Incomplete tests

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I agree. I have always made myself knowledgable as possible. But even tho

I keep learning,asking questions, reading, I never would have known what

questions to ask about this test! And I wonder what else I SHOULD know and

don't? Believe me I try! My life has been turned over to learning all

about everything medical.

The tests I really dislike are the " essentially " normal as it seems to mean

there is something wrong but no one knows why. And if one questions the

doc, they tend to get snippy and consider you a difficult patient.

Just my 2 cents.... Christie

>>I firmly believe if you try a little harder, dig a little deeper,

>>search a

>>little longer, work a little smarter, you can find the answers

>>you want. I'm

>>satified with my efforts and with the information I've gained.

He found my test results in the computer, which are repeated

>below:

>

>Total protein 7.3

>Albumin 4.5

>Alpha 1 globulins .2

>Alpha 2 globulins .7

>Beta globulins .9

>Gamma globulins 1.1

>Interpretation - Two abnormal protein bands are detected in the

>gamma

>globulins and may represent monoclonal immunoglobulins and/or

>light chains.

>

>I asked why the report did not include quantitative measures of

>the two

>abnormal bands (which would be my m-spike). I also asked what

>was the

>smallest amount their labs could measure. This is what I

>learned.

>

>(1) As of several months ago, all labs in this company were to

>INCLUDE

>quantities for all abnormal bands.

>(2) Quantities were not on my report because the lab neglected

>to do the

>work, NOT because the amounts were too small to measure. The

>supervisor was

>able to get the data for me.

>(3) There is no amount they consider too small or too

>insignificant to

>measure or report.

>(4) I have two abnormal bands which means my MM is not

>monoclonal, it is

>bi-clonal, probably both are Gs.

>(5) One band is .3 m/dl, the other is .5 m/dl for a total of .8

>m/dl. Since

>my total gamma globulins is 1.1 and .8 of it is paraprotein, I

>only have .3

>m/dl of the good ones.

>

>I'm a bit concerned that my doctor's office was so ready to chalk

>up the

>missing numbers to amounts that were too small to measure and

>therefore

>nothing to worry about. I think these results prove that even

>though my IgG

>count is " well within the normal range " as I've been reminded,

>over 70% of it

>is paraprotein! I would bet that the 300 point increase I've

>experienced

>over the last few months in all paraprotein. Perhaps now, my

>concerns will

>be taken a little more seriously.

>

>(SNIP)

>Warmest regards,

>Charlotte

>Dx IgG (IgG 9980!) kappa IIIa 4/98 (at 49 yr.), PBSCT 10/98,

>Just Aredia 90mg every 3 weeks (IgG 1177 and rising)

>

>

>