The initial meeting with your transplant doctor is usually filled with some nervousness. The shock, denial and numbness that followed the initial diagnosis of your illness may now be replaced by worries and questions: Is a transplant right for you? Will the transplant work? How will you tolerate the chemotherapy? Pre-transplant is the time to get these questions answered. Obtaining answers to your questions can help reduce some of your fears.
It is hard to absorb and understand all of the information about your disease and treatment when you first hear it, especially during that initial meeting when you are nervous about what the doctor will say. Some people have found that writing down questions is helpful. People also bring a tape recorder or take notes during the initial meeting with the transplant physician so they can refer to it later. We recommend bringing a family member or close friend with you to appointments, that way, someone else will hear the information too. After all, two heads are better than one! Give these methods a try and see what works for you.
As transplant nears, anxiety and worries usually increase. Problems with sleep, irritability or low mood can occur. Medications can be helpful during this time to manage anxiety or improve sleep or mood. Relaxation exercises, such as deep breathing, imagery or progressive muscle relaxation exercises, can also help to reduce anxiety. Please let your transplant physician or the transplant psychologist know if you are experiencing problems.