So happy to hear that. She will get through the BMT without issues. Is she getting any radiation? If not, I doubt that she will be too bothered by sores. Just encourage her to eat as much as she can. Immediately after the BMT, eating becomes a bit of a problem, at least it was for me.

I will mark day Zero on my calendar, so I can celebrate your Mum's new beginning.

Cliff

Such great news!!! I love that your Mum likes to know what is going to happen each day. I am so much that way. I think I drove my med team crazy with questions so having a diary with events is outstanding.

I love the dangles term. One of the nurses where I'm treated calls them udders. I certainly don't care for that one.

As Cliff said, please please keep us posted. Praying for your mum

Blessings,

Julie

thanks Cliff and Julie...

not sure on the radiation will have to get the chart photo and sent to me and check it out.

Will remind her on the eating, she didn't really have a problem last time... I think she mentioned that the food didn't taste too right when she had the chemo but still ate it all. She is very good at making sure she follows all the instructions on eating drinking exercise.

20th of March is the date :)

I am on the other side of the country, and whilst I am a 4 hour flight away atm I am staying away.... basically not much I can do whilst she is in hospital (my dad is there) and we decided less germs the better.... I will go over and help her out when she is finally sent home (hopefully before the 100 days)

Facetime and phones are great for catching up every day
xx

Day - 7 ...

Yesturday mum received the Rabbit potion (lol sorry for the non technical names but im sure a few would know what we mean)

She had chills straight after and then her temp has been going up and down to 38 all night... which may be the small infection she had last week they are not sure but having antibotics just in case...

More Rabbit potion (no she doesn't like carrots yet, but I did check ..... sorry we are trying to be light-hearted through this all) and chemo today :)

xxx

We are praying for your Mum -- with all that rabbit stuff, I am sure she is going to be OK. I have rabbits around my house -- they are fun to watch. -- dave

Thank you so much for the updates on your Mum! I am praying that she doesn't have too rough of a time with the "Rabbit potion" or anything else that is coming her way. The next couple of weeks will be the roughest, from what I understand, so I'm glad your dad is with her. And I agree with Julie, it's very nice that Mum was given a BMT diary so that she knows what is coming over the next few weeks.

xo
Monique

Update from the last couple of days.

Since Friday mum has not had the best time.... doctors and nurses still say everything is normal, but mum has been very very nausea and even sick.

they have changed a few of the drugs to through the central line, and due to the anti nausea drugs they have changed her too they have made her very sleepy.... so most of the weekend was spent sleeping.

Therefore she has not eaten or drank much.... they have however given her about 3litres via her lines and put on 4kg in the process.

So a little nervous as she has not eaten much over the last couple of days and not completed any exercise .... but she had done a lot before she went into hospital and I have to keep on reminding myself that when she was first diagnosed 12 months ago she was a lot worse.

apart from this she doesn't have any other problems, they are just not sure which drug is doing it and have said its a little early for it.

Anyway mum has not done anything " normal " so just think this is her being different as usual.

thanks for listening :)

xx

Don't worry. No one feels too energetic or very much like eating after transplant. That will end. I really couldn't eat, but fortunately was not nauseated. It was just painful to swallow.

Let her rest. She will start to feel better soon and will resume her activity. If she doesn't start eating well, they can feed her by vein. That's how I was fed for about a week. It all ends. Trust me.

Give a hug to your Mum for me.

Cliff

Prayers to your mom that things progress smoothly. Keir had a lot of nausea and vomiting and it did take a while - in fact, he's at day +30 or so (I need to keep better track) and still has some stomach issues; they can be persistent. It is upsetting as a caregiver / loved one though, to watch them going through so much. But as Cliff says, it passes and better days come. Hang in there.

thank you both for letting me know .... she is at Day -3 so she hasn't actually got the BMT as yet and she is already feeling quiet sick.

Its just a little nervous for me as i am on the other side of the country so not hearing all day i start to wonder what is happening.

I 100% trust the doctors and nurses are looking after her ... one nurse has been there 25 years so she should know what she is talking about ... everyone is lovely just hard when she is feeling so much nausea

xxx

Keir had quite a bit of nausea from the chemo prior to the bmt so I don't think that is unusual. There are a number of meds that can be given, and they try to overlap them to deal with the nausea but sometimes there is still breakthrough nausea. Also, they are being given oral medications and that can upset their stomach. It CAN feel discouraging but I would not worry to much as it is very common. I can only imagine how tough it is being far away, though. Can you talk to the doctors and nurses direct with your mom's permission? If so, maybe you could get some peace of mind doing that?

thank you so much Lori, as much as we don't want our loved ones to be feeling sick it is nice to hear from other people to know that this is quite normal and not to worry to much.

Like you said she is having lots of oral medication and they did say last year she was having "domestic" chemo and this chemo is "industrial" grade.

Have had a little contact with her this morning and she is feeling a little better :)

Im sure I can talk to the doctors if I would want to .... I think as its just nausea I don't want to over stress anyone so I am blurting out to you guys

Thanks again for everything everyone :) when I have a moment you all calm me down, even if its just typing out my thoughts

xxxx

Sorry about the lack up updates....

Everything is going well Mum is on Day +10 , she is feeling better each day but in that time when its like no mans land where she needs bloods and platelets every second day, and with everything else being pumped into her she doesn't have much time away from the machine :)

She is having breakfast and a toasted sandwich for lunch, but can not stomach dinner yet.... Still unable to stand the taste of water, but they are supplementing with the saline, doctors don't seemed too worried and she is not concerned (even though we had got her drinking 2L a day since last year.

Hopefully the next week will show some figures improving

xx

Thanks so much for keeping us posted. I am sure every day you will seen movement towards recovery, it's may not be fast, but slow and steady wins the race.

Like my husband, another 2014 transplant team member, she is strong and will handle each hurdle with grace and determination. I am sure she is in good hands with her doctors and nurses.

Sending you good thoughts and prayers for a smooth recovery,
Colleen and Harry

WOOHOOO..... just an update mum is heading home :) .... well technically not home home (as she normally lives in the country) but she is being released from the hospital today.

Doctors have called her their superstar patient. numbers are slowly creeping up but they are going up with no help so the BM is making their own blood. Neutrophils are over 2 :)

Water and food still tastes funny but is eating enough :)

one more week and I will be there to visit :)