[Fozz]

Struggling to get the medics to give me answers

by Fozz on Thu Nov 13, 2014 6:02 am

Hi,

I'm new here and very worried and confused. I have been unwell for over a year with several bouts if pneumonia and pyelonephritis and several courses if IV and oral antibiotics.

Back in March, I was in the infectious diseases ward and a blood test showed an elevated IgA and mild anaemia and I was discharged with a follow-up 3 months later with the gastro consultant.

In June, the gastro consultant noted the raised IgA and asked for it to be repeated and I was asked to return 3 months later.

I saw my gastro consultant 3 weeks ago and she noted the IgA was still raised and requested electrophoresis and FBC.

I've had a partial result back over the phone which I don't know how to interpret it. Results as follows:

IgM increased by 8%
IgG low
Total protein normal
No mention of IgA and doc couldn't find any reference to it.
Beta 2 microglobulin monoclonal spike lambda 12
WBC low
Neutrophils low
Haemoglobin very low side of normal.

I am currently on more antibiotics for another chest infection, now day 14 and my temp is going up and down. I've lost just over 2 stone in weight since March. I've gone from 10 and 3 quarter stone to 8 and a half.

I think I'm right to be concerned but my gp doesn't seem bothered and I've phoned my gastro consultants secretary about 8 times now and still no response.

Does this picture ring alarm bells or am I worrying about nothing? I just can't understand why I'm left dangling without anyone taking it seriously if it is concerning.

Advice really welcome!
Kath. Xx

[Fozz]

Re: Struggling to get the medics to give me answers

by Fozz on Thu Nov 13, 2014 12:29 pm

Hi, I've just had a call from my consultant's secretary saying they want a referral to haema­tol­ogy. She said my IgA paraprotein is 12 and anything over 10 means referral.

Kath. X

[Multibilly]

Re: Struggling to get the medics to give me answers

by Multibilly on Thu Nov 13, 2014 1:52 pm

Hi Fozz,

Welcome to the forum! I'm glad you are getting to see a hematologist.

I'm guessing that your IgA level is expressed in g/L. 12 g/L is 1200 mg/dL in USA terms, which is indeed elevated.

It's a little hard to decipher the line stating "Beta 2 microglobulin monoclonal spike lambda 12" (you are combining a couple of different lab test names), but I am going to guess that this means your Serum Protein Electrophoresis (SPEP) test showed a monoclonal spike of 12 g/L (1.2 g/dL in USA terms).

You might want to review this handbook prior to your appointment:

http://myeloma.org/pdfs/Patient_Handbook_2013.pdf

For the first round of testing, you probably want to be asking to get the tests outlined in the Laboratory Tests section of this document.

http://myeloma.org/pdfs/IMF-U-TestResults-2011_f1web.pdf

Let us know how things turn out and good luck getting to the bottom of things.

P.S. Whenever your reference a lab result, it's always helpful if you include the lab value, the units of measure (g/L, etc) and the normal range from your lab tests (i.e. IgA 12 g/L, ref range = 0.7 to 4). It makes it a lot easier for folks on this forum to help you if we have that kind of info.

[Fozz]

Re: Struggling to get the medics to give me answers

by Fozz on Thu Nov 13, 2014 2:20 pm

Thank you for your reply, Multibilly.

Yes, it is 12g/L. It is all so confusing!

I've requested a copy of the letter my gastro consultant faxed to my GP, which has all the results in so I'll hopefully have more information tomorrow. I'm thinking that the 12 in the line you mention is maybe referring to the IgA at 12g/L although they did do an electrophoresis which showed a monoclonal spike. We maybe don't have a figure on that yet so I will hopefully have more info on that tomorrow.

Thanks again!

Kath. X