Hello,
I have been reading these forums all day because I saw my lab results online but haven't heard from my doc yet. He hates liquor so for years has been telling me I will get liver disease (I drink beer only and about 5x per week and about 6 or so each time). I do have a fatty liver but am also overweight (5'11", 260 lbs). It is partly due to me being anemic off and on for 8 years. I receive a battery of iron infusions about every 18 months to get my levels back up.
Everyone here is absolutely great. Very unselfish acts of providing detailed information based on experience. I do the same for others for issues I have experienced.
My concern is over the following numbers:
ALT = 55 (down from 75)
AST = 23
Bilirubin = 0.9
The numbers I am concerned about:
IgG = 2415
IgA = 1119
IgM = 369
Immunofixation-Serum = Normal
Urine - Protein = 7
It seems like if the doctor is concerned about possible myeloma, etc., I am in for a good deal of more lab work. I did read these levels could be elevated due to liver disease (fatty liver) as well, so there is a good chance that is the cause.
I am 45 years old and am fighting a leg ulcer, but I don't see if that could also be the cause in the elevated numbers. TOTALLY STRESSING!! Also have a cruise a week from now and was hoping my anemia had been cleared (it was) and leg better (it is) and now this.
Any advice is GREATLY appreciated. Thank you
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Re: Have liver issues, but now elevated immunoglobulins
Hi Patriots,
First off, I'm not a doc.
But given that all three of your primary immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA and IgM) are elevated and your serum immunofixation test result was negative, you likely aren't looking at multiple myeloma. Usually, only one immunoglobulin is elevated with multiple myeloma ... and, in some rare cases, two immuoglobluins are elevated. Also, a serum immunofixation test is very good at detecting if any of your immuonoblulins are monoclonal or not (a hallmark of the most common form of multiple myeloma). So, given that your immunofixation test was negative (but you have elevated immunoglobulins), that suggests to me you aren't dealing with multiple myeloma.
You are right that an infection and fatty liver disease can raise one's immunogloblin levels.
I'm guessing that you are already aware that drinking a 6-pack or more of beer at a time 5 times a week is quite excessive and is likely the cause of your fatty liver. Additionally, excess alcohol may potentially be the cause of your anemia. You can already likely guess where I'm going with this ...
Hope you can use this scare as a wake-up call, find some help, and that you can get your health back in order. Take care.
First off, I'm not a doc.
But given that all three of your primary immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA and IgM) are elevated and your serum immunofixation test result was negative, you likely aren't looking at multiple myeloma. Usually, only one immunoglobulin is elevated with multiple myeloma ... and, in some rare cases, two immuoglobluins are elevated. Also, a serum immunofixation test is very good at detecting if any of your immuonoblulins are monoclonal or not (a hallmark of the most common form of multiple myeloma). So, given that your immunofixation test was negative (but you have elevated immunoglobulins), that suggests to me you aren't dealing with multiple myeloma.
You are right that an infection and fatty liver disease can raise one's immunogloblin levels.
I'm guessing that you are already aware that drinking a 6-pack or more of beer at a time 5 times a week is quite excessive and is likely the cause of your fatty liver. Additionally, excess alcohol may potentially be the cause of your anemia. You can already likely guess where I'm going with this ...
Hope you can use this scare as a wake-up call, find some help, and that you can get your health back in order. Take care.
-
Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Have liver issues, but now elevated immunoglobulins
Hi Multibilly,
Thank you for your quick reply. I wanted to recognize your exceptional support of this board. As you indicated, I am well aware of the impact of alcohol and I am planning to greatly reduce my intake. As someone who used to be in the top physical condition, I have the knowledge to drop the extra weight (70 lbs overweight), which obviously will also help (if not correct) a fatty liver.
Again, thank you for your kind reply and please continue to help assisting others, as I can tell by others' replies they count on you! All the best.
Thank you for your quick reply. I wanted to recognize your exceptional support of this board. As you indicated, I am well aware of the impact of alcohol and I am planning to greatly reduce my intake. As someone who used to be in the top physical condition, I have the knowledge to drop the extra weight (70 lbs overweight), which obviously will also help (if not correct) a fatty liver.
Again, thank you for your kind reply and please continue to help assisting others, as I can tell by others' replies they count on you! All the best.
3 posts
• Page 1 of 1