Does anyone else have MGUS?

Posted by mjlandin @mjlandin, Jun 4, 2022

I was diagnosed with MGUS last October and although I've done a lot of research, I feel there's still so much I don't know. Does anyone else have MGUS?

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@greenlantern

Yes, blood tests for the usual markers... immunoglobulins A, M, -- the alphabet. No, trends, but I've had Myasthenia Gravis for 22 years, so that is the king of comorbidities.

If you haven't heard of MG, I explain it like this: if i see a curb while walking, my brain says to my nerves "send a message to your legs to step up" -- but my legs say "never got the message". So, I stumble.

Damn acetylcholine receptors. I'm not drunk, I'm just uncoordinated.

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@greenlantern Best description of MG I’ve ever heard. Thanks!

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@4kleo

I do not have my senior gravis. I have M GUS. But I have extreme pain in my hands, nerve pain, and now it’s in my feet and I am Woopsie, which is just a cute word for not steady on my feet. I’m 76 and I have been active all of my life and this has totally thrown me a curve. I just don’t know what can be done for the pain, neuropathy, unbalance. I just don’t know what to do. ? I do pray a lot.

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I’m same as you.
Very frustrating,isn’t it?

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My diagnosis is in. Negative for amyloidosis. A hypertrophic, asymmetrical heart wall septum, plus a slightly thickened heart wall, with a Mspike of 0.99g/dl of IgG lambda was the original concern for amyloidosis. Nuclear heart scan (PYP), PET scan, abdominal (fat pad) biopsy were all negative for amyloidosis.
Diagnosis is MGUS. My bone marrow biospy showed a 5.3% plasma cell count.
Treatment: repeat labs in 6 months.

Interesting note: They did a chromosome analysis on the abnormal plasma cells. Four of the 20 (20%) showed a loss of the Y chromosome. This can be old age related in males (I am 66, year old male) and it also can be a marker for other bad things at a higher percentage.
Have any other males out there on this forum with MGUS seen this if cytogenetic testing of a bone marrow biopsy was done?

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I agree I was diagnosed with MGUS also

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@buckett

My diagnosis is in. Negative for amyloidosis. A hypertrophic, asymmetrical heart wall septum, plus a slightly thickened heart wall, with a Mspike of 0.99g/dl of IgG lambda was the original concern for amyloidosis. Nuclear heart scan (PYP), PET scan, abdominal (fat pad) biopsy were all negative for amyloidosis.
Diagnosis is MGUS. My bone marrow biospy showed a 5.3% plasma cell count.
Treatment: repeat labs in 6 months.

Interesting note: They did a chromosome analysis on the abnormal plasma cells. Four of the 20 (20%) showed a loss of the Y chromosome. This can be old age related in males (I am 66, year old male) and it also can be a marker for other bad things at a higher percentage.
Have any other males out there on this forum with MGUS seen this if cytogenetic testing of a bone marrow biopsy was done?

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@buckett
“Have any other males out there on this forum with MGUS seen this if cytogenetic testing of a bone marrow biopsy was done?”
Can’t help you there, but I’m struck by all the information you received. It’s a lot to process. Good news on the amyloidosis.
Do you believe that you have all the information you need about MGUS? I’ll poke around the posts and see if I can identify some folks that might be able to address the cytogenetic testing of their bone marrow biopsy.

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@buckett

My diagnosis is in. Negative for amyloidosis. A hypertrophic, asymmetrical heart wall septum, plus a slightly thickened heart wall, with a Mspike of 0.99g/dl of IgG lambda was the original concern for amyloidosis. Nuclear heart scan (PYP), PET scan, abdominal (fat pad) biopsy were all negative for amyloidosis.
Diagnosis is MGUS. My bone marrow biospy showed a 5.3% plasma cell count.
Treatment: repeat labs in 6 months.

Interesting note: They did a chromosome analysis on the abnormal plasma cells. Four of the 20 (20%) showed a loss of the Y chromosome. This can be old age related in males (I am 66, year old male) and it also can be a marker for other bad things at a higher percentage.
Have any other males out there on this forum with MGUS seen this if cytogenetic testing of a bone marrow biopsy was done?

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Hi, I had a bone marrow test done to determine if I too had MGUS. The bloodwork had already determined that much. My plasma count was at 5.0%. I am 57y/o.

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@pmm

@buckett
“Have any other males out there on this forum with MGUS seen this if cytogenetic testing of a bone marrow biopsy was done?”
Can’t help you there, but I’m struck by all the information you received. It’s a lot to process. Good news on the amyloidosis.
Do you believe that you have all the information you need about MGUS? I’ll poke around the posts and see if I can identify some folks that might be able to address the cytogenetic testing of their bone marrow biopsy.

