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Hi @kbluegrass, you are taking the bull by the horns here. I think we all could feel better and have better outcomes if we ate healthier and exercised. There is a lot of information about the benefits and efficacy of nutritional supplements. If you are taking Turmeric or curcumin, they say it might reduce blood glucose and increase the risk of hypoglycaemia, especially if you are also taking Metformin. Maybe something to watch out for. I have read about that because of my type 2 Diabetes. Maybe it wouldn’t be a concern for you.
It’s so hard to process all of the information you read (Dr Google) as some of it is contradictory, and there is some just plain bad information floating around. I’m sure my hem/onc doc has met the sainthood criteria as I have lists of written questions when I see him. He’s very patient with me. I’m three years into my MGUS diagnosis and am now seen every six months, having been seen every three months for the first two years. My “numbers” have been very stable which is a good thing.
The hardest part for me after they started throwing words like “multiple myeloma, smoldering” and “Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance” around was keeping my head from exploding with raw anxiety. Thankfully, the risk of progression is low.
Everyone who participates in this forum has a unique medical profile, some with comorbidities and nobody’s situation is exactly the same. Anxiety is common among us when this is new to us. It gets easier.
I hope you have found an experienced and thorough clinician to work with. It’s important to have confidence in that relationship and be able to ask questions and discuss strategies until the two of you have a plan. If not, keep looking.
I love your positivity and see that you are very proactive. Let us know how your bone biopsy turns out. Wishing you the best possible outcome.
Patty
Replies to "Hi @kbluegrass, you are taking the bull by the horns here. I think we all could..."
Thank you, Patty. I was seeing a hematologist because of anemia issues. He sent me to a nephrologist because he didn't like the kidney function (been on pain meds for many years due to back issues). Nephrologist ran tons of bloodwork. When I met with him, he pointed out the monoclonal ism lambda rate (03 g/dl) which I don't understand. His first word was it's probably MM and chemo treatments. I just freaked. I see the hematologist/oncologist on Monday. I've been a mess since getting this information. I feel much better after reading your answer here. I just felt like I'd been given a death sentence. I'm frustrated with the nephrologist making such a jump, instead of letting me just get back with the hematologist/oncologist and talking about this. I so appreciate your information. I hope I get a good report on Monday when I go back. Right now, I'm scared.
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Thank you Patty! I appreciate the reply and suggestions!
I am getting a glucose monitor as well, which is new to me, but hopefully that will help me track hypoglycemia. Thus far I have felt less tired and more crisp, but I'm glad you mention it as I didn't really consider it getting too low.
I am an American living in Spain, so thus far I'm just trying to understand the new vocabulary my doctor mentions. Yes, Monoclonal Gammopathy = Monoclonal Gammopothia in Spanish, but when you're told you have that in Spanish, you are wondering what you have just heard. I'll have to determine in time whether we have a good relationship. The positive thing is that healthcare here is so affordable and I can use both a public and private set of doctors in parallel. I meet my public one today for the first time.
I'm glad you are low risk to progression, and it's promising to hear that you've held your numbers stable. I think I am unfortunately high risk, given a >1.5 M-Spike, my IgA and IgM are declining while my IgG is high (Immunoparesis), and I have abnormal free light chain ratio (Lambda) of .18, so I think I'm the Triple Threat! But I also feel very positive that I can make my life healthier and really slow the progression, and that should I get MM it does seem they have some promising therapies coming along with Car-T cell therapies etc.
Thanks again for your feedback and advice!