Deepika's Diary
24 APRIL 2000
Day -3
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Another restless night. Didn't get much sleep. Last night of getting up houly to use the bathroom. I was very tired in the morning including having nausea. I tried to sleep most of the day due to the tiredness.
I was started on an immumosuppresent called anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG). This drug helps suppress my immune system so that when I get my new bone marrow my body will not reject it. I got the shakes and chills while receiving the drug which is a usual side-effect.
I spike a temperature of 39 C in the evening which is also a normal side effect of ATG.
My vision was a bit blurry, a side effect of the chemo.
The evening was fine. By the way I 'm not going to mention the number of times I throw up, because it is quite often.
Anita had stem cells removed today. The process is called Peripheril Stem Cell Collection. Her bone marrow is stimulated and the stem cells which will be given to me filter into her blood from her bone marrow. Using a cell separating machine, the stem cells are collected and the rest of her blood returned to her.
I am having a Peripheril Stem Cell Transplant. This is same as a Bone Marrow Transplant, just the method of getting the stem cells is different.
Anita is doing fine. She was a bit tired because the process takes about 4 hours and her blood travels in and out of her body 4 times.