In a word, no, I haven't tried this and haven't known anyone who did but I will be watching to see how things go with you. Good luck and I hope you get all your questions answered at your evaluation. The good news is this evaluation will go both ways, they will look at you and you will look at them. I hope you like what you see and this is something that will help you.
Cathi

What is transplanted for MG? Were you the onlyone that mentioned this here? I thought someone else mentioned stem cell therapoy around here. I am a big believer in stem cells, and wish you all the best. Please giveus the details and your results. Best wishes for peace..

TJ

Thank you Cathi and I will post on here for sure.

TJ - I will have my own stem cells harvested and then they will kill off my immune system with two different chemo's and then they give me back my stem cells. Some of my doctors just call it a bone marrow transplant. I live in Colorado and they said I need to plan on being in Chicago for approximately 3 months with about 5 weeks of that in the hospital. I found the study on clinicaltrials.gov, told my doctor about it he called Northwestern and I sent in my records and they called me 2 days later. I go to chicago for 3 days to do an emg and 2 doctor appointment, if both doctors feel that I would benefit from this then I get accepted. They also do extensive testing before the procedure to make sure that it's safe enough for me.

Thank you for that explanation. I didn't realize it was the same as bone marrow transplant with, thankfully, your own tissue. It sounds like an answer to the problem left after thymectomy of the bone marrow continueing to produce antibodies. I very much look forward to seeing how this works.
Cathi

Do you have any other information on this? This is how I found my Dr. at Yale Medical Center. I have the MuSK Antibodie and he did a clinicial trial of 14 patients. There are approximately 300 or so out of the 40,000 in the US. Who knows, there may be more if the insurance company and the Dr.'s would allow the blood test....I would like to keep informed with your trials. Please send the link of the Dr.
Good Luck....ps the ONLY meds that are working for me is the Rituxan I have had two rounds....

Good luck and prayers for a complete healing Kristy. I will be anxious to hear about your treatment and progress.
sherry from texas

Wow, never heard of this for MG, stem cells are the future and hopefully you will be one of the frontiers helping to lead the way!! Good luck and. being from Chicago, I can tell that Northwestern is a great hospital and you are in good hands. Let us know how your journey goes and all the luck/blessings go with you Kristy.

All of the luck in the world to you Kristy. Do you know anything yet? Have you been accepted? Peace and hope follow you. Sue

Thank you all for the well wishes. I leave for Chicago on Moday Dec. 20th and the 21st I have my EMG and then the 22nd I meet with the transplant specialist and neurologist. I was told I should have their answers a couple of days after I see them. I'm getting anxious and excited. I will keep you posted after I return on the 23rd.
Kristy

Just got home from my evaluation in Chicago for the stem cell transplant. I found out while I was there that they have accepted me into the clinical trial. I'm soo very excited and will begin after insurance verification which can take a while, they are thinking march or april. I will be the 6th person with MG to go through this procedure. I met with the top neurologist for the study and with Dr. Burt the man that pioneered the stem cell transplant. I just got the best christmas present ever!!

Wow! Congratulations!! I hope the time passes quickly and this is a miracle for you. We will all be watching and waiting for news on how it's going.
Cathi

Oh wonderful! Please keep us posted! It would be so great if this trial helps us MGers. Merry Christmas from one Littleton resident to another. Oh my gosh!

Sue