I was wondering if anyone here can tell when their calcium levels are elevated?
Been feeling lousy ... I have a hard time telling what's going on in my body . My brain does not want to think clear when I feel like this. The frequent urination, confusion, sleepy, stomach pain, nausea, dizziness and headache. My calcium from my MGUS has always been on the normal / high end.
I think I can tell when it gets higher now. I seem to have the same symptoms when it comes on. I had to find a new hem doctor and appointments with him are a month wait. I been drinking lots to flush out the extra calcium, but I am not feeling better.
Is there anything else to do reduce these symptoms?
Also, could my symptoms be related to the increased bruises/hematomas? I have abnormal bleeding from my MGUS. But I am covered in lumps/hematomas now. It might be from more outside activity/gardening.
Thanks
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Re: Can you tell when your calcium levels are elevated?
Hi bad blood,
Sorry to hear about how you're feeling.
A couple of questions just to clarify things.
First, you have MGUS, right?
Second, what have you calcium levels typically been in your recent blood tests? Have they tended toward the higher end of the normal range?
Third, some of the symptoms you've described seem like they could be due to anemia, not high calcium levels. What have your hemoglobin levels been like in your recent test results?
Sorry to hear about how you're feeling.
A couple of questions just to clarify things.
First, you have MGUS, right?
Second, what have you calcium levels typically been in your recent blood tests? Have they tended toward the higher end of the normal range?
Third, some of the symptoms you've described seem like they could be due to anemia, not high calcium levels. What have your hemoglobin levels been like in your recent test results?
Re: Can you tell when your calcium levels are elevated?
Bad blood,
Back in April if 2011 I had my second visit to my oncologist/hematologist to get a bone marrow biopsy. A diagnosis of multiple myeloma had not been made yet. I believe my doctor knew it was likely myeloma or PCL but wanted to get biopsy results and run some more labs in addition to what my primary care physician had already done to confirm before giving me the news.
Two days after that biopsy I was eating lunch with my GF at Applebees and realized I had become super thirsty and could not seem to drink enough water to quench that thirst. I kept asking for more water and refills which kept me going to the bathroom a lot. This continued after I went home. This was something strange and I had no idea what was going on or what it might be, but this was really odd for me. Maybe it was related to the problem I was seeing that oncologist for?
I emailed my Oncologist and described my thirst and frequent urination, asking if this was an issue or anything of importance. Sometime later that day I got a response back to my email. He told me to go the ER immediately and that I had multiple myeloma. That was the first time I had been told it was myeloma and like everyone else at this moment my head was spinning.
He did not say why I needed to go to the ER. It was a weekend evening and it was getting late and I did not want to go. My mother was a nurse and always told me stories about what a bad time it was to have to go to the ER on weekend nights as that is when they are very busy. I did think whatever my problem was would be that important compared to others waiting in the ER and I did not want to sit waiting for hours past midnight, bone tired. I was already pretty tired.
I decided to go on the morning thinking it would be less crowed. I went in the morning with my GF and did not feel that great at all. My back and ribs were really starting to hurt a lot more and I did not know why. I was also having the symptoms you described -- fuzzy thinking, slow, tired etc. I told the admitting nurse my oncologist told me to go to the ER, I explained what I was feeling, and that I had just been diagnosed with myeloma.
They took me in right away, put me in a room hooked up to heart monitoring equipment and started drawing lots of blood. My heart rate was up around 110. I believe they also got a hold of my oncologist, but I do not remember all the details, I seemed to be getting more confused by the hour. Most of the time the doctors were talking to my GF and parents who were there.
It was not long before it was explained to me that I was in renal failure from high blood calcium and I was going to be admitted as soon as they had a bed open on the oncology ward which happened later that morning. I ended up staying a week and my kidneys were saved and returned to full function. They were not sure that was going to be the case.
This is a long story in response to your question but, given what I had experienced and that you know your calcium runs on the high side and you have MGUS, my recommendation is contact your oncologist ASAP and maybe even before waiting for a response go to Urgent Care or the ER. They should know how to recognize and diagnosis renal failure if you are having it and a calcium blood level test can be run pretty quickly.
Back in April if 2011 I had my second visit to my oncologist/hematologist to get a bone marrow biopsy. A diagnosis of multiple myeloma had not been made yet. I believe my doctor knew it was likely myeloma or PCL but wanted to get biopsy results and run some more labs in addition to what my primary care physician had already done to confirm before giving me the news.
Two days after that biopsy I was eating lunch with my GF at Applebees and realized I had become super thirsty and could not seem to drink enough water to quench that thirst. I kept asking for more water and refills which kept me going to the bathroom a lot. This continued after I went home. This was something strange and I had no idea what was going on or what it might be, but this was really odd for me. Maybe it was related to the problem I was seeing that oncologist for?
