Anyone have a low IgM and struggling with a cold virus

Thank you for posing the question. I seem to be dealing with a similar issue currently but hadn't given low IGM a thought as a contributing factor. I don't have any answers but hope the problem resolves shortly. Are you receiving IVIG infusions? Best wishes to you for a quick resolution.

My IgM has been nonexistent for over 4 years now (less than 20) and my IgG also (below 250). But my IgA has been too high (over 1150). It is my understanding that IgA is the antibody which actually patrols the respiratory system so perhaps this is why I don't suffer from colds, flus, etc.

I'm currently 25 days into a cold (head and upper chest).
Two weeks ago, during routine testing for SLL/CLL monitoring, my Ig levels (A, G, M) were 48%, 66%, and 30% of the lower limit of normal. These were essentially unchanged from a year ago, when my SLL journey was beginning.

That's a long time to have to deal with a cold, @mereneg. Has it gotten better in the meantime?

Thank you for asking! This group is the best like a family. After 6 weeks almost back to my usual - had lost my appetite and lost ten pounds but all my blood work was ok - some new virus is what my dr thought

I also had a long duration cold in Oct. I ended up with a sinus infection (rare for me, at least pre-CLL), and got an antibiotic.

I was just in for a visit Mayo last week (for my CLL/WM/SMZL - I am on zanubrutinib & it's working great so far). My current Ig levels are: Ig A/M/G: 27, 2220, 317 (the high M is due to Waldenstroms, so those are defective IgM cells. 🙁 ) My doc said that it was my low IgA (27) that was the culprit for me (as richardab correctly pointed out, IgA is a guardian of our respiratory systems).

Hope this helps.

I have a low IgM - ir runs between 8 and 10. .i used to get severe upper respiratory infections that lasted for months. The low IgM It was the first sign I had MGUS, which was diagnosed in 2002 at Mayo - a very smart technologist picked up on a Total protein that was one decimal point lower than the reference. However, I am certain had this before cause of those infections.
While my IgM was higher 20 years ago, I no longer get respiratory infections but when I think one is starting I take osetalavir (tamiflu) prophalactically. It is not supposed to work but I swear it does as I have not had an URTI in years. I also wash my hands in hibiclens several times a day. That probably helps also. I do not swim in community pools either.