Stem Cell Transplant - Part 2

 Part 2: Conditioning

It is 7 weeks since I left the hospital, and I had this post partially written - but could not get myself to come back and walk through that time until today. I really wanted to recap all of this. 

This is the next part of the process. The preparation or conditioning as they call it for the stem cell transplant. On August 17th, I showed up at Cedar Sina Hospital with a full day ahead. It started with labs (of course, they love to draw my blood), followed by the PICC line (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter) insertion. This is a catheter that is placed on the inside of your arm all the way to one of your larger veins in the center of your chest. They do this with you wide awake, no numbing or anything (hello anxiety). From there, we went back to the 7th floor - Cancer Center to await the first dose of chemotherapy. I also got admitted to the hospital this day but since the bed wasn't ready, we started chemotherapy on the 7th floor This chemo (BEAM) was so strong, it took my bone marrow to a place that was irreparable without the transplant - but on August 23rd, they infused my stem cells back into my body.  Stay tuned for more on that!

What is written below are my Instagram posts documenting the 6 days of high dose chemotherapy. 

August 17:
Day -6/Day 1 Here I am. Survived what they call Day (-6) in the transplant world. I am in what is called the “conditioning” part. Six days of high dose chemo (really, really strong drugs that kill ALL of your cells, as witnessed by awesome Nurse Andy, putting on his hazmat gear before administering the carmustine.) I handled it like a #warrior although I felt pretty crappy during the last hour. I got into my room around 10:30pm and then spent the next two hours doing intake and seeing the doctor around 12:30am. Surprisingly, I slept well until a woman started screaming 😱 for hours, may need to ask for a new room. Today, and for the next 4 days I am sooo lucky as I get chemo TWICE a day (10am and 10pm -3 hours each time) #pastmybedtime#chemoallweek #needmysleepnow#thanksforalltheloveprayersandsupport#myarmy #picclinelife#thankssisterforgettingmethroughdayone #❤️

August 18:
Day -5/Day 2 -In transplant speak, today is (Day -5). It’s not over yet as I’m just getting hooked up for the 2nd 3 hour chemo cocktail for the day. This is a first for me. I have had chemo infusions for as long as 9 hours and more commonly 4-6 hours. Getting it at 10pm at night - never. I am hoping to sleep since I haven’t slept much in 48 hours. Overall, I have had little reaction to these new drugs. Yay! The steroids SUCK and you can see my lovely steroid burn starting. They amp me up and I cannot even clean. Had some hard core anxiety this afternoon but with a few calls with family and friends and 4 laps around the 4th floor, I calmed down a bit. We do this 10am/10pm chemo through Saturday night. #maythedaysflyby #warrior#anxietysucks and so do #steroids#yesigottoswitchrooms#thankgodforthat #livelifedetour#onlywayoutisthrough #imdoingit#loveyouall❤️ thanks for visiting today cousin Mindy - 😍

August 19:
Day -4/Day 3 was a good day!! Chemo continues to go as smoothly as possible. Today we clocked 8.5 laps on the 4th floor which is a mile. We laughed, we worked, and it almost felt as normal as one can feel in a hospital undergoing conditioning chemo before a stemcell transplant. Doctors team said I might be the most boring transplant yet (because I am such a warrior 😆)#4daysawayfromtransplantday …thanks @76mmp for being here today. ❤️❤️#onlywayoutisthrough#nonhodgkinslymphoma #jenithstrong#iamthestorm#heparinbrusiesallovermybody 🤷‍♀️but no blood clots. 😆

August 20:
Day -3/ Day 4 . Chemo again tonight from 10pm-1am. Twice on Saturday and then Sunday is the last day. Blood counts are dropping (as expected), along with my energy levels. Monday is transplant day!! Thanks @lcdonovanfor coming to keep me company today. ❤️ Once transplant takes place visitors are allowed less and then not at all. so I appreciate it now. They are so strict as they should be (only healthy, fully vaccinated visitors allowed and only one person a day). #nogermsallowed #stemcelltransplantahead #livelifedetour#onlywayoutisthrough#nonhodgkinslymphoma #jenithstrong#iamthestorm #gratefulforallofyou #❤️

August 21:
Day -2/Day 5. After tonight’s chemo treatment, that will make NINE treatments of high dose chemo in just 5 days. Holy shit! Last one is tomorrow. Today, I definitely started feeling the side effects especially the fatigue but pushed through and walked 12 laps in the hallway (1.5 miles). Had a lovely visit with my cousin, Mindela and managed to do a little work. Evenings are hardest for me right now. But we are doing this!! Preparing for Monday!! #stemcelltransplantday!! #onlywayoutisthrough #iamthestorm#warrior #nonhodgkinslymphoma#grateful #❤️❤️❤️

August 22:
Day -1/Day 6. We did it!! 10 doses of high dose chemo ✅. Today’s chemo required a form of cryotherapy. I had to start eating ice chips (non stop), 30 minutes prior to chemo plus the entire time the chemo was infusing into my body (45 minutes) and….. wait for it…. YES - and additional 3 hours afterwards!! I had
@danalhalle as my “Ice Coach” and we powered through. The goal is to prevent mouth and throat ulcers. Tonight, I sleep. Tomorrow is a new day, a new me! Transplant Day! They call it Day 0! We have arrived!!! All the good mojo, positivity and prayers welcome. #stemcelltransplant #chemoisover#livelifedetour #iceicebaby

Looking back, this was not my worst week in the hospital except for the anxiety. I struggled with that on a daily basis. In part, because I was in a room on the 4th floor with no fresh air and no idea how long I would really be there. The other part, was all the unknowns of how my body would react to all the drugs and the transplant. As it turned out, I handled it better than most and while you will hear about my worst week in the next post - I got lucky. I also had a small group of family and friends that came and sat with me for hours. So grateful for them and that drive that they made regularly. Although this first week did not allow me to sleep soundly (I was in a hospital and not at the Beverly Hills Spa), the side effects of chemotherapy had not happened yet. Below is my room - and yes that is a blanket with all my NY girlfriends and of course the dogs are on it! Thanks Laura Jean!