Post-BMT symptoms & what they meant for you

The first couple of months post SCT are very precarious. The new immune system takes a while to kick in and start functioning fully. I remember having random fevers. You will need to call and let the doctor know, since they need to rule out infection.

I continued taking anti nausea medication for a while as well.

Your husband’s doctors will monitor all the symptoms and look for signs of GVHD. It can be a wild ride the first 4-6 months while recovering from the transplant! Hang in there!

@jcpenney, in addition to the helpful reply from @alive, I'd like to tag a few more members who can share more about their experiences after BMT, like @jeffhampton @loribmt @jrwilli1 @deb913 @altabiznet @katgob and many others.

@jcpenney, how is your husband doing? Have things improved? Changed?

@jcpenney I had a stem cell transplant in January 2025 and everyday is still an adventure. As @alive said, the first 4-6 months can be a wild ride. Everything you explained, I experienced and still do almost 1 year later. The rising temperature is always a concern so make sure you continue to monitor and follow the doctor’s instructions.

I am very appreciative of what you and other care givers do to help those of us who have been through transplants and other major medical procedures. I also believe being the care giver is much harder than being the patient.

If there is anything I can do to help you and your husband, just ask.

@jcpenney, I am the caregiver for my husband, who was 65 yo at the time of his allogeneic stem cell transplant in June 2024 for AML.

What you describe sounds very familiar during the first 6 months to a year. My husband’s blood pressure and heart rate were high after transplant, which they never were prior. It was treated with meds and has slowly trended down over the past 17 months. As for the sudden nausea, we experimented with all the nausea drugs to find the right one for him, which happens to be Reglan. The nausea should be waning on its own in time, but if you identify the trigger (certain meds, etc) then be sure to get ahead of it by taking the anti nausea meds a few hours before and thereafter.

We took his temp every morning and evening along with his blood pressure for months, and as long as the temp didn’t spike past 100.3, we just kept an eye on it and he didn’t take any medication that would mask the temp. I remember one day it came close to 100.3 and I thought, here we go… but he woke up the next day and it was normal so we figured his new immune system was fighting something.

There are so many changes going on in his body right now, and I know how scary and exhausting it can feel to remain constantly vigilant. It sounds like you are tracking everything very well, so rely on your care team and don’t be shy about reporting anything your gut tells you may need their attention. They want to know everything because they want to get ahead of anything that could be a more chronic problem if not managed asap.
Your husband has youth on his side and an amazing caregiver, which are not blessings everyone has the advantage of. Stay positive and plugged in to this group. I have found it to be so supportive and informative.

Wishing you both all the best!

Thank you @mary612, @jeffhampton, @alive, and @colleenyoung for your support and insight! It’s really helpful to hear about everyone’s experiences — I know things can be pretty individual, but since we’re in new and uncharted territory, getting y’all’s perspectives is incredibly enlightening.

My husband is now day +45 and overall, continuing to recover gradually. He did end up spiking a low grade fever shortly after my original post, but all infection panels came back negative so they discharged him shortly after. His counts seem to be recovering well — platelets and WBCs have been in the normal range for about a week now; hemoglobin is stable-ish but still a tad below the normal range. His chimerism also came back at 100% donor!

Not sure if any of you have experienced the same thing, but his liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP) have been on the border between high/normal, and his eosinophils have slowly started to creep up. Doctors said the liver enzymes are likely due to his medications and eos because his body’s recovering (possibly a little bit of GVHD), but nothing that needs to be treated at the moment; just monitored.

I hope you all are doing well and taking care of yourselves too! I know we’re still early, but if I have learned anything through this experience, it is how resilient and strong you all — patients and caregivers — are.

Hello Everyone
Coming to this post I would like to share as caregiver for my Husband 40 Years who went for Allogenic Transplant this April 2025 after being diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at the starting of the Year 2025.
Every person takes their own time for recovery through Transplant Phases. The above symptoms after transplant is similar to my husband as well , nausea thrown out fever sometimes Constipation and tiredness as well skin rashes Eye itching liver enzymes (possibly a little bit GVHD) ,BUT NOTHING SERIOUS.
These symptoms needs attention vigilant and care ,it goes off by time .
He is Day 200+ doing absolutely fine by God Grace , Still felt tired sometimes after a long walk cold and flu because of his immune system fighting inside to cope up .
Starting months are really scary and roller coaster in this journey but just rely on Doctors and your care team Supporters off course all people here who shares there own journey ,it gives more strength to other people going through with same situation .
wishing you all the best and speedy recovery . Stay positive and Happy
I am very grateful for this group and all of you .