Bone Marrow Transplant

Allogeneic Transplant

Preparation
Procedure
Recovery

Recovery

Delayed Side Effects

The body feels the effects of the chemotherapy or radiation about a week after a bone marrow transplant. When the blood counts are low, you feel like you have the flu and may not want to do much. This will last for about two weeks and will decrease as your blood counts improve. You may notice a number of other symptoms as well, including:

• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Changes in vision
• Mouth and throat soreness
• Diarrhea
• Difficulty sleeping and fatigue
• Infection
• Hair loss
• Skin reactions
• Graft-versus-host disease

Find detailed information about these side effects in the Treatment section of the Allogeneic Transplant Guide.

Preparing to Leave the Hospital

When your neutrophil count is over 1000, your team will start talking to you about discharge. You will need to be sure that arrangements have been made for someone to stay with you after you are discharged, to assist you with daily needs and to be available for clinic visit transportation. You or a family member will learn how to care for your catheter.

To be discharged, you will need to be:

• Walking
• Eating at least 1000 calories a daily
• Drinking at least one quart of fluid daily
• Free of active problems
• Without a fever
• Off intravenous medications and taking your pills without problems
• Show that you can care for your catheter

A case manager will assist with arrangements for home care. The nurse practitioner will go over your discharge and outpatient instructions and the pharmacist will review your medications with you.

Routine Outpatient Visits

Your bone marrow transplant doctor and nurse practitioner will follow you closely after your transplant. You will have blood work done and, if necessary, will be given intravenous medications or fluids.

Keeping Healthy

Your risk of infection will remain higher than normal for at least six to 12 months after allogeneic BMT even though your body is again producing white blood cells. You will be given instruction on how to help prevent infection, including washing your hands, avoiding large crowds and refraining from smoking.

Get more information about taking care of yourself after transplantation in the Outpatient Care section of the Allogeneic Transplant Guide.

The Caregiver's Role

All patients undergoing an allogeneic bone marrow or stem cell transplant are required to have an identified person who can assist them after they are discharged from the hospital. We call this person the "Caregiver." In order to be approved for an allogeneic BMT each patient must identify a person or persons who can fulfill the responsibilities of the Caregiver, which include:

• Providing emotional support
• Providing physical support
• Gathering and reporting information

Find more-detailed information in The Caregiver's Role section of the Allogeneic Transplant Guide.

More Information

Find more information about the procedure and transplant experience in the Allogeneic Transplant Guide.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated May 8, 2007