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Make A Donation to Relay for life Read more:
Transplant 1 Recovery Read more:
The Journey of My stemcells
Autologous transplant
Friday the 26th September 2008 I had the Autologous transplant with my cells returned to me one bag at a time with three bags all up.
the experience was weird very hard to describe, I started with some coughing and chocking and tightness in the chest ,having obs checked every 5 minutes, continuously coughing and bringing up flem, each bag went through about ten minutes a bag, I had to suck on lolly’s because of a fowl taste in the mouth.
I was very sick for a few days, I was not eating much, I had severe Diarrhoea 6 to 12 times a day for a few days with some bleeding.
Plus i had bad mouth sores all part of the mucositis by the 5th, 6th and 7th 8th October I had temperatures of 37.8,38.3,38.8, 39.1, on the 8th I was feeling very weak then all of a sudden I had cold jitters shaking and I felt like I was in a bath of ice ,my lips went blue.
I called for the nurses they laid me down and covered me with a warm blanket and gave me a shot of morphine for the muscle and joint pain from all that shaking, it all settled after 15 to 20 minutes and the Doctors wanted a chest ct scan done in the room then I slept for a few hours after my temp was down to 37.8.
Then that same night my temp went back up to 39.5 and the blood pressure was low, the doctor was called and they took some bloods to check, by morning the bloods were cleared of nasty’s, but the doctor asked for the central line to be removed it looked infected and they took a swab and did some cultures, then the line was replaced with a cannular in the arm.
Then lunch time that day on the 9th I was sick after eating and could not stop vomiting, the nurses gave me some meds to assist in helping me with that and i settled and slept a little, I had a few more days like that up until the 11th things settled temperature was good, the same on the 12th every thing was good doctors came and gave me the all clear to go home on the 13th if temps stays good it Was day + 17 of the transplant on the 13th October and i was released to recover more at home.
Recovered well after three to six months, all the hair grew back on the body.
Eating lots of fresh vegetables and fresh juices helped boost up the strength pretty fast.
Some Pictures of my Journey having Chemo before the transplant.
But this one / after several months down and a few Pet scans the cancer was still there.
Picture 1 
Anzac day 2008 I was in hospital.
Transplant 2 recovery Read more:
The Journey of My Brothers stemcells
Allogeneic transplant
I was admitted to westmead Hospital on the 23rd September 2009 to have the Allogeneic transplant this time using my brother as the donor cells.
This journey has not been too tuff, I received the donor Cells on the 2nd of October 2009 after just having a small light lot of chemo before hand as to not totally wipe out all my cells. After receiving the cells all things were happening within 3 day mucositis kicked in and gave me hellish pain in the throat and backside.
I was having very strong pain relief .
I had a few bad moments where my temperature went high to 40 due to infection of hickmans line.
I managed to do plenty of walking within the ward to keep up strength and clear the mind.
I met so many nice people going through hard times with there transplant.
I was lucky I think, I only had around 6 days where I was in a lot of pain ,I had trouble eating so i was on the feeding tube.
I was so glad to have that finally removed.
I continued to get better and better to be released after 14 days, the Drs were amazed how quick I recovered.
Then the journey continued at home ,it was good after a few weeks of resting.
Then I went fishing on the seven mile beech NSW, it was a struggle to build up strength but it did get better the more I walked and did things the better i felt.
I continued to have frequent blood test and check ups. It wasn't until late April 2010 when I started feeling some mild GVHD happening to my eyes and my mouth.
It has all settled some now but its still there and doesn't bother me all the time .
My last checkup was on the 17th June and all is good except the iron level is very low.
So I am booked into to have a few tests ,one to check my eyes and other test to check my stomach and bowel.
On the 17th June 2010 I was told some good NEWS that I was IN REMISSION Finally.
21st October 2010 update.
Still going strong after 4 months now with the cancer in remision.
The Fairfield Relay for life Charity day was a huge turnout and a great experience for My wife and myself with our grandson kayle along for the ride,loving the dove release.
I am getting much stronger each month, I am now off all medications as Doctors requested to see how i coped, so far doing well ,with just some mild rash on my arms ,suposedly some GVHD .
It is still a huge hit on my mind ,not knowing how long before or if the cancer will come back.
But I will overcome those thoughts eventualy.
Some Pictures of my Journey having Chemo before the transplant.
Picture 1
Anzac day 2008 I was in hospital.Picture 2
Picture 3
Me-Now
Talk with others:
I communicate with other people with blood disorders on the lakeamia website forum called The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society BBS ,its a very helpfull website the people there are opened to all questions you have about your illness and they are very kind and caring ,they help make your treatment a little easier to cope with during your hard time as they know some of the feelings you go through.
Visit my new Cancer community Forum