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Stem Cell Basics from NIH.gov
I would like to tell you how my transplant worked.
Hopefully others will write in and post their stories
for others to read.
I had what is called a haematopoetic (blood), autologous (self)
adult stem cell transplant. Because my situation is part
of the Autoimmune Diseases the doctors were able to use
MY OWN stem cells. I had no donor. This accomplished several
things: the cost was less, and I did not have to take any anti-
rejection drugs. Since I had no need for a donor, and I was
not a candidate for Graft versus Host Disease.
This is how it worked: I had a dose of chemo which acted
like a stick poking a hole in a wasps’ nest. This alerted the
stem cells in the bone marrow to migrate to the blood
stream. I had growth hormone shots and daily blood tests
to monitor the drop in the white cell count. When the cells
reached a certain number, they were “harvested” by means of a
pheresis machine. This looks like an old style reel to reel
tape recorder. The blood is taken from the body through a
tube, culled of its stem cells, and returned back to the body
via another tube. You are awake, and comfortable. There
is no pain.
The stem cells are frozen in a preservative, and you rest
until your admission date. Once admitted, several more
rounds of chemo are administered to kill off the immune
system completely. They are followed by a compliment
component which acts as a large broom to sweep up any cells
which might have been left behind.
Then, it is “T” day. The process “reboots” your immune
system. The cells, still in their bags, are hung on a
hook and attached to your lines, just like a blood transfusion.
It takes about an hour and a half. Done. Very anticlimactic,
actually. Afterward, you are very weak for several days.
I likened the whole process to being reborn. It helped to
think that way to understand what was happening. After a couple
of days, you start walking and regaining your strength.
When the cells begin to work, which takes between
10 – 14 days, you are discharged to outpatient status
again. After about two to four weeks, you are released
into the care of your own physician. Then, when you see
your family, friends, and doctors, watch their faces and
their reaction when they see the new you!!
When I left to have the procedure done my skin color was
grey/green. When I returned it was pink. It made a
believer out of the members of my team who were very
skeptical.
At this writing, my skin involvement is about 90 per cent
normal. The fatigue is gone. The rash is gone. My
hypertension is gone. My Pulmonary Hypertension is gone,
the attacks of Raynauds is nearly zero. My lung
function is, to my mind about 75% better. All of my
pulmonary function tests show that my lungs are
improving. My symptoms are arrested.
Do I regret it? Absolutely not.
Would I do it again? Absolutely.
My doctor tells it this way: “pretty soon, a sick person will
go into a hospital, have a stem cell transplant or some other
bio-genetic product, and will come out healthy. It is the
wave of the future.”
I urge you to research it for yourself. You may find
resistance in your medical team. I urge you to follow your
own path. You may have to go it alone. You won't be alone.
You can call me as an advocate and mentor. I can get you to a
doctor who will help you do what you need to do.
Now, three years later, those going for a transplant have a much
shorter time period, and much less drugs to take to be readied.
Their recovery time in the hospital is shorter by about two whole
weeks. The technology is still moving forward at an amazing rate.
Is this right for you? I do not know. But you can find out
with a simple phone call or email. It’s your life. Be in
charge of making your own decision.
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