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The loss of the Y chromosome in males is a hot topic among geneticist. Why is it happening in males as they age and does it have any relationship to the increased incidence of cancer and heart disease in males versus females? Google: “Y loss and implications for Oncology”In my case, LOY (loss of Y chromosome) being only 20% of plasma cells tested from BMB, without clonal expansion suggests old age phenomenon. The good is now I have a baseline that can be monitored if my MGUS labs go up.
My road to MGUS started out with an echocardiogram showing the asymmetrical, hypertrophic heart wall. Then when the blood lab showed IgG lambda 0.99 g/dl and other oral history issues (neuropathy, tendon issues, etc) amyloidosis became the main concern. Thus the battery of tests.
MGUS for me is, “well this is interesting, I wonder where this will take me?” I will track it closely and plan to live life to the fullest. My next step is to explore if I have MGNS, Monoclonal Gammopathy of Neurological Significance. The reasoning being is the neuropathy, slight balance issues, and the “weird in the head” feeling. I am trying to change my diet and started the turmeric.
Any help in how to control the nighttime/evening munchies after dinner would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

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@buckett

The loss of the Y chromosome in males is a hot topic among geneticist. Why is it happening in males as they age and does it have any relationship to the increased incidence of cancer and heart disease in males versus females? Google: “Y loss and implications for Oncology”In my case, LOY (loss of Y chromosome) being only 20% of plasma cells tested from BMB, without clonal expansion suggests old age phenomenon. The good is now I have a baseline that can be monitored if my MGUS labs go up.
My road to MGUS started out with an echocardiogram showing the asymmetrical, hypertrophic heart wall. Then when the blood lab showed IgG lambda 0.99 g/dl and other oral history issues (neuropathy, tendon issues, etc) amyloidosis became the main concern. Thus the battery of tests.
MGUS for me is, “well this is interesting, I wonder where this will take me?” I will track it closely and plan to live life to the fullest. My next step is to explore if I have MGNS, Monoclonal Gammopathy of Neurological Significance. The reasoning being is the neuropathy, slight balance issues, and the “weird in the head” feeling. I am trying to change my diet and started the turmeric.
Any help in how to control the nighttime/evening munchies after dinner would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

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@buckett
Interesting questions. I believe that neuropathy is an established connection with MGUS. You see it mentioned as a side effect a lot in the discussions. I am unsteady on my feet and I’ve had neuropathy for several years now. Prior to my diagnosis, I mentioned this to my PCP but because of my advanced age 😏 I find that much of what I complain about is attributed to age.
I’m afraid I am somewhat of an expert in the evening, munchy category, but I try to stick to unbuttered popcorn.

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Hello everyone, I am new to the group. I was also told that I have MGUS in 2024. Had a skin biopsy in March 2024. They took a piece right up above my ankle and my outer thigh right before my knee.
I had been complaining about muscle weakness for pretty much about a year.This test was ordered by my Neurologist.
Took about 5 weeks for the results had to be sent to John Hopkins.
The results stated that I have small fiber neuropathy/ which is peripheral.
The symptoms I experience is numbness in hands at night. And the hand brace helped for some months in the beginning but now my hand will still go numb with the brace on.I get tingling around the ankle, and coolness on the top of my thighs.It has eased up some from when it started. I try to be consistent with exercising, drinking plenty of water, and I have done a deeper dive with into my diet. My left foot goes numb on the pad of foot. That’s been going on since 2022. That’s really how I started going to the neurologist. They thought it might be a pinch nerve.
When my primary doctor did CMP test it came back abnormal protein in my urine.
I was referred to hematologist immediately. I like my Primary Care Doctor.
So, that how all of this got started a year ago this month.
I currently seeing the hematologist every 6 months now. This has truly been a roller coaster to digest all of what I had going on 2024.
Thanks for the informations shared.
Kind regards, Healthy @64

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Healthy64.
The best part of your story is what hospital you are at and you advocating for yourself. I was diagnosed with MDS in Early October 2023. I had a bone marrow transplant in April of 2024. My Hematologist is a funky fellow. I enjoy talking with his PA and asking her more questions. I will say they listen and take action on everything i say is trouble. She listens and lets him know.
Postings are slow this weekend. I know if you go in the search box at the top of the page and look for MGUS. There are many posts.
Glad you found Mayo Connect.

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