Transplant Procedures: The Countdown

Transplant centers use a countdown to keep track of your in-patient days in the hospital and you should start building yours before you actually check in.  In the countdown Day Zero is always the actual day of transplant and everything that takes place before then is given a negative number while the events that take place after are given a positive number.  The first day of your countdown (the first negative-numbered day) is the day you check in to the hospital, and the last day of your countdown (the last positive-numbered day) is the day you are released.


Here’s how I calculated my own Countdown:

1. Scheduled check-in date: Oct. 4, 2010
2. First scheduled radiation or chemo treatment date: Oct. 4, 2010
3. The difference between dates 1 and 2 above (same day = 0, back-to-back days = 1): 0
4. Total number of days scheduled for radiation and/or chemo: 8
5. Days off between radiation/chemo and transplant: 1
6. Add the answers to 3, 4 and 5: 0 + 8 + 1 = 9
7. Give answer to 6 a negative: - 9
8. Make a list starting with day - 9 (check-in) and list the dates going forward to zero.
9. List day Zero date as your Transplant date: Day Zero: Oct. 14, 2010 (Transplant)
10. Continue to list dates going forward from zero with positive numbers.  When your blood count numbers are good, you'll be released and that will be your final day: Day + 15: Oct. 28, 2010 (Check-Out)

Here's a summary of my countdown:

Day - 9                    Oct. 4, 2010             (Check-in and begin chemo)

Days - 9 to -2          Oct. 4 - 11, 2010      (Chemo treatments)

Day - 1                    Oct. 12, 2010            (off day - no chemo)

Day 0                       Oct. 13, 2010            (Transplant)

Days + 1 to + 14      Oct. 14 - 27, 2010    (In-patient care)

Day +15                  Oct. 28, 2010             (Check-out)

Count it up from - 9 to + 15 and you'll see I was under in-patient care for a total of 25 days.

Now calculate your own countdown replacing my numbers with your own:

1. Scheduled check-in date: ____________
2. First scheduled radiation or chemo treatment date: _______________
3. The difference between dates 1 and 2 above (same day = 0, back-to-back days = 1): ___
4. Total number of days scheduled for radiation and/or chemo: ____
5. Days off between radiation/chemo and transplant: ____
6. Add the answers to 3, 4 and 5: ____
7. Give answer to 6 a negative: ____
8. Make a list starting with your check-in countdown day and list the dates going forward to zero.
9. List day Zero date as your Transplant date: __________________
10. Continue to list dates going forward from zero with positive numbers.  When your blood count numbers are good, you'll be released and that will be your final day/date: __________________

And summarize your countdown here:

Day - _____                          Date: _____________                             (Check-in)

Day - _____                          Date: _____________                             (Begin Chemo/Radiation)

Days - _____ to - ______     Dates: ____________  to ___________ (Chemo/Radiation)

Day 0                                     Date: _____________                            (Transplant)

Days + _____ to + _____      Dates: ____________  to ___________ (In-patient care)

Day + _____                          Date: _____________                             (Check-out)

Of course you probably won't know your check-out date until that day (or possibly the day before).  Also, if you spend any time in critical care during your in-patient time, note it on the correct day(s) of your countdown, along with the reason for that visit and any special treatments and/or meds administered.