hello

Hi shem56 and a warm welcome to this corner of the Community although I am sorry to see you joining us and hear about the journey you are on.

I am Mike and I help out around our various Blood Cancer groups. 

I don’t have Myeloma but I was diagnosed way back in 1999 with another incurable (rare) but treatable type of blood cancer - Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (Stage 4 in late 2013) so although my Blood Cancer ‘type’ is different I do appreciate the challenges of this journey rather well and more specifically going through Stem Cell Transplant (SCT) as I have had 2 Allo (donor) Stem Cell Transplants.

It was impossible for me to be put into remission to get my Stem Cells harvested for an Auto SCT so I sent my big brother…. 

The SCT journey ccan be long and tiring but it’s important to remember that it is all about the greater good and the challenges need to be endured as the results are worth it.l in the end.

My first Allo SCT was back in June 2014….. for various reasons it failed within 6 months but I went back in Oct 2015 for my second Allo SCT and I remain in remission to this day (you can see my story in the link at the bottom)

I see that you have actually joined our dedicated Stem cell transplant support group. The SCT process is basically the same regardless the blood cancer type so you may want to put up a post in that group and introduce yourself as this will widen your support platform going forward.

I am always around to chat and answer questions,

Hi Shem 56 I'm so sorry to hear you are feeling low at the moment  Hopefully in the next few days you will be feeling stronger and be able to congratulate your self on a successful harvest and and look back on a job well done  I had a harvest 2 weeks ago and felt similar but I'm definitely feeling better and more positive now . Hopefully you will get a date through fir the transplant soon . Its certainly a rocky road we walk but there is loads of help out there  which I thought I would not use but do now   . Take care xx 

Sue 

Hello Shem, I had my harvest on January 11th, my high dose chemo on the 31st January and my transplant on Feb 2nd. I got all the side effects including sepsis, colitis and another infection that I can’t remember the name of I had diarrhoea for 22 days but guess what no sore mouth or ulcers thanks to the ice pops do not forget them I ate 23 I never want to see another one!!! I’ve told you the honest truth I had a really rough time but guess what 6 weeks on and I’m cancer free, kicked that myeloma in the butt!!! So it’s worth it always remember thatI now have 2 months of twice weekly treatments, I’m still tired every day from the transplant but I have a fracture in my spine that we still haven’t managed to control the pain of so that’s holding me back. Anyhow onwards and upwards remember the glass is always half full!!! I do hope you start to feel more upbeat soon xx

Hello Shem56

Try to keep your chin up and stay positive. Yes it is a rocky journey you’re on at the minute. I had my STC in Sep 21 and it wasn’t easy but you must try and prepare yourself for for bumps on the road along the way. I had quite a few…… but if I had to do it again I certainly would to get where I am today. Stay strong and I wish you all the best. “ You can do it “  We’re all here for you

Hello notgivingup

Well done you!
Hopefully you’ll start to feel better soon. You seem to have taken what was thrown at you and have come out Myeloma free. It took me 3-4 months before I started to feel better. Our bodies have been through so much as you know but time is a great healer. I wish you all the very best going forward

Hello Marden

Many thanks for your lovely positive reply, I feel lots better than I did 5 weeks ago that’s for sure! I actually did some gardening yesterday only planting summer bulbs into pots at waist height but it was lovely the sun was out and birds were singing just a little normality.

stay well! Xxx