Hi,
I'm a 36 year woman from Ireland who is generally very well; I rarely have any illness, thankfully. In 2016 I had two recurrent miscarriages which naturally was devastating and led to a period of great stress, anxiety, and to be honest, depression.
In January 2017 I went to my GP to get some hormonal blood testing done before my husband and I would consider trying again. On the blood request form (paper), the serum protein electrophoresis test is in the same panel as the hormone tests and the box must have been ticked by accident by my GP.
The SPE test with immunofixation takes approximately 35 days to complete (I don't know why! -blood test was 18th January, lab didn't receive until 6th February) and chemical pathology department sent my results to my confused GP in March, which stated:
Protein Total: 67 g/l (60-80 g/l)
IgA Paraprotein: Trace (g/l)
Comment: There is a trace of a tiny IgA lambda monoclonal protein band present without immune paresis.
There was no instruction to my GP, just a FYI.
My GP wrote back stating that she didn't order the test and described my miscarriage history. They took this as a referral and I'm due to get an appointment in the immunology department in 3-6 months (which in the Irish public system is considered urgent, non urgent wait times are up to 2 years). My GP is pretty confident that this isn't a concern, but also admits that this is beyond her expertise and has suggested that if I want, she can refer me to a private haematologist. I've gone for this option and I'm currently waiting for an appointment.
About three weeks before the blood test (end of December, start of January) I had a bad neck rash for two weeks, it finally resolved about 1 week before the test. All other tests were normal. My neutrophil count was a little reduced at 1.91 but nothing was said about this.
Could this be MGUS? Or a transient paraprotein? Or a false positive? I'm a worrier by nature and the internet is driving me to insanity!
Thanks for your help,
Lucy
Forums
Re: Trace of tiny IgA lambda monoclonal protein band
Lucy,
I think all of the options you described above are possible.
But keep in mind that the measurement of IgA paraprotein via SPE is inherently inaccurate due to there often being other proteins that reside in the same band as IgA. Those other proteins can in turn throw off the SPE measurement (which only returned a trace reading of IgA paraprotein anyway).
But I bet the hematologist will run a more complete battery of tests (including a free light chain assay, etc) and will then simply ask you to get-rested in a year or so and tell you not to worry about it.
Let us know how things turn out.
I think all of the options you described above are possible.
But keep in mind that the measurement of IgA paraprotein via SPE is inherently inaccurate due to there often being other proteins that reside in the same band as IgA. Those other proteins can in turn throw off the SPE measurement (which only returned a trace reading of IgA paraprotein anyway).
But I bet the hematologist will run a more complete battery of tests (including a free light chain assay, etc) and will then simply ask you to get-rested in a year or so and tell you not to worry about it.
Let us know how things turn out.
Last edited by Multibilly on Sun Apr 02, 2017 11:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Trace of tiny IgA lambda monoclonal protein band
Hi Lucy, I hope that your blood tests turn out to be normal, and not indicating MGUS. You have already been through a difficult time, with miscarriages. The hematologist might also order another set of tests called 'serum free light chains'. They measure the amounts of free antibodies floating in the blood, the kappa and lambda types. There is a normal range for those, but if you were to have mutant myeloma cells, they are increased. The ratio of kappa/lambda is also reported. Best wishes!
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Trace of tiny IgA lambda monoclonal protein band
Thank you both for replying to me, I really appreciate it. I'll be sure to keep you posted!
Best wishes,
Lucy
Best wishes,
Lucy
Re: Trace of tiny IgA lambda monoclonal protein band
Hi,
I had my appointment with the haematologist today who was so lovely and answered all my questions.
Basically he said that it could be MGUS, but that he could tell I was anxious (understatement of the century), he would take me in as a day case and do every possible test under the sun – all blood tests, light chains, skeletal x rays, 24 hr urine etc. I opted also to have a bone marrow biopsy.
He said that he was 95% sure it was nothing to worry about and outlined the possibility that it might disappear / be transient, stay at this low level or in 1% of cases per year transform to myeloma.
I'm trying to keep my anxiety under control but so much has happened over the years that I do struggle. Also, we wanted to start trying for a baby and have had the green light from our fertility doctor, but that can take a back seat until I go through these tests. We've also just bought our first house and hope to move in the next few weeks. A lot is going on!
The haematologist still doesn't know why the tests were done in the first place and the excessive time it took for results to be reported- 6 weeks!
Anyway, it feels good to write all that down.
I'll keep you posted with results, hopefully the appointment will come through quick enough!
Best wishes to all!
Lucy
I had my appointment with the haematologist today who was so lovely and answered all my questions.
Basically he said that it could be MGUS, but that he could tell I was anxious (understatement of the century), he would take me in as a day case and do every possible test under the sun – all blood tests, light chains, skeletal x rays, 24 hr urine etc. I opted also to have a bone marrow biopsy.
He said that he was 95% sure it was nothing to worry about and outlined the possibility that it might disappear / be transient, stay at this low level or in 1% of cases per year transform to myeloma.
I'm trying to keep my anxiety under control but so much has happened over the years that I do struggle. Also, we wanted to start trying for a baby and have had the green light from our fertility doctor, but that can take a back seat until I go through these tests. We've also just bought our first house and hope to move in the next few weeks. A lot is going on!
The haematologist still doesn't know why the tests were done in the first place and the excessive time it took for results to be reported- 6 weeks!
Anyway, it feels good to write all that down.
I'll keep you posted with results, hopefully the appointment will come through quick enough!
Best wishes to all!
