T-minus 1 day!

Transplant Is officially scheduled for 10:30 am tomorrow! I went in for my last doses of melphalan and velcade this morning and also took my last dose of dex this morning (not last forever, but last doses before transplant). I just have to take my thalidomide tonight, then tomorrow they will infuse the stem cells. I've been thoroughly warned it's going to be completely anticlimactic, and that I'll the pleasure of smelling like either garlic or creamed corn (depending on who you ask) for a couple of days due to the preservative they use to store the cells. This preservative is called DMSO, and it's used to help prevent ice crystals from popping the cells as they are frozen then thawed out. I've used it a million times in the lab to freeze down cell lines myself, never on any cells quite so important as these though! We need these cells to be as healthy and happy possible when they thaw them out because once the melphalan finishes doing it's job the stem cells are going to regrow all my blood cells. I also have to say DMSO itself has no odor, so it must be a metabolite that gives the odor...might have to so some detective work on that one!

I'm definitely more tired today, and I needed a little nap after the trip to the clinic. Now it's time for lunch and then a few errands. My appetite is still pretty good, but my taste buds are taking a little beating so some things are tasting a little off. I'll be glad to be off the dex so I can start eating more sugar, the pumpkin bread my mom sent is taunting me from the fridge!

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