Starting MGUS journey: It feels like the "in limbo" disease
Hi all, I am very new my first post. My journey started going for regular coughs and uti’s. I was exhausted. GP phoned said all blood work was ok with exception of one which she wouldn’t elaborate on. 6 months later I received Referral to see a haematologist. Didn’t think much of it. Got bloods done again protein levels were high but consultant was making me feel this isn’t a concern and I couldnt worry and should forget about it but just to be sure test again in a year. This time a different blood test was carried out Spep . When I went back consultant said needs to be brought back in 6 months. Then I receive a referral to see a multiple myeloma specialist which scared me . Apparently I am being streamlined. I emailed to query and consultant phoned me to say obviously having mgus .. this was first I had heard of this . The list of blood work ordered made me feel like this is now something I do need to take stock of. I had the light chain, spep , fbc, renal and liver bloods done today to see consultant next week. It’s scary but I know I will have to face this the rest if my life. I am lucky could be worse but it feels lonely like you shouldn’t make a big deal do I haven’t talked about it much !! I have in an off bone pain in feet back and hip. This could be down to being menopausal at 45. I’m trying to keep positive as I have two young boys . It does make you take stock!! It does feel like a limbo disease!!
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A wonderful myeloma researcher at Mayo once told us that not everyone who has MGUS gets myeloma, but every person who has myeloma had MGUS first.
The tests that you are doing now are the typical tests that husband had for the first few years for monitoring, and then decisions on treatment when necessary.
I just try and not get ahead of the tests. It is easy to go down the rabbit hole, especially on the internet. There is really good news in myeloma, firstly if you are transitioning to myeloma now or in the future, it will be caught early because of the monitoring. Also about 16 years ago there was transplant, melphalan, or velcade or revlomid with dexamethasone. Today there is a trunk full of treatments to treat myeloma.
Have you been reading on the in the international myeloma foundation site yet?
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7 Reactions@orla Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I echo what @auntieoakley said. And add the precaution that while there are seemingly so many types of treatments, what will work for you might not be the same that will work for someone else. And it might take some experimentation to get the right-for-you plan in place. There is lots to learn, definitely!
Ginger
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