[Beckywaite]

Worried about 86-year-old mom's lab results

by Beckywaite on Mon Nov 30, 2015 5:47 pm

Hi kind souls,

Maybe you can "talk me down" bit. My sweet momma's lab results from the hematologist just came back. Kappa free light chain 12.8, kappa lambda free ratio 15.24, beta2 microglobulin 2.90, ESR 31.

We see the doc Thursday, but of course I am madly reading up on the Internet, which of course is overwhelming. The nurse said the ESR and beta2 aren't too bad, but the other too are very high (I can see that the normal ranges are up to 1.94 and 1.65, for the first two).

Can ya'll share any impressions with me? I won't quote you lol.

I know this isn't good. God love her. Overall in decent shape, has essential tremor for some time, have noticed her getting much more tired in past year, I kept thinking, it's her heart. I don't know why ...

Thanks to you all.

[Multibilly]

Re: Worried about 86-year-old mom's lab results

by Multibilly on Mon Nov 30, 2015 7:38 pm

Hi Becky,

Welcome to the forum.

While the kappa and ratio are elevated and not normal, I wouldn't call them "high" from a monoclonal gammopathy standpoint. You could very well walk into the doctor's office later this week and discover that she has a non-cancerous condition called MGUS. MGUS doesn't require treatment and most people are none the worse for it. The risk of MGUS evolving into multiple myeloma is only about 1-2%/year.

So, if I were you, I would suggest thinking that this may simply be a case of MGUS that will not impact her in her lifetime....and try not to fret before the meeting with the hematologist. Your hematologist will undoubtedly have the results of some other tests (serum electrophoresis, CBC, metabolic panel, etc) that will help him/her confirm if this is likely MGUS or some other condition.

[KMZ]

Re: Worried about 86-year-old mom's lab results

by KMZ on Tue Dec 01, 2015 1:59 am

Dear Becky,

I wouldn't be able to add much on the previous post.

My mom is going through similar situation, and she is seeing the doctor on Wednesday for further evaluation and discussing the results of the recent bone marrow biopsy taken from her.

I wish I could be of a better help. I have nothing, other than praying for all our moms. God bless them all.

[Beckywaite]

Re: Worried about 86-year-old mom's lab results

by Beckywaite on Tue Dec 01, 2015 8:22 am

Thank you so much for the kind responses. It is hard to get a general sense from the lab numbers, this is a helpful perspective, thank you so much.

The MGUS was indeed confirmed last year by the primary care doc, who, on seeing it again this year, referred her to the hematologist, who did run the latest testing.

I will cross fingers and best to all on this forum. The body is certainly full of surprises at times and my heart goes out to all who struggle with when the body turns on itself.

As someone said elsewhere on the forum, none of us get out alive in the end, we can only hope for a long life and minimal suffering.

Thank you again so much.