What To Expect After a Blood and Marrow Stem Cell
Transplant
You will stay in the hospital for weeks or even
months after your blood and marrow stem cell transplant. Your doctors want to
be sure that you're healthy and strong enough to go home.
They want to make sure:
- Your bone marrow is making enough healthy blood
cells
- You have no severe complications
- You feel well and your mouth sores and diarrhea
have improved or gone away
- Your appetite has improved
- You have no fever or vomiting
During the first weeks and months after you leave
the hospital, you will make frequent trips to an outpatient clinic. This allows
your doctors to track your progress. These visits will happen less often over
time.
Staff at the clinic will teach you and your
caregiver how to care for your central line, how to watch for and prevent
infections, and other ways to care for you. They also will tell you who to call
and what to do in case of emergency.
Recovery from a stem cell transplant can be slow. It
takes 6 to 12 months to recover normal blood cell levels and immune function.
During this time, it's important for you to take steps to reduce risk of
infection, get plenty of rest, and follow your doctors' instructions about
medicines and checkups. |