fidgetninja
26-06-18, 13:02
Someone talk some sense into me, please! My most recent fixation has been multiple myeloma or bone cancer. I've had a tender spot in my left ribs for at least a year, and for the last few months, on the right side as well. I hadn't really thought anything about it to be honest. Last year, when I lived in the United States, I had a visit with a naturopath in January 2017, and my regular doctor in April 2017.
At the naturopath in January, my WBC count was every so slightly raised (11.5), normal range 4.0-10.5, my MCHC was slightly low (31.8), normal range 32.0-36.0, and my RDW was slightly high (14.2), normal range 11.5-14.0.
At my GP visit in April, my WBC count was 10.33, MCHC 32.2, RDW was 14, with an ESR was 43 which was the only result flagged as abnormal.
Neither doctor called any attention to these results. I hadn't thought about them since last year.
My ribs have been super tender and I started googling (mistake number one), and of course the top result was multiple myeloma and bone cancer. Then I started reading and it mentions raised WBC, low MCHC, and high RDWs as trademarks of these diseases.
I don't have a doctor here in New Brunswick, Canada, as there is a shortage. I've been to the local walk in clinic a few times, and mentioned the ESR from last year to the doctor and my rib pain and he didn't seem concerned. Because once is never enough for me, I went back just to see if he thought I needed imaging and said I'd had "slightly abnormal blood work" last year but didn't specify, and again he wasn't concerned and said I'd be really sick if it was MM.
I've continued seeing a chiropractor who said it was a "weird spot" for pain, which set me off, and then asked if I'd had any imaging, so of course I took that as a sign that she felt something was wrong.
Yesterday I went again to a physician's assistant to ask explain my back pain and ask if I needed imaging. We had a great talk, he felt around my back/ribs, and didn't think it was anything insidious. I left feeling great, but then I realized I didn't mention last year's blood work and now I feel like I should've. Should I go back one last time? I'm thinking logically no, I shouldn't, but I can't shake that nagging voice.
Thanks for reading my super long post!
At the naturopath in January, my WBC count was every so slightly raised (11.5), normal range 4.0-10.5, my MCHC was slightly low (31.8), normal range 32.0-36.0, and my RDW was slightly high (14.2), normal range 11.5-14.0.
At my GP visit in April, my WBC count was 10.33, MCHC 32.2, RDW was 14, with an ESR was 43 which was the only result flagged as abnormal.
Neither doctor called any attention to these results. I hadn't thought about them since last year.
My ribs have been super tender and I started googling (mistake number one), and of course the top result was multiple myeloma and bone cancer. Then I started reading and it mentions raised WBC, low MCHC, and high RDWs as trademarks of these diseases.
I don't have a doctor here in New Brunswick, Canada, as there is a shortage. I've been to the local walk in clinic a few times, and mentioned the ESR from last year to the doctor and my rib pain and he didn't seem concerned. Because once is never enough for me, I went back just to see if he thought I needed imaging and said I'd had "slightly abnormal blood work" last year but didn't specify, and again he wasn't concerned and said I'd be really sick if it was MM.
I've continued seeing a chiropractor who said it was a "weird spot" for pain, which set me off, and then asked if I'd had any imaging, so of course I took that as a sign that she felt something was wrong.
Yesterday I went again to a physician's assistant to ask explain my back pain and ask if I needed imaging. We had a great talk, he felt around my back/ribs, and didn't think it was anything insidious. I left feeling great, but then I realized I didn't mention last year's blood work and now I feel like I should've. Should I go back one last time? I'm thinking logically no, I shouldn't, but I can't shake that nagging voice.
Thanks for reading my super long post!