lot, but do not raise my legs as you suggested. I have found that without seeing certain drs, this issue never was taken about in the hematology department. It is about blood in hematology, so i added in the portal after my visit about this DVT.

And yes......
So yes, there are those little reminders from time to time that let us know we’re not 100 percent our former selves…life as a chimera, eh? 😅

My CMV results have not been posted. Looks like that department had a couple days off!!

Hello! I'm searching older posts trying to find what it was that prevented the chemo from giving you mouth sores, as you said - but I can't find it! Would you mind saying what that was again? I am starting with the whole transplant journey later this week, starting with mobilization chemo on Saturday. My biggest concern at the moment is that damnable mucositis! So when I saw your comment above, I latched on. Thanks for your help!!

Hi Kat, if it’s any consolation, my liver numbers still tend to fluctuate even 5.5 years later. My doctor suspects gvhd too but since there is no steady upward trend and often the numbers retreat, we’re just keeping any eye on things and riding it out. Tacro is a possibility in the future if numbers change. So yes, there are those little reminders from time to time that let us know we’re not 100 percent our former selves…life as a chimera, eh? 😅

CMV, along with other latent viruses is usually part of the pre-transplant testing. So somewhere in your bio is the list of pre-existing conditions pre-transplant. In theory we lose most of our immunity to preexisting illnesses. Such as measles. I had those when I was a child and had antibodies in my system. They were still detected after transplant but since the efficacy of those antibodies couldn’t be tested I still needed the vaccinations. I didn’t have CMV but my donor did and so I received that latent virus along with the stem cells. But as predicted, since the donor cells and CMV were old buddies, it didn’t take long for my new immune system to wag a finger of smite and knock those bad guys back to immunity prison. LOL.
However, if there is ever a time when our immune system is weakened with another illness, the CMV can start emerging. So this may be what you are seeing. You’ve mentioned you’ve been tired and feeling like you’re coming down with something and that may be all it takes to have the CMV tiptoeing about on little cat’s paws. Rest, eat healthy fruits/veggies and proteins and limited stresses for a while.
I know! It can feel like backsliding but it’s not! There are days when we get wake up calls to slow down. That’s difficult when we’re otherwise feeling on top of the world. But we have to listen to our bodies. They are well informed, capable healing machines and we need to heed their warnings. 😅

So sorry about that pesky DVT. The stockings are a pain in the biscuits to wear, especially if it’s hot outside. Do you need to wear the thigh high variety? I have some really nice calf-sleeves/compression socks. They’re so comfy and look like cute knee socks but with a little extra oomph built in. Graduating tightness from the ankles on up to the knee but they don’t cut. Also, if your ankles are swelling besides walking 200 steps every hour try elevating your legs over your heart for a while. I had varicose veins from my former job and did have Sclerotherapy, which worked fantastically. But I still make sure I don’t relapse. So daily, I lie on the sofa and swing my legs up to the back rest. Then read a book or watch a movie for 30 minutes. It does help to keep any swelling in check.
Sending a hug from the frigid south! Yes, I said south. LOL It’s minus 23 degrees back home in Wisconsin right now. But down here on the gulf we’re expecting 23 degrees and SNOW tomorrow!! What the heck!! I’ll have my camera ready to snap photos of snow on the palm trees. Poor lizards aren’t going to be happy!

OMG. I wrote a post and then my browser said it was updated. Really!!!
I did not go on tacro yet as my liver numbers went down a bit and i am back on Ursodiol. I will not go back for 2 weeks in order to let the numbers do what they will. I love the idea that my new immune system needs to come into play here.
As to the CMV test, this is the 1st time anything has been detected. 218. It had been a month since my last blood test and visit. I was thinking was i around anyone who is sick. It is cold so a mask inside is necessary and there are sneezing and sniffling people everywhere. I have not got the number from the Jan 17th blood test, so we shall see if my new immune system said, "get out".
As to if I had the CMV in me, i just do not know. I had strep throat twice in my late teens and early 20's, colds and basic things like that. Shingles in 2016. Nothing that required blood tests. The Red Cross only for over 30 years got my blood and platelets. I need to go back and look at a blood test at COH before my transplant. See what i did not know to look for in March of 2024.
My nurse Hannah is an NP. She is very good. She also said your numbers are good and i look good. My hands were a bit red and my cheeks. I said i think it is the cold day. After Friday all is good.
No GVHD, but my DVT clot is still there. I have not been wearing my thigh high stocking. I wear it and it works. I had just looked at my legs together and realized my ankle was swollen again. Dang. The stocking helps so I must wear it. I did not Sat/Sun. Monday am it will be on.