[Frank B]

Should one get tested quickly for multiple myeloma?

by Frank B on Tue Jan 03, 2017 11:26 pm

I had a realization a week or so after Thanksgiving this year: I may have multiple myeloma. So my current symptoms include fatigue, a red rash on my chest that I think worsens with alcohol (I've since stopped drinking), chronic back pain for past 10 years (sometimes debilitating but often manageable), occasional peripheral neuropathy in the hands and feet (past 2 years), foam in urine (noticed in past month, but not sure how long before).

Urine dipstick indicates high specific gravity but only modest protein increase. Apparently it's really a test for albumin and won't detect Bence-Jones. Test was negative for glucose and other causes of specific gravity increase).

Occasional nausea, resting heart rate has been rising since September, VO2Max dropped from 54 to 49 since September. I have a history which has included bouts of debilitating fatigue which has been treated with levothyroxine and testosterone gel supplementation. However, I recently stopped the testosterone for fear it might be contributing to these symptoms. I remember my first bout of fatigue had normal lab tests except erythrocytes sedimentation was abnormal (15ish years ago; wondering if it could be the erythrocytes chains).

I've had night sweats in the past, but they would be transient and I had thought perhaps they were related to the testosterone therapy. Lately I've been feeling more and more unsteady. I feel pressure in my chest (blood pressure was 144 when I checked yesterday; maybe stress?) .

I've managed to get an appointment to be evaluated for multiple myeloma by my GP on January 11, Am I making a mistake by not going to an urgent care? Should I try to get lab tests for multiple myeloma done prior to the GP visit?

I'm not sure how much to "tough it out" versus any potential need to act quick to save kidney function if this is a true multiple myeloma. I appreciate any thoughts or ideas.

I haven't told anyone except the doctor's office that I think I have this, so it would be good to know if I'm handling this incorrectly. The doctors office had recommended I go see an urgent care clinic since I was traveling for Christmas, but I didn't want to spoil everyone's Christmas and I also thought it was probably a reflex recommendation like the automated message you get when you call and they say "hang up and dial 911 if this is an emergency".

Ok, sorry for the long rambling post .... and I am grateful to have found such a great group of people!

Frank

[lrankin]

Re: Should one get tested quickly for multiple myeloma?

by lrankin on Sun Jan 08, 2017 3:07 pm

I read your post just today. If you have had back pain for 10 years and multiple myeloma has not been detected prior, I would not correlate that with myeloma. Either that, or you have lived a long time with no treatment.

Keep us posted on the findings.