Transplant Procedure: Transplant

The transplant always occurs on Day Zero of the countdown and although you will likely refer to the whole, multi-month process as ‘The Transplant’ the truth is that this specific step is actually the most benign one of all.


Your transplant specialist will bring the frozen bags of your processed stem cells or bone marrow fluid to your bedside in a temperature-controlled cooler on Day Zero.  They will also bring a temperature-controlled warming bath.  One by one each bag will be thawed and hung on your IV stand for infusion into your blood stream.  You will probably have somewhere between four and six bags, and it will probably take no more than two to three hours for the total transplant to be completed.

My Transplant Schedule: 

Day 0: Oct. 13, 2010

a)     Started prep (applied telemetry* to monitor heart, etc.):  Noon

b)     Started Infusion:  12:45 pm (6 bags, ~80 gm. each)

c)     Taste: Tomato Soup (see comments below)

d)     Response: Cough (see comments below)

e)     Finished Infusion:  2:00 pm

Telemetry off:  Oct. 13, 2010, 3:00 pm



Your Transplant Schedule:

Day 0: ___________________

a)     Started prep (applied telemetry* to monitor heart, etc.):  _____________ am/pm

b)     Started Infusion:  _______ am/pm (____ bags, ____ gm. each)

c)     Taste: ___________________________________ (see comments below)

d)     Response: ________________________________ (see comments below)

e)     Finished Infusion:  ______ am/pm

Telemetry off:  ________________________ (date and time)




* Important Note: Telemetry is the method used during an EKG and it will be used during the transplant as well.  The sticky pads of electrodes are attached to your chest and legs and a wireless system is used to monitor your progress at the central nurses’ station.  The reason for telemetry is the solvent additive – DMSO (dimethylsolfoxide) – used during the processing and volume reduction of the stem cells to protect them during the freezing process.  The introduction of that solvent into your system must be done slowly.  Your transplant specialist will watch you closely for any adverse reaction.  If you feel anything odd – respiratory, cardio or anything else – tell them right away and they’ll slow down the IV drip rate, as too quick an infusion can cause lung and/or heart damage.  My infusion was slowed down a bit due to a symptom’s sudden appearance – a constant cough – that was an effect of that solvent.



The whole process took just two hours for me.  If you’ve had IV’s before, or flushes through a porta-cath, you’re probably familiar with the experience of ‘tasting’ something that is going straight into your bloodstream, even though it has completely by-passed your mouth and taste buds.  The infusion ‘tasted’ like tomato soup to me.



From this day forward I began to take anti-biotic, anti-fungal and anti-viral meds to help protect and further the growth of my new immune system.  Some of these will be taken for weeks, some for months and one or two perhaps for 1-2 years.  Later in this page I’ll include a new template for you to keep track of prescriptions, dosages, and reasons for use.  I always keep an up-to-date prescription list in my purse to help complete the records of my core doctors and specialist referrals.