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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Hello everyone

I am new to this group. I am in my late 40’s and just diagnosed with MGUS the past summer. Which was scary and devastating to myself and my family. I didn’t know anything about MGUS. The info I received from the Hematologist was very not helpful. The dr didn’t explain things well or give me information on what to look for concerning symptoms which was upsetting. I felt lost and not taking care of and my new MGUS diagnosis was not taking seriously. I have been suffering from pain all over for years but just kept suffering. I had testing for rheumatoid arthritis and recently found out that I have fibromyalgia and diabetic neuropathy. I am type 1 diabetic for years. It has been a journey that I am still learning. The recent diagnosis was found out by a blood test in rheumatology clinic for the second time but the second time is when I found out that I had MGUS. I also went to dr Google to check out more info on this. I had a referral to hematology clinic and had only blood work to confirm and the bone marrow biopsy but no full body CT scans due to insurance. So at this point I have not had a recent full body CT scan. Which is concerning to me but my hematologist would not push the full body CT scan with insurance even though insurance sent a letter explaining what they needed to approve the Full body Scan. My doctor just looked at all my other scans or X-rays for different times and areas that I had X-rays. What should I do at this point? I am in the process of getting another opinion from a different hematology clinic. Any advice or suggestions?

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If this helps, I wass diagnosed ten years ago and took it very seriously, My oncologist/hematologist, after taking dozens of tests, includingmy urine and a bone marrow biopsy, said I'll see St. Peter from something else, not MGUS.

I see him once a year (my doc, not St. Peter at the pearly gates).

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@greenlantern

If this helps, I wass diagnosed ten years ago and took it very seriously, My oncologist/hematologist, after taking dozens of tests, includingmy urine and a bone marrow biopsy, said I'll see St. Peter from something else, not MGUS.

I see him once a year (my doc, not St. Peter at the pearly gates).

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@greenlantern Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It's good to hear from someone who has has a long-term MGUS case and is still going strong!

Do you get testing done at that yearly appointment? Have you seen any trends?
Ginger

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@gracefullywomen4

Hello everyone

I am new to this group. I am in my late 40’s and just diagnosed with MGUS the past summer. Which was scary and devastating to myself and my family. I didn’t know anything about MGUS. The info I received from the Hematologist was very not helpful. The dr didn’t explain things well or give me information on what to look for concerning symptoms which was upsetting. I felt lost and not taking care of and my new MGUS diagnosis was not taking seriously. I have been suffering from pain all over for years but just kept suffering. I had testing for rheumatoid arthritis and recently found out that I have fibromyalgia and diabetic neuropathy. I am type 1 diabetic for years. It has been a journey that I am still learning. The recent diagnosis was found out by a blood test in rheumatology clinic for the second time but the second time is when I found out that I had MGUS. I also went to dr Google to check out more info on this. I had a referral to hematology clinic and had only blood work to confirm and the bone marrow biopsy but no full body CT scans due to insurance. So at this point I have not had a recent full body CT scan. Which is concerning to me but my hematologist would not push the full body CT scan with insurance even though insurance sent a letter explaining what they needed to approve the Full body Scan. My doctor just looked at all my other scans or X-rays for different times and areas that I had X-rays. What should I do at this point? I am in the process of getting another opinion from a different hematology clinic. Any advice or suggestions?

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@gracefullywomen4 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. If your hematologist has determined you are not high-risk MGUS, they might be reluctant to order the scan. But a low-dose whole body CT scan may catch bone lesions and is usually recommended.

Always advocate for yourself! If you can get a second opinion, do so. Here is a link to the International Myeloma Foundation, that a lot of good information: myeloma.org
Ginger

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