The Wait
Once the donated cells have dripped into your bloodstream, they’ll make their way to their new home in the center of your bones. Then the waiting begins. On average, it takes about 14 to 30 days for your new marrow to engraft, or begin producing new blood cells. This must happen before you can leave the hospital. Doctors will test your blood every day to check your progress.
It may seem like it takes forever for your new marrow to engraft. You may not notice much change in the way you feel from day to day—you might take a small step forward or backward or have no change at all. The slow recovery pace can be frustrating. Though it’s important to have goals for your recovery, try to take one day at a time, and not focus too far into the future. When you do reach your recovery goals, celebrate!
Day 0, and Beyond
From this point on, your days will probably be referred to by numbers. The day of your transplant is considered Day 0. Although your marrow may engraft as soon as Day 14, it’s not unusual for this to happen after Day 30. You may stay
in the hospital even longer if you experience complications.
The first 100 days—or 3 months—after your transplant are the most critical because it takes at least that long for your bone marrow to build its immune (infection-fighting) system. During this time you’re at the highest risk for complications that will affect your recovery. (To read about the most common transplant complications, go to the next page.)