Mgus

Hi,

I was diagnosed with MGUS in April, 2007 after a routine blood test.  I had the 24 hour urine test, the xrays of all my bones, a bone marrow test, an MRI, and am now having 3 month blood checks.  My primary care doctor sent me to a Rheumatologist because my rheumatoid factor was high and she was the one who discovered the MGUS.  After she did a series of blood tests and kept sending me back for more of them, I figured something was wrong but I wasn't prepared for her to keep talking about cancer when she reported her findings.  For some reason I didn't react with the ticking time bomb thing, although I did cry when I went to my car, but mostly I just felt like it wasn't real or pertinent.  It was as if there was something going on but it didn't relate to me.  Fortunately my tests all came back ok and I am in the periodic blood test mode.  My cancer doctor is very upbeat and positive and I feel ok when I see her.  That helps.  I do have something else most likely rheumatoid arthritis but my doctor is kind of vague on that.  I think it is because I have a few symptoms in several categories.  She prescribed Plaquenil for the pain and fatigue but said it takes 6 months to know if it helps.  I am in month 3 and can't tell much yet.  I have gotten some peripheral neuropathy (numbness) in my feet and lately I have been having problems with my hands.  A few of my fingers and some of my toes get really white and cold.  I think it might be Reynaud's syndrome but I will ask her about it next visit.  It all seems to be related.  Also, I have been taking an anti-depressant for about 6 years, Effexor XR, 150 mg once daily.  I am exercising now at Curves 3 times a week, and I have lost some weight, about 28 pounds since June, and need to lose about 35 more.  Mostly I feel fine with some aches and pains.  My neuropathy bothers me some but not enough to be inactive.  I more or less blame any pain and tiredness on being 62 years old.  I will be glad to hear more from others as to how they are managing.  Thanks.

On 2/11/2008 felicidad wrote:

Hi,

I was diagnosed with MGUS in April, 2007 after a routine blood test.  I had the 24 hour urine test, the xrays of all my bones, a bone marrow test, an MRI, and am now having 3 month blood checks.  My primary care doctor sent me to a Rheumatologist because my rheumatoid factor was high and she was the one who discovered the MGUS.  After she did a series of blood tests and kept sending me back for more of them, I figured something was wrong but I wasn't prepared for her to keep talking about cancer when she reported her findings.  For some reason I didn't react with the ticking time bomb thing, although I did cry when I went to my car, but mostly I just felt like it wasn't real or pertinent.  It was as if there was something going on but it didn't relate to me.  Fortunately my tests all came back ok and I am in the periodic blood test mode.  My cancer doctor is very upbeat and positive and I feel ok when I see her.  That helps.  I do have something else most likely rheumatoid arthritis but my doctor is kind of vague on that.  I think it is because I have a few symptoms in several categories.  She prescribed Plaquenil for the pain and fatigue but said it takes 6 months to know if it helps.  I am in month 3 and can't tell much yet.  I have gotten some peripheral neuropathy (numbness) in my feet and lately I have been having problems with my hands.  A few of my fingers and some of my toes get really white and cold.  I think it might be Reynaud's syndrome but I will ask her about it next visit.  It all seems to be related.  Also, I have been taking an anti-depressant for about 6 years, Effexor XR, 150 mg once daily.  I am exercising now at Curves 3 times a week, and I have lost some weight, about 28 pounds since June, and need to lose about 35 more.  Mostly I feel fine with some aches and pains.  My neuropathy bothers me some but not enough to be inactive.  I more or less blame any pain and tiredness on being 62 years old.  I will be glad to hear more from others as to how they are managing.  Thanks.

Hi Felicidad, 

It's nice to see that you keep yourself busy.  Like some people in this site have mentioned, exercise is always good  when dealing with these types of illnesses. 

 My mom was diagnosed with MM in March 2005. By November 2005 she developed neuropathy because of the treatments she has had up to that point.  We believe the cause of the neuropathy was the strong doses of Dexamethasone they gave her when they gave her a radiation to her face; however, at that time she was also taking Velcade.  By December 2005, she was having a hard time walking and even getting up from bed and showering by herself.   Her doctor in Texas prescribed Gabapentin (300mg).  I believe she started with 2 caplets per day and went on to 5.  This medication has helped her a lot, and she is still taking it. When she came to live to California, she also started physiotherapy because she had lost a lot of strength in her hands and legs. The physiotherapy started around March 2006 and by April 2006 she has recovered a lot of her strength back.  Although she has not recovered completely, she was able to get out of bed by herself and even started to go up the stairs by herself.

I hope this information helps.

María