[Chris B.]

Today is day +1 for me. The transplant went pretty well yesterday. My family almost missed it as they went to lunch and right after they left the cells came up from the lab. They did get to see the tail end and got to take some pictures. I did get some chills and a slight temp acouple hours afer but all that has gone away and everything seems to be normal. I’m starting to get some sores in the upper mouth now and I have alot of loose BM’s. I’m sure it’s going to get a bit worse before it gets better.

Chris in WI

[Chris B.]

I’m at University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison. They are very good here. I have no complaints except the room is like a matchbox but I’m used to it. Today is day -2 and I’m still feeling pretty good. I have three radiation treatments left then Friday is the big day! I’m getting two units of blood today as my Hgb dropped to 5.9. It is dropping more slowly now as the Dr. says the radiation I am getting should be killing some of the antibodies I have.
Take Care,

Chris in Wi

[Chris B.]

Today is day -4 and was the first day of radiation treatments. My chemotherapy was pretty uneventful except it put about 20 pounds of fluid on me! I felt really bloated and am now just getting a little appetite back. The fevers from last week are gone. The doctors here think it was from all the blood products I was getting. I did get 2 units today as my Hgb dropped down to 5.5. My WBC’s and Neutrophils are dropping like they should be after chemo. I have no side effects from chemo or radiation yet but I’m sure they are coming. Six more radiation treatments then it’s finally day 0! I will keep updating as long as I’m feeling ok.

Chris in WI

[Chris B.]

Well, today is the day! It is day -7, my first day of chemo. I am anxiously awaiting the nurse to come in and start my Cytoxan IV wondering what my reaction to it will be. It has been a rough road up to this point. I went to the emergency room last Friday due to extreme chills, worse headache I have ever had in my life and a fever of 103. Not to mention a Hgb of 4.4 when I got there. I got 5 units of blood on Saturday and Sunday morning my Hgb was only 5.9! What the heck? I was put on a multiple antibiotic regimen as the doctors thought I had some sort of infection with the fevers but blood cultures showed nothing. So I was shipped to my transplant hospital a little early again with a Hgb of 4.4. So I was given another 4 units of blood but this time with prednisone with it and my level rose to 7.6 this time. I’m still awaiting lab results from this morning to see if it is stable. Well an hour to go before I start my chemo so I am going to try to get a quick shower in and maybe a light breakfast. I will update soon.

Chris in Wi

[Chris B.]

I had my pre-transplant work up on Monday. What a long day…and night it was! I was admitted to the hospital after my tests were done of course because My Hgb was low. I just had 3 units on Saturday and on Monday it dropped back to 6.2. So Monday night I had 2 units in the hospital and tomorrow I will be getting another 3 units. Ugh! Sure am looking forward to the transplant! I did find out my donor is not from the United States and is young and healthy so that’s good. Two more weeks to wait!

Chris in WI

[Chris B.]

I had my counts checked today and my Hgb has dropped to 6.1 now. I will be getting another transfusion tomorrow. I really don’t think these tranfusions are doing much good. I have been having some very intense headaches in the last few days as well as being extremely lightheaded and dizzy just from walking around the house. I called my Transplant Dr today, he sounded concerned but only thing he could offer is to talk to the transplant coordinator and see if she can get the donor to agree to an earlier date.
My origininal dx was RARS-T with +8 chromosome abberation. After the second BMB, he said the percentage of blasts increased slightly but he didn’t give me a number

Chris in WI

[Chris B.]

My PICC line insertion went well. Can hardly tell it’s in there. The IV therapy nurses will be happy to see it in there when I get my next transfusion. My pre transplant chemo consists of Cytoxan and total body irradiation. Thanks for the advice about working. I called in for the weekend and Monday and will see My Dr on Tuesday. I will then ask him to take me off work until after transplant recovery. That’s all I need is to have a heart attack or something before my BMT.

Chris in WI

[Chris B.]

I am going to have a PICC line inserted tomorrow and while I’m there I will ask for a CBC to be drawn just to see where I am two days after transfusion. I think I am low already as I tried to work today and I was so light-headed I had to come home. I’m just going to ask my doctor to take me off work until after my transplant cause I just can’t do it anymore. Maybe if they would give me more than two units at a time I would be more functional. The date for my BMT is now 3/4/11. I am suppose to be admitted on 2/24/11. I wonder if this is a mistake cause I haven’t heard of being in the hospital for that long prior to transplant. The most I have heard is like 6 or 7 days. I guess I will find out for sure when I see my transplant Dr. on 2/7/11 for my Pre-transplant work up. I will keep you posted. Thank-you for all the support!

Chris in WI

[Chris B.]

Ok, I just got back from the hospital after having ANOTHER transfusion. Before my last transfusion on Jan 13th my Hgb was 7.1. In just 5 days my Hgb dropped back down to 6.9. My veins have all but disappeared. I had five nurses poke me eight times today before the last one finally found a vein. Before the next transfusion, probably in about 5-6 days they are going to insert a PICC line since this is happening so often. I am getting frustrated and kind of worried about this rapid drop in my blood counts. MY BMT can’t come soon enough!

Chris in WI

[Chris B.]

Thanks Mary for the advice. Was supposed to have another transfusion today but I got a call from the hospital that they couldn’t match my blood at the blood bank. This is disheartening because my Hgb dropped down to 7.1 after only 12 days since my last transfusion. I have to go back today to get typed and crossed again so hopefully tomorrow I will be able to get the transfusion.

Chris in WI

[Chris B.]

Good news today! My transplant is scheduled for the week of Feb 14th. Now I have about a month to get all my ducks in a row!

Chris in WI

[Chris B.]

Thanks Mary for that info. I’m told at my work that after my 500 hours of sick leave are used up I will be responsible for the entire premium which may be between eight and nine hundred per month. I don’t think I can swing that being on income continuation insurance which only pays 75 percent of my wages. So I Was wondering if anyone else had to go on disability during their recovery.

Chris in WI

[Chris B.]

Got word from my doctor that my 2nd BMB was similar to the first with a little increase in the percentage of blasts. He said to be patient until the donor is in place. In the meantime, I will get a CBC every two weeks and transfusions as needed. I’m ok working as long as I don’t have to exert myself too much. If there is anybody who was still working at the time of their BMT, were you able to keep your insurance at work or did you have to apply for SSID?

Chris in WI

[Chris B.]

My transplant Dr said the results of the BMB will be back in about a week and he says after I have all my organ function testing done the transplant should take place in January some time but then I talked to the transplant coordinator and she said doc is a little ahead of himself and if everything works out we are looking at February to Mid March. Of course if it is more aggressive they will do everything possible to expedite the process. I have alot of support from family, friends, co-workers and of course everyone on this forum and I appreciate all of it! Thanks!

Chris in WI

[Chris B.]

I have good news and bad news. I saw my transplant Dr. today and he said 2 of the potential matches found so far are perfect matches! Yay! But the bad news is he thinks my MDS is becoming more aggressive possibly converting. UGH! That explains the more frequent transfusions I guess. My Hgb was 8.0 yesterday and I will be having another transfusion tomorrow. This will be the third transfusion this month. Should I start becoming scared? I also had a bone marrow biopsy yesterday so I guess that will tell the story also.

Chris in WI

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