[Stepinup]

My suspicious mind at work

by Stepinup on Thu Oct 13, 2016 1:04 pm

First I would like to introduce myself. My name is Stephanie, and I am 36 years young. I am married with two little ones ages 4 and 7. I am in relatively good health and was diagnosed with IBS with constipation and adenomyosis 2 months ago.

I have been sick for a long time and feel determined to find the root cause for my symptoms. Around 6 months ago I have been feeling bouts of exhaustion and just a generic feeling of being sick. I get sick a lot with minor colds which takes months to get over, then I would be sick again.

At first I started off with mild night sweats and abdominal pain. Due to my persistent feeling that something was not right. I went to my doctor and was told it was "being a woman". Needless to say, I switched providers and then received news of adenomyosis. Great, right, nothing that serious. Nothing that an IUD couldn't fix.

I was symptom free for 1.5 months! (I have to add that all of my symptoms I have for one year prior. ) Until I get my night sweats back, pain in my right joint radiating down the center of my bone, run discomfort ( left side), my hair is falling out again, coughing that won't go away, and tingling feeling at the tips of fingers.

So, three days ago I was cleaning out my closet and came across my medical records of my ER visits. I look at them, noting that my anion gap is low. No one ever mentioned this to me. Not once, not twice, but three times they were low. Not too horribly low, but enough to question as to why?

So I look it up and for this forum after my search on multiple myeloma. Cancer runs deep in my family, so it wouldn't surprise me IF I had something. Obviously, I need this checked out.
I read through some posting and find that I am similar with my symptoms and after a year of constant pain, headaches, and exhaustion over talking to doctors who say I'm fine. (I've been to 3 different GPs). Please. I don't feel like I'm fine one bit.

Tomorrow I see my new GP and want another blood test to see if this isn't a fluke or error.

I know my body and it is screaming at me to help. Sigh.

Anybody else want to chime in, you are more then welcome.

I thank you for reading this and maybe give me some info I don't know.

[Multibilly]

Re: My suspicious mind at work

by Multibilly on Thu Oct 13, 2016 2:49 pm

Hi Stepinup,

Welcome to the forum. You might want to read this thread and follow the guidance provided by Dr. Libby.

https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/should-i-worry-t1086.html

Let us know how things go and good luck.

[Stepinup]

Re: My suspicious mind at work

by Stepinup on Thu Oct 13, 2016 3:39 pm

Multibilly,
Thank you, that was great information!

My blood draws were once a week for three weeks so I will definitely ask for another to see where I stand on asking for protein serum.

Respectfully,
Stepinup

[Multibilly]

Re: My suspicious mind at work

by Multibilly on Thu Oct 13, 2016 4:42 pm

You specifically want to ask for these tests to rule out a plasma cell disorder:

1. Serum Protein Electrophoresis and Serum Immunofixation
2. Serum Free Light Chain Assay