Good luck to you and your husband. It looks like things are running on schedule and it's full speed ahead. I think most people will say the actual transplant is somewhat anticlimatic. Nothing more than what appears to be a blood transfusion. For me, the preparatory chemo, or conditioning, was reduced intensity. My center is big on that and does it for all except the youngest and strongest patients. It was nowhere near as difficult as induction which nearly killed me, and about the same as the one consolidation round I had which made me tired but little else.

He may have some reactions after transplant. I had some unexplained fevers and splitting headaches. They still don't really know why but they resolved. But everybody is different. I know some people are discharged within 2 weeks after transplant. They kept me in for a month due to these complications. I'm 53 now, 52 at transplant. Also FLT3 positive so very similar to your husband. It will be one year on the 21st for me and I'm hoping the transplant has done the trick.

There are so many other things but this is a start and I know others will chime in and expand on it. Good luck and I'll be pulling for your husband. Take care.

Lou

I really have to agree with Lou on almost everything. The only thing that I suffered from was throat and espohegous soreness from the anti rejection medication. I had a few days I couldn't really get anything down, but they fed me through the IV and gave me a little morphine drip and I was able to get by the discomfort. Other than that is was largely uneventful and alot of PASSING TIME. Lots of movies. 5 seasons of the wire tv show in 7 days. Induction (and I had two) Were so far worse for me. Both of them. I am very happy to hear your husband is on the road to transplant and I am wishing all good things for it to pass quickly and move into 2014 the right way. Ed

Lindzee,

I guess we all had similar experiences with the conditioning regimen. Conditioning is a totally new set of drugs. My worst experience was with my first induction. I nearly died. My conditioning was second worst - mostly emotionally, but a bit physically. I was given TBI, total body irradiation. It was an unpleasant experience to be standing there getting radiated 3 time a day. I had terrible issues with my throat, just like Ed, and I could not swallow even my saliva. I had to be fed by vein for a week and take pain killers IV, something that I am loathe to do. I got a fever and bacteremia, but I never got as sick as I was during my first induction. It is all worth it when you get that transplant and start on your way back to health. It has now been 27 + months and I am well. Your husband will be fine, as long as he realizes that there is the possibility of requiring TPN nutrition and that he is likely to get a fever at some point. At least there is something to look forward to....progressively fewer hospital visits, bone marrow biopsies, and frankly, fewer reminders of this horrid happenstance,

Cliff

Cliff

Lindzee
My husband is at day 33following transplant. He followed all of the advice given from this board and from his medical team and did very well. He had very few side effects and still is doing well. He ate, walked the halls, and drank a lot of fluids. He used the saline rinse diligently and did not have severe mucositis, just some in the esophagus. For him, like most have said, the induction chemo was worse than the chemo for transplant. Good luck!

Lindzee,
Chemo heading into transplant was a little rocky for me, though not horrific. My last day was the worst, but it also followed total body radiation, so I was hammered. I felt badly since it was New Year's Eve and I had planned a party with the night nurses -they still had the party.
My biggest hurdle post transplant was fatigue and boredom. I watched movies, had my iPad on hand and magazines. My room was private and had magnificent windows, so I was able to look at people coming and going throughout the campus and at night when I got bored. At times it's lonely, but I would also feel badly of someone came and I was asleep.
This is indeed going to be a good way to end the year and begin renewed.
Peace, love and hope,
Andrea

Bozz,

You should have watched Animal Planet. That's all I did. Hope you are feeling better, my dear Queen Andrea. I think of you every day.

Cliff

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. My husband went for his bone marrow biopsy today. That is his last hurdle before he is admitted on Monday to start the transplant. Trying not to worry and thinking positive. During induction we had so many setbacks that's sometimes it's hard not to expect the worst, but whatever the outcome we will do what we have to and keep moving forward.

Lindzee,

Praying for good bmb results and a speed bump free bmt.

Blessings

Julie