New Transplant Date

3 minute read time.
I was given a new date to go in to Hospital, so I'll be admitted on the 27th of April and transplant day should be the 8th of May. They decided over the easter weekend I needed a top of chemo, not a whole regime just 4 days of cytarabine and 5 days of steroids. It hasn't affected me too much, my haemoglobin got pretty low at one point and I started feeling pretty tired and getting some headaches but the transfusion I had last friday seemed to sort it. I'm still getting some mild headaches in the morning and at night but only very mild ones, to be honest I feel better now than I have in ages. It's been a weird few weeks, I know I say that a lot, but I've been off the chemo for weeks and I'm feeling pretty normal for the first time in months. Apart from how unfit I feel obviously, I'm still looking forward to getting my fitness back. This couple of weeks respite has made me lose track of the situation a little bit, I'm trying to look forward to what happens after the transplant but none of the Doctors seem to want to tell me what exactly will happen. From what I can tell its pretty different for each person, dealing with the graft vs. host and that... but they haven't even given me a for instance which makes it difficult to plan where I'm going to be or what I can do when I get out of the hospital. One of the transplant coordinators just phoned me to say I have to start the palifermin this saturday, I have to have it a couple of days prior to the CNS Boosts. He's going to be emailing me a regime through later on today. Everyones asking me if I'm nervous yet, or anxious about it all and to be honest I really don't think I am. Having come out the other side of those chemo regimes I've started to look back on them as a challenge that I got through and that the next six weeks I'm going to spend in hospital will be much the same thing, a challenge that I'm just going to take on and come out the other side of. None of the Doctor's seem to be worried about me, I've got a very good match for the transplant and I'm fit and well going in to this, if they're not worried why should I be? To be honest I'd quite like to talk to them about how I'm likely to be feeling post-transplant but I don't want them to think I'm not taking the here-and-now seriously enough. I know its going to be pretty dull six weeks and I'm going to be feeling horrendous for quite a lot of it, but what I've realised from recovering from this last lot of chemo is that it really doesn't take all that long before your body sorts itself out. I realise this will be on a whole new level and I'm going to be feeling even worse than last time, but at least I've got the palifermin not to mention my parents, my sister and my girlfriend will all be around. Plus it's all as an in-patient, I don't have to endure anything at home and wonder if I should be calling the hospital. Anyway this week before I go in to hospital should be a good one, I'm going to see a friend wednesday night and friday night I'm going to cook a meal for my housemates and a few other friends. Hopefully I'll make it down to Weston on thursday as well to see my old boss, he's mentioned he might have some work for me over the summer, which would definitely keep me busy. I think of working for him from July through to October when I start uni again, it would be good to get some money for the summer, not that I really need it at the moment. I'll have to see how I feel, I might be better off just concentrating on getting my fitness back and just staying with my parents for the summer, I'd be around all my friends as well. We shall see.
Anonymous
  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    That would be nice, you can be pampered when you want and go out with your mates when you want. Id say take it easy over the summer and build up your fitness slowly, anyway ask your parents for a sub arnt that what parents are for I know I am. Take it steady Ruth xx

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    hi just wanted to wish you the best of luck for the transplant ,take your recovery slowly & your fittness will come back when your body has properly recovered take care, will be thinking of you saturday .take care love n hugs theresa xxx

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    hi sorry got my dates mixed up & can't even blame chemo brain [last time i had it was nov 08] good luck for 8th of march take care love n hugs theresa xxx

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    sorry just GOOD LUCK this time lol xxxxx

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    I wish you luck with the transplant; do keep us all posted on your progress; I will be especially interested as I am heading that way myself shortly.

    There is nothing wrong with thinking about post transplant; having plans and goals will assist in maintaining the positive attitude required to deal with the here and now.

    Take Care