Lucy
Re: Trace of tiny IgA lambda monoclonal protein band
Hi Lucy,
I'm from Dublin. Fingers crossed for your results. Stay positive. I'm waiting for my latest results. It takes so long though. I get my cat and dog's results back in a day or two. I have to wait weeks. Trying for a baby must be seriously stressful, and I'm sure EVERYONE you know is telling you how to do it (you know what I mean
) If they're telling you to relax, listen to them!
Let us know your results.
Regards
I'm from Dublin. Fingers crossed for your results. Stay positive. I'm waiting for my latest results. It takes so long though. I get my cat and dog's results back in a day or two. I have to wait weeks. Trying for a baby must be seriously stressful, and I'm sure EVERYONE you know is telling you how to do it (you know what I mean
) If they're telling you to relax, listen to them!Let us know your results.
Regards
-
Colm - Name: Colm
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: smoldering April 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Trace of tiny IgA lambda monoclonal protein band
Hi Colm,
Nice to hear from you.
Waiting is the absolute pits, but I'm also probably the most impatient person on this earth.
Are you receiving any treatment?
Best wishes!
Nice to hear from you.
Waiting is the absolute pits, but I'm also probably the most impatient person on this earth.
Are you receiving any treatment?
Best wishes!
Re: Trace of tiny IgA lambda monoclonal protein band
Hi Lucy,
I have smoldering multiple myeloma, so no treatment yet. It's such a ridiculously complicated disease, it's a year now, and I'm still trying to educate myself about it
I regularly donated blood; there was a problem with a new device they used to check for anaemia, so I was told to get checked by my GP. I didn't have anaemia, but they discovered an M spike ... and the rest is history.
Anywho, fingers and toes still crossed for your results.
Regards
I have smoldering multiple myeloma, so no treatment yet. It's such a ridiculously complicated disease, it's a year now, and I'm still trying to educate myself about it
I regularly donated blood; there was a problem with a new device they used to check for anaemia, so I was told to get checked by my GP. I didn't have anaemia, but they discovered an M spike ... and the rest is history.
Anywho, fingers and toes still crossed for your results.
Regards
-
Colm - Name: Colm
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: smoldering April 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Trace of tiny IgA lambda monoclonal protein band
I got the very same letter after I donated! Last time was November 2015 I think. I couldn't donate again after the miscarriages in March 2016 and May 2016. My last set of thorough bloods was in June 2016 (all normal, apart from cholesterol.... ) and the bloods in January 2017 showed the trace paraprotein. Have my suspicions about the lab, but I suppose that's neither here nor there now, have to get checked out properly.
Have you had a bone marrow biopsy? Painful? I have quite a high pain threshold but don't know about this. Wonder if they'd allow my husband to come in with me? Probably not.
I'm living in Dublin too, from Donegal and married to a Mayo man.
Hope you're not waiting to much longer for your blood results!
Best wishes xx
) and the bloods in January 2017 showed the trace paraprotein. Have my suspicions about the lab, but I suppose that's neither here nor there now, have to get checked out properly.Have you had a bone marrow biopsy? Painful? I have quite a high pain threshold but don't know about this. Wonder if they'd allow my husband to come in with me? Probably not.
I'm living in Dublin too, from Donegal and married to a Mayo man.
Hope you're not waiting to much longer for your blood results!
Best wishes xx
Re: Trace of tiny IgA lambda monoclonal protein band
Yes, I had an aspirate and biopsy a year ago. I'm glad I didn't watch a video of this procedure until afterwards. I'm pretty good with pain too, don't have an anaesthetic for fillings. Although I must look like a big scaredy cat, because they had a huge male nurse stand beside me to 'assist'. He did nothing, but we had a bit of a laugh.
There were a few really unpleasant moments when I couldn't resist the urge to 'ouch'
But it doesn't take too long. I know I'll have to have more, but will resist the temptation of having some form of sedation. I started giving blood about 30 years ago to get over my fear of needles, and succeeded, I'm not going to let these bigger ones get the better of me I'm surprised I wasn't offered any the first time, the consultant just asked me if 'I was ok with procedures?' I said yes, even though I'd never been to a hospital in my life.
Anywho, you gals are supposed to be better with pain, so you'll do it without even an 'ouch'. You could ask, but I'm pretty sure your hubby won't be allowed in.
My late beloved father-in-law was from Donegal, fab place. And we're not long back from a very long weekend in Mayo, climbed the Reek, and did the Wild Atlantic Way from Westport through Achill and up to Belmullet. We had that warm blue sky weekend, it was just the most beautiful place.
Still waiting for my results
Luckily I'm a patient patient. (stupid English language)
Keep us informed Lucy.
Regards x
There were a few really unpleasant moments when I couldn't resist the urge to 'ouch'
But it doesn't take too long. I know I'll have to have more, but will resist the temptation of having some form of sedation. I started giving blood about 30 years ago to get over my fear of needles, and succeeded, I'm not going to let these bigger ones get the better of me I'm surprised I wasn't offered any the first time, the consultant just asked me if 'I was ok with procedures?' I said yes, even though I'd never been to a hospital in my life. Anywho, you gals are supposed to be better with pain, so you'll do it without even an 'ouch'. You could ask, but I'm pretty sure your hubby won't be allowed in.
My late beloved father-in-law was from Donegal, fab place. And we're not long back from a very long weekend in Mayo, climbed the Reek, and did the Wild Atlantic Way from Westport through Achill and up to Belmullet. We had that warm blue sky weekend, it was just the most beautiful place.
Still waiting for my results
Luckily I'm a patient patient. (stupid English language) Keep us informed Lucy.
Regards x
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Colm - Name: Colm
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: smoldering April 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 56
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