Does a high level of IgM cause multiple myeloma?

Hello doctor,

Please can you help me understand my condition better and what I need to do. I am 44-year-old, and have been unwell for past one year. I have lots of symptoms including chronic pins and needles in my right hand, left foot and calf, cervical spine facet joint hypertrophy, headaches, trigeminal nerve pain, waking with right hand shaking, buzzing feeling in my left leg, testicular discomfort extending from inside leg lymph nodes, and depression. My thinking and memory have not been right. I have chronic mild neutropenia. It was discovered in nine months back. I had hypergammaglobulinemia, a rheumatologist gave me a course of corticosteroids which seemed to help normalize this, although subsequent testing shows IgM to be at the upper level (2.3 g/dl). I am currently having LDL apharesis done, and have had so far treatments, where the filter has pulled out a large amount of product. One person suggested to me that this is seen a lot in multiple myeloma patients. I believe it to be high LDL cholesterol, despite keeping a very good diet and walking 3 miles per day. If I consider during the hypergammaglobulinemia phase my blood tests often came back, it makes sense there was too much circulating protein, and also explains extremely bad headaches at that time. Could the large amount of gunky product in the filter actually be circulating IgM or total protein also? Or would that be gone now anyway, as it has been six months since the corticosteroids. If I consider the neutropenia may be the reason for the pins and needles, and the long time my immune system was messed up, for at least 8 to 9 months. Could I, in fact be experiencing multiple myeloma right now? Could this be Waldenstrom's? My local physician does not have good English and is simply unable to manage this as it is so complex. I should also mention TMJ, spine, chest, neck sounds like popping and snapping etc, and tinnitus. I will attach some recent bloods and you should know prior to three months I had very little health history, never needed pills etc. Now I am taking Clopidogrel 75 mg BD (since two weeks), Euthyrox 100 mg OD (since seven days). I have Diclofenac 75 mg as needed. I also did a Free Light Chains test in six months back, I have just attached.

Thank you.

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

I suppose part of my trouble is trying to understand what is going on so I can get better. If can please help me to understand things. I think that is a good idea about the statins.

Some questions Is 2000 mg B12 plus 150 mg Folic Acid tablet good? I have tried B12 as Methylcobalamin for a few months but the pins and needles in my hand and other symptoms do not improve. I am convinced they are idiopathic to do with immune dysfunction - when I am stressed all of a sudden I physically feel it in those places. Maybe I need a lot of destressing together with the B12, I have Alprazolam and Amitryptiline at home, may be a good idea. I will try to find Ossein complex; maybe I can take with the Diclofenac. The orthopedic doctor said bone and ligament tissue can take months to reduce in inflammation, but he feels it is caused by viral activity. Do you feel there is a chronic viral issue? Because for past two months the low white blood cells and hypergammaglobulinemia started. I am concerned there may be a silent process happening, I would like to ask you more about how we can rule out possibility of multiple myeloma, if you can please help me understand why I would not have something like Waldenstrom's? Does chronic low lymphocyte count mean the system is trying to cope with something like a virus or toxicity?

Sorry, I just want to provide a few more symptoms for you, not sure if important but since this started I have had a pea sized lump under my left pec, and another in my right upper abdomen. I have night sweats drenching bed clothes about once a week, and if I take 1000 mg vitamin C or another big treatment, I get night sweats that night. I am pretty sure the burning left foot, swelling feeling in my left calf, and nerve sensitivity with pins and needles in my right hand are peripheral neuropathy. I am down 160 lbs to 141 lbs but that is because I am eating less as I am not working. The pain between under my left pec and left shoulder blade seem to be related to when I take aspirin.

I hope this helps with the formulating.

Thank you.

Hi doctor,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I think due to hypergammaglobulinemia for such a long time, like nine months, the blood was likely hyper viscous, too much protein, but only tested eight months ago after the problems began, so maybe it was a lot higher previously; I do not know. It was reassuring to hear you say 80 g per liter is not very high, even if it is over the threshold. Maybe IgE levels are a problem. Either way, I know it would have been a risky time for developing problems like lymphoma and amyloidosis. As someone working with brain conditions in older adults, I know what amyloid deposits mean in later life. I am presuming with so much protein being processed dysfunctionally because of the confused immune state, amyloid and other types were formed and deposited all over the body. I wonder if there is a way to check for amyloid levels if there is some marker? I have had major changes in my thinking ability, can not work, etc. Maybe cholesterol is being overproduced; I do not know, but I would love to get your opinion on amyloid formation. I need to find a local doctor and ask them to complete these tests you recommend. It has been so hard to get help. This all seemed to start around the time of the covid vaccination, but every doctor I have met says that was just a coincidence, even though I went from being super healthy to like this overnight. I presumed I might have picked up an infection like covid at the vaccination center. Thank you.