[az434]

Nervous due to recent blood work

by az434 on Wed Oct 28, 2015 2:05 pm

Hello,

I am new here and appreciate everyone taking the time to look at this. I have had some recent blood work done and I have become nervous. My CBC is all within normal limits. My metabolic panel had some abnormal results.

Total Protein - 8.4 (Abn: H) gm/dL Normal Range 6.4 - 8.2
Albumin - 4.7 (Abn: H) gm/dL Normal Range 3.2 - 4.6

They did not list my Globulin, but simple math tells you that it is:

Globulin - 3.7

From what I have read, that is slightly high as well.

The A/G ratio is 1.27

I know these numbers are only slightly high, but I have been experiencing fatigue, aches, and also tenderness in my rib cage on my right and left sides on the front of my torso. It does not hurt to breathe or stretch, just sore to touch or pressure. I also have been experiencing tingling / burning sensations in my thighs for a few months.

My doctor says my protein and albumin levels are slightly elevated due to good nutrition. I'm kind of thrown off by that according to what I read online. He also thinks I am tired and achy because I haven't been sleeping well and is caused by anxiety. I will admit I have some sort of health anxiety, but these symptoms have been rather persistent. Please share some insight on whether or not I should pursue further testing on my own through a walk in lab.

Calcium 9.0 mg/dL and creatinine 0.83 mg/dL are all within the normal limits.

Sorry to be a bother and I wish everyone the best,

AZ

[Multibilly]

Re: Nervous due to recent blood work

by Multibilly on Wed Oct 28, 2015 3:05 pm

Hi Az434,

Welcome to the forum!

I was originally diagnosed with smoldering multiple myeloma by virtue of my GP astutely picking up on my elevated protein level on a routine metabolic panel. The only reason he picked up on it is because he happened to have a multiple myeloma patient that he encountered a few years back and he had been on the lookout for increased protein levels in lab tests ever since.

A serum protein electrophoresis test (SPEP), serum immunofixatoin (IFE) and a free light chain assay would catch the vast majority of various types of multiple myeloma. These are pretty cheap and easy tests to do and it's perfect reasonable to ask a GP do these tests under the circumstances. If you were to only get one test, I would suggest the serum immunofixation (IFE) test. That test will tell if you have any monoclonal protein in your blood and you could take it from there. If your GP won't order one, then I might suggest seeking out a different GP.

I don't know what your insurance is like and if you can go to another GP (or a hematologist without a referral), but I would start there before shelling out the money at a walk-in lab without having the benefit of an insurance discount.

Hope it turns out to be nothing and that your doc is right. It's a good indication that your CBC, creatinine and calcium levels are all normal.