I emailed my Oncologist and described my thirst and frequent urination, asking if this was an issue or anything of importance. Sometime later that day I got a response back to my email. He told me to go the ER immediately and that I had multiple myeloma. That was the first time I had been told it was myeloma and like everyone else at this moment my head was spinning.
He did not say why I needed to go to the ER. It was a weekend evening and it was getting late and I did not want to go. My mother was a nurse and always told me stories about what a bad time it was to have to go to the ER on weekend nights as that is when they are very busy. I did think whatever my problem was would be that important compared to others waiting in the ER and I did not want to sit waiting for hours past midnight, bone tired. I was already pretty tired.
I decided to go on the morning thinking it would be less crowed. I went in the morning with my GF and did not feel that great at all. My back and ribs were really starting to hurt a lot more and I did not know why. I was also having the symptoms you described -- fuzzy thinking, slow, tired etc. I told the admitting nurse my oncologist told me to go to the ER, I explained what I was feeling, and that I had just been diagnosed with myeloma.
They took me in right away, put me in a room hooked up to heart monitoring equipment and started drawing lots of blood. My heart rate was up around 110. I believe they also got a hold of my oncologist, but I do not remember all the details, I seemed to be getting more confused by the hour. Most of the time the doctors were talking to my GF and parents who were there.
It was not long before it was explained to me that I was in renal failure from high blood calcium and I was going to be admitted as soon as they had a bed open on the oncology ward which happened later that morning. I ended up staying a week and my kidneys were saved and returned to full function. They were not sure that was going to be the case.
This is a long story in response to your question but, given what I had experienced and that you know your calcium runs on the high side and you have MGUS, my recommendation is contact your oncologist ASAP and maybe even before waiting for a response go to Urgent Care or the ER. They should know how to recognize and diagnosis renal failure if you are having it and a calcium blood level test can be run pretty quickly.
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Eric Hofacket - Name: Eric H
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 01 April 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: Can you tell when your calcium levels are elevated?
Hi Ian,
Thanks for your reply. Means a lot! Yes, my calcium levels have always been on the high end of normal. Hg has been ok too. No labs done since Dec. 2013. They normally check my reticulocytes because of my bleeding disorders from MGUS. Sorry ... yes MGUS. I also have been in the ER in the past for hyponatremia. So it may be that too. The symptoms seem a lot alike. I can't think clear when I feel like this.
Thanks for your reply. Means a lot! Yes, my calcium levels have always been on the high end of normal. Hg has been ok too. No labs done since Dec. 2013. They normally check my reticulocytes because of my bleeding disorders from MGUS. Sorry ... yes MGUS. I also have been in the ER in the past for hyponatremia. So it may be that too. The symptoms seem a lot alike. I can't think clear when I feel like this.
Re: Can you tell when your calcium levels are elevated?
I think you would really benefit from getting to the ER or at least Urgent Care, soon, as in today. It has been six months since your last labs and a lot could have happened in that time frame. You cannot figure this out on your own and it really sounds like now is the time for action.
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Eric Hofacket - Name: Eric H
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 01 April 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: Can you tell when your calcium levels are elevated?
Thank you Eric too. I have a appointment with my new hemo doc June 26. I told the doc at my first appointment I was not feeling good. We are in the process of finding out what hoops to jump through to get my insurance to pay for labs & tests. I am going to try and hold out to see him on the 26th. Thanks
Re: Can you tell when your calcium levels are elevated?
Hi BB, June 26 is still two weeks away ... I agree with Eric that you should get seen to sooner. How about your primary care physician? If you were to explain your symptoms when calling their office I think you could get checked up today or tomorrow. This might not be related to MGUS at all actually. Good luck, and hope you get some medical attention soon.
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Can you tell when your calcium levels are elevated?
Hi Nancy,
I also had to get a new GP since the new insurance ... Not very good timing to feel bad. I will call the hem/onc office if I don't feel better. Hiccups too. Strange. Thanks all your help everyone.
Be well.
I also had to get a new GP since the new insurance ... Not very good timing to feel bad. I will call the hem/onc office if I don't feel better. Hiccups too. Strange. Thanks all your help everyone.
Be well.
Re: Can you tell when your calcium levels are elevated?
Bad Blood,
New insurance, or not, call the oncologist's office, the primary care doctor's office, and/or go to the ER. The symptoms that you are experiencing are not normal and should be addressed NOW!. If by some chance you are experiencing renal failure, you could be damaging your kidneys permanently. You don't want to take that chance.
Nancy in Phila
New insurance, or not, call the oncologist's office, the primary care doctor's office, and/or go to the ER. The symptoms that you are experiencing are not normal and should be addressed NOW!. If by some chance you are experiencing renal failure, you could be damaging your kidneys permanently. You don't want to take that chance.
Nancy in Phila
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NStewart - Name: Nancy Stewart
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/08
- Age at diagnosis: 60
9 posts
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