So I have a secret. It’s a pretty big secret but I think it makes since why I have kept it a secret. I am 24 years old, and today my heme/onc out of Mayo Rochester, MN discussed a stem cell transplant with me being my next step in my treatment plan. And I 100% said yes to this. It is a very difficult decision to go down this road. Alongside the very aggressive chemotherapy I received for seven months that saved my life, the transplant almost outranks how scary and big of a deal this is for me. I never thought one could be terrified and full of joy and hope at the same time.
This is very extreme treatment. and typically a last resort sort of treatment plan for anyone like me. I know a am privileged to be starting the process of getting one, as after reading many mast cell patient’s blogs, a stem cell transplant seems like the holy grail of goodbye cytokine storm.
What’s crazy is that other conditions besides mast cell are allowing me to get the transplant in the first place. I had a biopsy o5/19/2022 and the results had so much on them that warranted a transplant, even more the mast cell disease. I know that I should never complain about getting results of any kind on a test, because many people with MCAS might never see an abnormal result in their labs for a lifetime. Yet six years living in epipen hell, I am finally and terrifyingly seeing the lab results on paper, living proof that I have been right all along. That every doctor that has gaslighted me EVER was wrong.
I figured I would try to update about the transplant process daily or weekly depending on how I am feeling. I also plan on getting one of those instant cameras or like mini printers so that I can have more of my life to see around me. A lot of my health care providers think I would do well with a video camera and vlog, but i think I might be too tired for any daily/weekly vlog of my life right now. But who knows? If you randomly see me on YouTube I caved.
I will revamp up this blog here soon, and hopefully my tbr for books. Likely mini reviews of books I am reading and what I am currently reading. If you want to start a book club let me know.
And that is all for today. As I am literally so exhausted from the conversation with my heme/onc. stem cell transplants are a lot to follow and process. I’ll probably write a post on what the procedure entails at some point. Until then here’s to wiping out my immune system and putting one of my siblings back into me.
Lauren Michelle
The Sleepy Chemist 