3 months post stem cell transplant

[MrThankful]

Hey everyone,

So I am now officially three months post my stem cell transplant. I was worried about my VL going up during this period, but I'm glad to say it never went past 50! However, I did get a bout of shingles which made life miserable for a while.

Everything went smooth the first two months, my WBC and ANC were rising nicely, to the point where I was released back to my oncologist early. But now, my numbers have tanked - WBC has been hanging around 1.5 and ANC has been down to.285. For reference, they wouldn't let me out of the hospital post transplant until my ANC reached .500. My transplant doctor seems to think it's my HIV meds (tivicay/descovy), but that doesn't make sense to me sure to the fact my numbers were rising before. I'm wondering if stress is a main factor. I've started back at work full time and I also discovered my wife was having an affair my entire cancer/transplant period...so yea, a bit stressing.

Anyhow, just thought I'd check in and say that overall things went really well with transplant. If any of you have to go through this in the future, no need to worry about your VL rising or medication failing. Hopefully my cbc  counts will start to rebound quickly again!

[CaveyUK]

Sorry to hear about the situation with your wife. That sucks big time.

Good news on the procedure success though!

[MrThankful]

Thanks. It's hard as hell dealing with it, I think about it all the time, but she wants to work things out... Just sucks dealing and processing it with all the other crap, but hopefully it all works out.

I'm definitely nervous about my immune system being destroyed, but I've got faith in my doctors and hopefully my numbers will turn around soon. I've got a vacation planned to the Florida pan handle next month and I'll be damned if I'm going to miss that!

[CallMeSid]

That's awesome news that you're doing so well 3-months after your stem cell transplant!

I did have a question about this statement from your post above:

"If any of you have to go through this in the future, no need to worry about your VL rising or medication failing."

Although you haven't experienced a rising VL/medication failure, I don't know your individual experience can be generalized to all HIV+ persons undergoing a SCT.  If you were on Bactrim and didn't experience a rash, would you then say "no need to worry about a rash from this medication" (when, in fact, some people do develop a rash from Bactrim)?

[Jim Allen]

Sorry to hear about the Shingles, Shingles is a bitch at the best of time let alone when you are undergoing such a event.

Glad to hear however that despite this you are doing well now at the 3 mouth mark and wishing you health and well-being.

Jim