After transplantation
1- in the BMT unit
The combined effects of the chemotherapy and radiation will
destroy your bone marrow, which reduces your body's ability to fight
infections. It's common to develop a fever related to an infection when your
white blood count drops. Antibiotics, anti-viral and anti-fungal medication
may be prescribed. Your mouth may become tender and sore. To soothe your
mouth and help keep it clean, you will be expected to do mouth care four
times a day. Your nurse will provide you with the necessary items. Pain
medications can be used to help control discomfort, so do not hesitate to
ask your nurse for them.
Blood will be drawn daily or as needed from your RAC to
evaluate your blood counts. During these first weeks, you will receive red
blood cells and platelet transfusions as your blood count indicates the need
for them. Because therapy suppresses their immune system, all BMT patients
must receive blood products that have been irradiated before they are
transfused.
A rising white blood count usually means that the donated
bone marrow or stem cells have taken hold, or engrafted. If the new bone
marrow or stem cells react against your body, you can develop what is called
graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The symptoms of GVHD can be short term
(acute) or long-term (chronic).
You will be observed closely for three forms of GVHD:
- Skin GVHD. Your skin is assessed daily for a rash or
other changes.
- Liver GVHD. Your skin and eyes are checked for any
yellowing discoloration that would indicate liver involvement. Blood tests
are used to monitor your liver funtions.
- Intestinal GVHD. Your stool will be monitored for
diarrhea. The amount of stool passed can indicate intestinal GVHD. Other
symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, tenderness, nausea and
vomiting.
Medications are available to manage and treat GVHD symptoms.
These medications are started before the transplant to prevent GVHD.
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2- Out side the
BMT unit
Bone Marrow has
been successfully transplanted , good engraftment is monitored blood white cells
count shows good numbers every thing is going very well what happened next?
Normally after
two or three weeks doctors will deduct the new bone marrow engraftment signs and
when they are sure that blood count is normal they will go for bone marrow
aspiration by which the new cells are examined to detmind the exact situation of
the new cells
If doctors
decide that the graftment is going very well then they will decide that the
patient will be allowed out of his room but inside the BMT ward
Next step will
be discharging the patient from hospital to his own house
BMT patient
will be reviewed twice a week at the day hospital for blood count and total
examination of the body functions , patients will receive a daily therapy at
home and if indicated at the hospital according to their needs
This situation
will continued for at least three months after transplantation then patients may
allowed to return back home and continue receiving their therapy according to
the schedule provided to them by their doctors
Tests for
total blood count , liver functions , kidney functions ,stool and urin tests
should be preformed regularly to be certain that every thing is all right
Patients are
supposed to perform control in about one year time from the day of the
transplantation during which they are supposed to stop taking any medications and
return to be normal as any other human being could be and another control after two
years of time after transplantation
and after three years of
transplantation
During this period of time
patients should be able to reach their doctors at any time and be ready to fly
back again for the transplantation center as they may develop complications at
any time
We hope no complications will
apear and that you will stay well
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