Day 1; Rebirth the Infusion of the Stem Cells

After the conditioning treatment, you will be given a couple of days to rest before getting the stem cells. They will be given through your IV catheter, much like a blood transfusion. If the stem cells were frozen, you might get some drugs before the stem cells are given. This is done to reduce your risk of reacting to the preservatives that are used in freezing the cells. If the stem cells were frozen, they are thawed in warm water then given right away. For allogeneic or syngeneic transplants, the donor cells may be harvested (removed) in an operating room, and then processed in the lab. Once they are ready, the cells are brought in and infused (given to you). The length of time it takes to get all the stem cells depends on how much fluid the stem cells are in. You will be awake for this process, and it doesn’t hurt. This is a big step and often has great meaning for recipients and their families. Many people consider this their rebirth or chance at a second life. They may celebrate this day as they would their actual birthday. Infusion side effects are rare and usually mild. The preserving agent used when freezing the cells (called dimethylsulfoxide or DMSO) causes many of the side effects. You might have a strong taste of garlic or creamed corn in your mouth. Sucking on candy or sipping flavored drinks during and after the infusion can help with the taste. Your body will also smell like this. The smell may bother those around you, but you might not even notice it. The smell, along with the taste, may last for a few days, but slowly fades away. Often having cut up oranges in the room will offset the odor. Patients who have transplants from cells that were not frozen do not have this problem because the cells are not mixed with the preserving agent. Other short-term or immediate side effects of the stem cell infusion might include: •Fever or chills •Shortness of breath •Hives •Tightness in the chest •Low blood pressure •Coughing •Chest pain •Less urine output •Feeling weak