Jane’s MGUS journey continued

BT Yahoo Mail - jane.marley07@btinternet.com

In July 2002 at the age of 37 I began having pain in my joints, particularly in my hands and wrist, I visited my doctor and he prescribed me some Ibuprofen and took a blood sample to test for rheumatoid arthritis. A week or so later I recieved a letter through the post from my doctors surgery, this was strange as usually I would have to phone the surgery for my results. The letter said that the blood test had shown an abnormal protein in my blood and that an appointment was being made for me to see a haematologist. I phoned the surgery to try and get more information but I was told that I required more tests and they could only be done by the Haematology clinic at the hospital.

At this stage I was really worried, so I decided to use my medical insurance from work to pay for private tests. At the consultation I saw a lady doctor who explained that the protein which had been found in my blood could mean that I had multiple myeloma, knowing that this was a form of cancer I went into instant panic mode. My bloods were taken and the results came back and I had another appointment to discuss the results, I was told that I would need a skeletal survey (x-rays of all my bones) an MRI scan and a bone marrow aspirate. My health insurance only covered me for £180 and the blood tests and consultations had already cost £595 so I told the doctor that I could no longer afford the private treatment. Luckily the doctor said that she also worked for the NHS so I would still see her even if I wasn’t a private patient. I had the MRI and all was fine, only minor wear and tear showed up. The Skeletal Survey was fine, no bone lesions or damage. The bone marrow aspirate also came back normal. At my follow up appointment I was told to my relief that I did not have Multiple Myeloma but I had a condition called MGUS (Monoclonal Gammopathy of Unknown Significance).