The day finally arrived. “Thursday 15th August 2024”
After breakfast and my bed changed, I was hooked up to my lovely pink trollied pump.
Pre-meds of saline and other good stuff is pumped into my Hickman line.
At 11.30 nurses arrived with a bag of cells with my name on it!
Within 7 minutes the bag was connected directly to my line and using gravity turned the clear saline line to a rose colour through to deep red and we were off and running.
by Midday it was finished.
Nurses were stationed throughout to monitor the whole process.
Some meds were infused into the Hickman and finally I was done!
Some side effects are expected and within an hour I had about an hour of shivers and shakes, a common side effect. This passed. A few hours later bloods were taken both from the Hickman and from a vein. (just to check any possible lines of infection)
From that day onwards it will be testing and checking levels.
So far I’ve had one bag of irradiated blood transfused, blood test results normally come back @ 10.05am directly to “MyChart” so then I can see the results immediately. A Dr. follows up when they can to discuss.
So far, so good, a few effects still annoy, slight diarrhoea which makes eating difficult. Pain in lower joints which is due to lowered exercise.
I’m in the mental process of sorting a routine of exercise and finding foods that don’t make me queasy just thinking of them……..
It is a mind over matter thing and am sure I can do this. Will update you on my post SCT recovery when I can find the time😂
If anyone has a question, I will try to answer.
Stay safe and well.
G.
❤️
🤓
Written by
LFCLove
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Well done you and your medical team. Thanks for updating. Wish you all the best; hopefully food will appeal more soon so you can start to build your energy levels back up.
That is a really interesting and informative post explaining the procedure for your SCT. I have often wondered about it. Thanks for posting, you sound remarkably chipper after what you've been through and it's great you are already formulating plans for your future recovery. Well done and wishing you all the best.
Hello LFCLove, I thought about you on that momentous morning. Your informative update brings back memories of that precious bag of raspberry 'jam' being borne aloft by one of the nurses. I was expecting a fanfare of trumpets but in some respects it was an anti-climax after the build up in my mind. However it remains a miracle how those donor stem cells after infusion find their way into your bone cavities and set about regenerating life.
You may well need further transfusions of both red cells and platelets which is normal. I struggled a bit with food but it becomes easier, I was fortunate to have a M&S store closed by and my wife was a regular. It cost us a small fortune though. Ironically one of the hospital dishes was goat curry which i really shouldn't of been eating.
As for exercise I walked around my room counting steps until the last week when I had an attack of gout which put paid to that. It's a fact you need a level of mental strength to adapt to being cooped up. I can't really help you with that except to say that when you need it most you somehow manage to summon up some hidden inner mental strength which carries you forward.
Thanks Chris, it’s good to know that it gets easier.
It very much reminds me of when I was training for the marathon, the mental side sometimes outweighs the physical but having successfully run it twice, albeit a few years ago. I know I can use those experiences to help here.
Again, thank you and others who have taken the time to respond in such positive ways.
That you for your post Chris! You were enjoying your grandkids despite your symptoms, happy to be alive. You gave so many hope!
Having a Shepherd father, I’ve eaten lots of goat and Lamb, but I also stop at the curry! 😂
Gout can be a real beast, but we can do to lower inflammation with very strong ginger tea from real ginger, L-Glutamine and collagen to heal the gut, Anti-inflammatory diets, … there is such an array of possibilities that can help without drugs. 😃
Regarding being cooped up, I, the ultimate busy body, was chained to my bed for 2 months laying absolutely flat in my pregnancy. We adjust and grow with the challenge. I even prepared my husband’s 1000 receipt tax return spread on the bed around me! 😂😂
thank you so much for posting this G! So many of us wonder about the SCT process and it is great to hear that so far it is going well on your end. Best of luck as you continue on!
Well done, takes me back many years. I didn’t have any transfusions prior to SCT but had 30 (and 10 platelets) afterwards over several weeks, until my new girl cells got rolling. First transfusion was a dodgy fit after which the contents had to be matched at various levels and delivered from the national blood bank each time. On three occasions I had triple transfusions
Tea, coffee and some of my favourite foods tasted awful for a while but that eventually righted itself Yep, had ‘dire rear’ for a while as well as various discomforts, but soon settled.
Now begins count watch as your key levels start to climb from the floor to demonstrate that things are starting to roll . I was lucky to have a whiteboard to use in my room.
So a good start, Just stay positive, and will those cells on as they search for a good spot from which to develop.
I blogged my first year as I was asked to by some US friends who were likely to follow. There were so few going through SCT and Social media wasn’t as broad 14 years ago to share as we can today. It is a gentle reminder of the experience .
Onwards and upwards
Chris (Princess Leia version with lady stem cells)
You seem remarkably chipper still! I found it a real trial. Re nausea; get as much anti nausea medication as you can. Re diarrhoea: this will continue on and off for months I needed pads to wear as well.
Thanks LFCLove for adding to our experience and really hope moving forward goes well.If you cannot manage walking around the room, gentle stretches and deep breaths is a start.
Thank you for taking the time to tell us how things are going. Good to hear you are so positive and all the procedures are in place. Good luck with it all and we'll be thinking of you on your journey - take care.
Thanks for the update, glad all went according to plan. I had my SCT on the 4th August last year & remember well the sparkling moon dust travelling into my body, via my pic line! I think it’s a good idea to walk round your room as much as you can, but also sleep when you need to. I struggled with sickness & found I ‘d gone off food I really enjoyed. I could tolerate weetabix with cold milk & cold orange juice. The nurses tried to encourage me to drink fortisip drinks as I was loosing weight but found them horrible. My appetite is ok now & I’ve put on quite a bit of weight. Sending best wishes to you, things do get better.
Thank you for your very informative post! I have wondered about the procedure but have not looked into it as I am not a candidate. Praying for your journey to recovery and wish you courage, peace and strength through each day.
Just chiming in to wish you all the best in this chapter of your SCT journey. On the hard days, remember that you made this decision to enable many future memories with those you love. On the easy days, remember to be grateful (as you clearly are!) to your team, your support system and your donor. Take it a step at a time and keep up that positive attitude. It will serve you well. Thanks for sharing your journey with us so selflessly. Sending prayers and hugs from NYC.
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SCT go ahead
UPDATE: WARWICK's ASCT Journey...
almost 200 days post SCT update 
