Tag Archives: chemo

4 months post HSCT, the good the bad and the uglyyyy

HSCT Journey: Present to Future, , , , , , ,

So…4 months post HSCT. I think for a lot of people, can’t speak for everyone, issues do come out after month 3. I happen to be one of them. Perhaps it is due to steroids wearing off or chemo, I don’t know, it is not my field of expertise but it does happen. My balance has started to shift again, the gate of a puppy or a baby, looks funny. Legs feel like led, by the end of the day I truly do not want to move. The crazy fatigue is back into it’s full force, some days it is truly worse then others. UTI is back, woot! I suffered from incurable UTI prior to transplant, and seriously it was incurable, I could take huge dosages of antibiotics for it to return in two weeks time at best. So here we go again!
I am going back to Chicago this month to see Dr. Burt. He called me out of the blue asking me questions and wants to see me now, to evaluate the current situation, lets hope this is not a relapse, hope…
But hey, it’s life, it throws curve balls at you and I take it, one hit after another, sometimes I even come out stronger, and sometimes it takes me down, down on my knees, whipping, begging for it to stop. Bring it, I take it, I can do it all, right? Yeah…sometimes I can. We are all allowed to be weak once in a while, otherwise, we fight, we move forward and we make lemonade out of lemons.

Love Always,

Lana

HSCT Transplant Day, Day 0 – Dr. Richard Burt

HSCT Journey: Present to Future, , , , , , , , , , , ,

HSCT Transplant with Dr. Richard Burt is completed.
It still is the best, physically well that I felt to date.
The transplant it self is not very eventful. It takes 20 minutes compare to 5-8 hours for harvest the stem cells.
I talk about how it felt and what is next.
Love Always, Lana.

Stems Cell coming home!

Me during the actual transplant. Kaitlyn Leska, PA for Dr. Burt is next to me and she is talking me through it.

Day +1, HSCT Transplant is around the corner!

HSCT Journey: Present to Future, , , , , , , , , , ,

Day +1, Transplant is around the corner for HSCT with Dr. Richard Burt. Day +1 was a good day, I was freed from cath and had a couple of hours of nothing running into my veins. Nausea and fatigue was rough but that is to be expected. I cried a lot that day, thinking of my family an wanting to see them and hug them. Thought about the meaning of life and what is important in this life. It’s almost like here is the point when you will start a new life, so re-evaluation and analyzing was in order for me.
Love Always, Lana

Part 2 – HSCT Transplant

HSCT Journey: Present to Future, , , , , , , , , , ,

Here is the Part 2 video, it is a good video to watch.
So, basically I am admitted to the hospital for HSCT Transplant with Dr. Richard Burt and the countdown begins from day +5, Day 0 is your transplant day and everything there after is Day -x.
I talk about what the admission entails and other details. Please, leave comments, questions and feedback.

Feeling Scared, overwhelmed to start the transplant

HSCT Journey: Present to Future, , , , , , , , , , , ,

So, I got to go home for 11 days after my mobilization and harvest.
The time was ticking and I started to feel emotional about leaving my family and being gone at NorthWesten for HSCT with Dr. Richard Burt. A bit of fear kicked in as well. So I made this video, the message is that it is ok to be fearful it is a normal reaction, so I asked for everyone just allow me to feel it.
Love Always, Lana

HSCT Dr. Burt (Stem Cell Transplant) Part 1

HSCT Journey: Present to Future, , , , , , , , , , ,

Here is a video that is a must watch.
This video was made after mobilization at Northwestern for HSCT with Dr. Richard Burt. I go into fairly deep explanation what it involved and what will come in the next few days. From chemo to other medications, what am I am expected to feel like and so on.
This is Part 1.