I went through a bone marrow transplant (actually stem cell transplant) and while it's not "a walk in the park" (as my doctor said) it was not an awful experience.
If you're thinking of doing it, I would strongly recommend the Fred Hutchinson Institute in Seattle. They seem to have the best results in the US. I was hospitalized for three weeks going through the transplant, and that was the worst of it. Nauseous some of the time, sleeping a lot of the time, bored a lot of the time. No one really wants to be locked in a room. The high point of each day was my walk around the ward, which I was doing for conditioning. After I was released I was actually allowed to do things. They said you could eat in restaurants (although no salads, raw vegetables, rare anything), but well cooked food, in clean restaurants was OK. I could go to movies (just don't sit near anyone). Sure, I would get tired, but it was very different then what I was expecting. I was in Seattle for a total of 4 months. Back in New York, the same rules applied until I went off the immunosuppresant drugs (which was 6 months after transplant). The only thing to be aware of is you would need someone to take care of you. It's pretty impossible to change dressings yourself. Obviously, every case is different. I don't know how far advanced your CML is. All of the people I met with controlled CML did well. Since they do stem cell transplants at the Hutch, they don't need an exact match, and they feel that their success rates are the same. The only annoying thing about them is they insist on a pre-visit. All the info they told me could have been conveyed over the phone or email, without a 3 thousand mile trip. I don't know if this helps, but if you want to know anything else relating to my transplant experiences, I'll be happy to share. --- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], "ladybug_blue00" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I am writing because I am scared. I tried this support group before > when i was first diagnosed in january 2004. I couldn't really keep > up on it. But I am willing to try again. I need to talk to people > who understand. I am beginning (11 months later) to have a really > hard time dealing with everything. I am a 22 year old female > attending college. I originally started on 400mg gleevec and was > raised to 800mg 2 months ago. Since then I have been experiencing > vomiting more and I am often afraid to take the meds because I hate > feeling sick all the time. I'm not sure how many people actually > get therapy. But I'm beginning to think I am going to need > something soon. For the most part I cope well, but every once in a > while, like tonight, I will break down and cry for hours. I live > alone, so it makes things this much more difficult. I can call and > talk to my parents, but sometimes even they don't understand. I > guess I'm just looking for some sort of inspiration to get out out > of this slump. It may also be because my doctor is talking about a > BMT and I don't really know much about it. She's not the most > friendly of doctors (that I have noticed). I am really concidering > a second opinion hopefully over the christmas/new years break. > Thank you for reading this, and I'll be looking to hear from someone > soon. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/8zSolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> New! Sign up for local CML support group meetings in your local community at http://cml.meetup.com Apply for Commercial Real Estate loans online and submit your deal to dozens of hungry lenders in just minutes. Loan programs for all types of business and commercial real estate. Apply anytime at http://realestatezoo.com CML (Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Support List) --------------------------------- Part Of CMLHope.Com An International Community Of CML Patients For more information: http://cmlhope.com Post Message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To No Mail/Web: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To Digest: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] List Help: [EMAIL PROTECTED] CML Group Web Site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CML Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CML/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
