Hi,
As a new member I want to thank you all for your informative posts and encouraging words.
My M-spike was found due to blood work related to autoimmune problems. My rheumatologist does not seem concerned and says I just have a "teeny weeny" monoclonal protein. My first reading in Sept 2013 was 0.85 g/dL. Since then I have had just over 0.85, 9.0, then in April it was 1.08 g/dL.
My question is whether these fluctuations (all going up unfortunately) are normal variations in the level of protein. I should mention that my WBC is 3.4 giga/L, my platelet count is 130 giga/L, and my lymphocytes are 0.6 giga/L. I have intermittent numbness and tingling on one side of my body only and mild lower back pain. My monoclonal band is in the gamma region and polyclonal immunoglobulins are suppressed.
I had the impression from reading myeloma websites that you had to have a high M-spike to have myeloma but your recent poll showed quite a few people diagnosed with myeloma and having low levels (lower than mine).
Thanks so much for any information to clarify this for me,
Helen L
Forums
4 posts
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Re: M-Spike fluctuations - what is "normal"?
There are many people that have multiple myeloma and have never had an M spike. I am one that was diagnosed with just a faint reading that was not measurable on a SPEP. However, my FLC [free light chain] assay showed that I had IgG kappa light chain myeloma. I had some bone lesions on my hip and femurs and was slightly anemic. Thus the myeloma was active.
The fact that your M spike has been increasing over a few of your tests and is now over 1.0 is an indication that things are not normal. I would suggest that you might ask for a referral to an oncologist that has multiple myeloma experience, or better yet a multiple myeloma specialist, for more testing.
Good luck
Ron
The fact that your M spike has been increasing over a few of your tests and is now over 1.0 is an indication that things are not normal. I would suggest that you might ask for a referral to an oncologist that has multiple myeloma experience, or better yet a multiple myeloma specialist, for more testing.
Good luck
Ron
-
Ron Harvot - Name: Ron Harvot
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: M-Spike fluctuations - what is "normal"?
Welcome to the forum, Helen.
It's possible to be diagnosed with multiple myeloma even if you have a low M-spike. In some cases, if a patient is truly what is known as a "non-secretor", they can be diagnosed with multiple myeloma with no M-spike whatsoever. That's pretty rare, however.
The key thing that determines whether you have multiple myeloma, rather than one of its earlier stages (MGUS and smoldering myeloma) is whether the myeloma is causing symptoms. There's a useful description of the criteria for having myeloma in the "diagnostic criteria" section of the Wikipedia article on multiple myeloma,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_myeloma#Diagnostic_criteria
From what you've described, the main thing that you might want to be concerned about is the back pain that you've described. Bone damage is one of the symptoms of multiple myeloma.
However, as has been pointed out here in the forum before, back pain is a very common ailment.
Still, you probably should have some x-rays done to check and make sure there's no bone damage in your spine or elsewhere.
You did not mention your hemoglobin levels. Are they okay? What about your kidney function tests, such as creatinine levels?
More than likely, what you have is just what is known as "MGUS". Although MGUS is a very early stage of multiple myeloma, most people diagnosed with MGUS never see the disease progress to multiple myeloma.
But you should tests done, if you haven't already, to make sure you're not experiencing any bone damage, kidney damage, or anemia.
Good luck!
It's possible to be diagnosed with multiple myeloma even if you have a low M-spike. In some cases, if a patient is truly what is known as a "non-secretor", they can be diagnosed with multiple myeloma with no M-spike whatsoever. That's pretty rare, however.
The key thing that determines whether you have multiple myeloma, rather than one of its earlier stages (MGUS and smoldering myeloma) is whether the myeloma is causing symptoms. There's a useful description of the criteria for having myeloma in the "diagnostic criteria" section of the Wikipedia article on multiple myeloma,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_myeloma#Diagnostic_criteria
From what you've described, the main thing that you might want to be concerned about is the back pain that you've described. Bone damage is one of the symptoms of multiple myeloma.
However, as has been pointed out here in the forum before, back pain is a very common ailment.
Still, you probably should have some x-rays done to check and make sure there's no bone damage in your spine or elsewhere.
You did not mention your hemoglobin levels. Are they okay? What about your kidney function tests, such as creatinine levels?
More than likely, what you have is just what is known as "MGUS". Although MGUS is a very early stage of multiple myeloma, most people diagnosed with MGUS never see the disease progress to multiple myeloma.
But you should tests done, if you haven't already, to make sure you're not experiencing any bone damage, kidney damage, or anemia.
Good luck!
Re: M-Spike fluctuations - what is "normal"?
Thanks Ron and Terry for your great answers,
I should have mentioned that my doctor did refer me to a hematologist/oncologist who sent me for blood tests and did offer to send me for a CT scan. It seemed that it was more just to reassure me than anything else so I thought I should pass on it. All my other blood work is normal (calcium etc.). I got the impression that she felt my M-spike was too low to be a problem.
After your posts, I think I might make another appointment with her about my back pain. It sounds like there are things that can be done to bolster the bone if problems are occurring.
Thanks again,
Helen L
I should have mentioned that my doctor did refer me to a hematologist/oncologist who sent me for blood tests and did offer to send me for a CT scan. It seemed that it was more just to reassure me than anything else so I thought I should pass on it. All my other blood work is normal (calcium etc.). I got the impression that she felt my M-spike was too low to be a problem.
After your posts, I think I might make another appointment with her about my back pain. It sounds like there are things that can be done to bolster the bone if problems are occurring.
Thanks again,
Helen L
4 posts
• Page 1 of 1