[31female]

Not sure of lab results or where to go from here

by 31female on Sun Feb 21, 2016 7:39 pm

Hello Everyone,

I've been looking at this site for a few days and thought perhaps some of the folks on here could offer thoughts on what I have been experiencing.

This all started about 8 months ago with problems with my right eye inflammation and pain docs thought it was a viral infection. This progressed into muscle and joint pain which has now caused tendinitis in my Achilles and wrists potentially shoulder and elbow but has not been confirmed.

I have had a positive ANa since this began but the titres have dropped since the first test. I had the serum proteins checked as part of all the bloodwork I have had done. The first time this was tested it showed a high IgM of 2.59, normal range being up to 2.30 g/l. I have recently had this repeated along with immunofixation test, which shows the IgM dropped to 2.41 g/l but the immunofixation states a discrete underlying band of IgG type kappa is detected.

I should note that my CBC has been normal throughout this time and no protein has been detected in the standard urine test.

I've been seeing a rheumatologist who says she is not overly concerned of it being myeloma but I can't help but worry as I have back pain, shoulder pain as well as some rib pain that started the other night after a some physical activities. I'm wondering what bone pain feels like in this disease and what thoughts those who have already been diagnosed might be able to offer me.

I worried that the doc isn't treating this seriously. She said that sometimes a virus can cause this or alternatively I may have a strange form of lupus, but the IgG kappa immunofixation test really has me shaken as I have two year and a single mom.

Sorry for the lengthy post just trying to put as much detail as I can recall.

Thank you in advance!

[Tracy J]

Re: Not sure of lab results or where to go from here

by Tracy J on Mon Feb 22, 2016 9:50 am

Hello there! If the results of your serum immunofixation (IFE) showed a monoclonal kappa band, you need to get to the bottom of it. No doubt. Especially if you have unexplained pain. Did you have serum free light chains done too? I would explicitly ask the rheumatologist for a referral to heme/onc for further testing. Or do you have a primary doctor? If so, you could try that route. But if I were in your shoes, I wouldn't let go of this until I got an answer.

[31female]

Re: Not sure of lab results or where to go from here

by 31female on Mon Feb 22, 2016 11:58 am

HI Tracy,

Thanks for the reply. I have contacted my rheumatologist this morning and have requested for the free light chains test to be run. I can't understand why she doesn't think this is urgent enough to proceed with further testing. I have also requested to have a bone scan or PET scheduled. I have been researching all weekend and I can't find anything else on the web to show this could be related to something else. She thinks because of my age and the normal blood work aside from IFE and positive ANA that it is very unlikely to be myeloma and, if anything, it could be MGUS. Very frustrating.

Do you know if once this band is detected it could go away a few months? The rheumy previously said that she would rerun the IFE in a few months and see if its still there.

Thanks again!

Mel