How you can help yourself through a donor stem cell transplants

When you feel well enough you could: 

• Ask for regular updates on your progress and write it down in your own notebook or journal.
• Get up every day, have a shower and change what you’re wearing. 
• Ask if you can do things like measuring how much fluid you’re drinking and recording it. 
• Try to eat regularly even if you don’t have much of an appetite. Your family can usually bring in foods you like, but make sure it’s been prepared following the advice you’ve been given. 
• Keep doing the exercises you’ve been shown, and walk around your room. When you’re feeling better and your blood counts are up, you might be able to take short walks around the unit. Some units have exercises bikes you can use.

Understanding your illness and its treatment means you’ll be better prepared to cope with your situation. If there’s anything you don’t understand about your treatment, its side effects and possible outcomes, it’s important to ask. It’s also important to tell the doctors and nurses if you have new symptoms or side effects and also how your mood is.