I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma almost 12 months ago now and I’m just about to complete my 6th cycle of chemotherapy and I’ve had a stem cell transplant. Just joined group so wanted to say Hi
Hi it is tough on your body, and you may need some help at home? shopping etc, i guess you will now take some more treatments, and blood tests, good luck positive thoughts helped me, oh and the wife 
Kevin
Hi folks, I am dropping in past from a general Stem Cell Transplant support group that covers all blood cancers (Lymphoma, Leukemia, Myeloma and a few of the rare types of blood cancer)
I have had 2 Allo (donour) SCTs (June 2014 then Oct 2015) for my 2 types of very rare T-Cell Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
My Consultant told me that going through SCT was like doing a boxing match and a marathon every day over the months of treatments and this was done without any training.
Think doing the London Marathon without any training and you had to finish it as your life depended on it……. this is the journey you have been on so it most likely will take much longer than you would think to get back to some normality
Some folks are lucky and bounce back quickly post treatment but more than often folks take a considerable amount of time to recover.….. at 3 months post my second SCT I was just out of my wheelchair and able to do a few steps with my walking sticks…..
There are sign everywhere in my local Heamatology ward and clinic saying a week in bed is like ageing physically by 10 years so regular (simple) activity is very important.... the less you do the longer the recovery will be and the worse the fatigue can get.
My consultant also gave me this basic scale for classifying where I was on the post SCT recover journey.
50% = when in the hospital going through the transplant process.
60% = significant medical/physical issues that do not allow any physical activity apart from a shower and short walk and not able to prepaid food. Reliant of others for preparation of food.
70% = Significant medical/physical issues that do not allow any specific physical activity (not including a shower) but short walks and making a pot of soup. Will nap after the task.
80% = Physical issues that limits you to one activity per day. (not including shower) Able to prepare some food for a couple of people but most likely still taking a nap after activities.
90% = Some physical issues remaining (weak legs etc) but able to do a few tasks and may not be fully fit for permanent work but could do part time work. May have to .take a nap after doing tasks or work.
100% = No physical after effects and able to do multiple tasks including being back to work.
She also said on average recovery time-line is about 6 months with your recovery improving about 10-15% per month post SCT
This is an average time-line….. with general acceptance that when in the hospital going through the SCT process we are physically at about 50%…… any less would indicated some comorbidity issues like pre-existing health conditions that may reduce the 50% starting point and possibly add a month or so onto the recovery end…..
For example I have Asbestosis so this was looked at very closely and due to my prognosis was seen as an accepted comorbidity…… so I went back a good 10%…… other issues could be blood cancer type specifics, genetics…..
Hi. Didnt mention the food, its difficult i have no appetite whatsoever and tend to force myself to eat soup and take protein drinks. Showering is a major issue, my deceased wife was disabled so i have grab rails in and around the bathroom which makes it easier, and on an embarrassing note i have to sit down to pee 
. I keep telling myself tomorrow it will be slightly easier.
