[Dene16]

Could this be multiple myeloma?

by Dene16 on Tue Sep 13, 2016 5:51 am

Went to doctor because I was feeling unwell for a very long time. All body aches, dizzy, light­headed, fluttering in chest, palpitations, neuropathy in fingers, feet, and in thighs, severe shortness of breath. I have ALWAYS been anemic – usually around 9.5 even when taking iron 3x a day. But I went to the doc because was so tired I couldn't stay awake, and had shortness of breath just walking from my bed to bathroom.

I am 41 year old female. I lost my sister to multiple myeloma last year (September 14, 2015) when she was 52. She was diagnosed at 44.

Blood tests revealed:

Sedimentation Rate - 114 m­m/hr (High) (0 m­m/hr - 25 m­m/hr)
Total Protein - 8.2 gm/dL (High) (6.1 gm/dL - 7.9 gm/dL)
Hemoglobin - 9.5 gm/dL (Low) (11.4 gm/dL - 14.4 gm/dL)

** Hemoglobin was 7.6 before I did blood transfusion a week ago.

Hematocrit - 28.5 % (Low) (33.3 % - 41.4 %)
C-Reactive Protein - 8.58 mg/L (High) (0.30 mg/L - 8.00 mg/L)

This prompted my doc to do further testing.

I am waiting on the results of the following electrophoresis tests:

- Urine Protein Electrophoresis
- Immunofixation Interpretation
- Serum Protein Electrophoresis

But I am concerned about my gamma globulin and IgG results:

Gamma Globulin Fraction - 1.73 gm/dL (High) (0.70 gm/dL - 1.70 gm/dL)
Immunoglobulin IgG Level Total - 2170 mg/dL (High) (694 mg/dL - 1618 mg/dL)
Immunoglobuin IgA and IgM are within reference range (normal)
Paraprotein Concentration - 0.00 gm/dL

My question is: Is it possible that i can have multiple myeloma with these results, or is it maybe just another inflammatory condition?

Below is a list of my other "abnormal" "high" and "low" test results:

Iron Level - 20 mcg/dL (Low) (28 mcg/dL - 170 mcg/dL)
TIBC - 472 mcg/dL (High) (250 mcg/dL - 450 mcg/dL)
Protein Urine Qualitative - 30 mg/dL (Abnormal) Ref. Range: Negative
% Saturation - 4 % (Low) (13 % - 45 %)
Ketone Urine Qualitative - Trace mg/dL (Abnormal) Ref. Range: Negative
Blood Urine Qualitative - Trace (Abnormal) Ref. Range: Negative
Mucus/LPF - 3+ /LPF (Abnormal) Ref. Range: 1+

RPI - 0.2 (Low) (1.0 - 2.0)
Absolute Lymphocyte - 3.27 10E3/mcL (High) (0.65 10E3/mcL - 3.05 10E3/mcL)
Absolute Neutrophil - 6.02 10E3/mcL (High) (0.91 10E3/mcL - 5.53 10E3/mcL)
Mean Platelet Volume - 9.2 fL (Low) (9.4 fL - 12.3 fL)
Red Cell Distribution Width-SD - 54.1 fL (High) (35.1 fL - 43.9 fL)
21.8 % (High) (11.7 % - 14.4%)
MCH - 18.5 pg (Low) (25.6 pg - 32.2 pg)
MCV - 68.0 fL (Low) (79.4 fL - 94.8 fL)
Bilirubin Total - 0.1 mg/dL (Low) (0.3 mg/dL - 1.2 mg/dL)
Potassium Level - 3.5 mmol/L (Low) (3.6 mmol/L - 5.1 mmol/L)

[Multibilly]

Re: Could this be multiple myeloma?

by Multibilly on Tue Sep 13, 2016 6:37 am

Hi Dene16,

Welcome to the forum.

I'm a little confused. You said you are waiting on your serum protein electrophoresis results. However, you have a notation that says "Paraprotein Concentration - 0.00 gm/dL". What test did that statement come from?

You also say that you are awaiting the results of a urine electrophoresis test. Was that test based on a 24 hour urine collection?

Some of these these lab results do suggest the "possibility" of a plasma cell disorder and it's good that your doctor ordered the additional tests. But but it's really hard to tell what you are dealing with without having the results of your pending tests.

[Dene16]

Re: Could this be multiple myeloma?

by Dene16 on Tue Sep 13, 2016 9:05 am

Thanks for your response. The results to my urine (it is a not 24-hour urine), immunofixation, and serum protein test have to be given to me by my doc, and I'm waiting for a follow-up appointment with him. The other results I have immediate access to in my online health portal.

I'll just have to wait for the follow up appointment in a week.

Thanks!

[Multibilly]

Re: Could this be multiple myeloma?

by Multibilly on Tue Sep 13, 2016 10:07 am

Well, given you have an elevated IgG, the serum immuno­fixa­tion and electro­phoresis test will tell you if that is due to a mono­clonal protein disorder or not. So, that will be a really good start in help­ing you get to the bottom of this.