First off I want to say I've spent a couple hours exploring this forum before posting. I find all of you very admirable for dealing with such a hard diagnosis.
I am a 26 y.o female and about 2 months ago, out of the blue, started experiencing some bone/joint pain. It's very mild and is more of an annoyance than anything. I found it rather odd so I made an appointment with my GP. First visit she dismissed it as sciatica and followed up with a lower back/hip xray among my insistance which came back normal. The pain (not everyday, seems to be when I am at work and active I notice it) didn't go away so I went back a few weeks later on Aug 21st. She decided at this point to run some labs. I can't say what all she ran, but I can say which ones I noted were high/low/abnormal. She mentioned that my protein in my blood was 9.4 and was high. I seen on the paperwork my Albumin was low (can't remember now what it was) but she didn't even mention this to me. Also she did an ANA on me and it came back positive with a titer of 1:80 and was speckled. She said since my protein was high she was going to do a repeat to see if it came down on its own. If not, we would investigate further.
Upon my research I've disovered not alot can cause high protein blood levels, and Multiple Mylemoa is one of them. I'm terrifed, along with the bone/joint pain and then my protein levels high and Albumin low, I've basically diagnosed myself at this point. Anyone have any advice at this point for me as I wait for the follow up blood results? If my protein is high still, what other blood tests could I ask for to determine that yes it is Multiple Myeloma???
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Re: Could I have Multiple Myeloma?
You will want to get several other tests to confirm multiple myeloma. I would not go directly to that as a reason for your issue. You will want to get other counts to confirm multiple myeloma - mainly Kappa Light Chain/Lambda Light Chain, Beta 2 - Immonuniglobin Marker. You would also need one of the most important tests - a bone marrow biopsy. That would confirm or rule out multiple myeloma. In your case, you seem too young for multiple myeloma. You may just have some arthritis issues, which would be a much better diagnosis. Wishing you all the best.
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LadyLib - Name: LadyLib
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Spouse
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 42
Re: Could I have Multiple Myeloma?
Autoimmune disorders have positive ANA, speckled pattern. I actually was diagnosed with Sjogren's at the same time as MGUS. Do you know what your SSA antibody and rheumatoid factor result was? Autoimmune disorders can cause MGUS that rarely progresses to multiple myeloma. Don't panic yet. You most likely have something autoimmune. Autoimmune disorders can cause joint and general pain. Get all of your testing done, hopefully with a rheumatologist as well. I understand being overwhelmed. Insist on answers from your doctors, get copies of results and try to understand what they are telling you.
Best wishes, hope you get answers soon!
Best wishes, hope you get answers soon!
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Jaksix - Name: Jules
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2007 MGUS, 2012 Smoldering
- Age at diagnosis: 42
Re: Could I have Multiple Myeloma?
I do not know what my SSA was, not sure what that even is so I will look into it. My RA factor was negative though. As bad as this sounds, I had hoped it was positive so I would have an answer. I just was referred on Friday to a Rheumatoligist, but I plan tomorrow to ask my general physician to run some more tests concerning the high protein level because it has got me scared!
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Anonymous
Re: Could I have Multiple Myeloma?
My RA was negative too. I do have Sjogrens though. Don't get me wrong, I hope you have neither myeloma or autoimmune. You are right to question and be involved with your health. You will get answers. It has taken many of us here several years to get diagnosed. Hang in there!
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Jaksix - Name: Jules
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2007 MGUS, 2012 Smoldering
- Age at diagnosis: 42
Re: Could I have Multiple Myeloma?
Thank you for the support. I just found out I am pregnant so I am just overwhelmed with all of this being new to me. What is Sjordens?? I know it's an autoimmune disorder, just not sure of what it is.
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Anonymous
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