I got my test results yesterday. Not great. As you read through this post, please keep in mind that my previous tests (excellent ones, by the way) were taken six months ago, in November 2008. Well, I have learned one very good lesson: never again will I wait that long between tests…okay, here goes…

 

My total protein went from 8,6 to 9,5. It’s been above 9 before, but this is the highest it’s ever been.

 

My IgG jumped from 32,80 to 39,90. Ouch.

 

My M-spike went from 2,33 to 2,68. Double ouch.

 

B2M went from 1,7 to 1,9. Not a big concern, since it’s been that high before.

 

I also have a rather scary vitamin D deficiency. My endocrinologist had told me not to take any vitamin D before this set of tests, so I didn’t. Whoah, though. This particular value turned out super low. I need to speak with her and start on a vitamin D supplement ASAP.

 

As soon as I received my results, I sent them to Sherlock who looked them over and then phoned me. These are a few of her very wise (come al solito!) thoughts: perhaps an ingredient in the feverfew extract that I took for six months might have inhibited the anticancer activity of the curcumin. Aha. That is very possible. And her theory might be confirmed by the fact that my (already high) cholesterol went up a staggering 14 mg/dL, which doesn’t make much sense when you think about it.

 

Another possibility, my good friend told me, is that I may have some sort of latent infection. That would explain my high IgG and also my still high ESR (note: my ESR is less than it was in July 2008, which is good). At any rate, Stefano and I are going to talk this over with my family doctor on Monday to see what can and should be done.

 

Let me add that the news was not all bad. For instance, I am definitely not anaemic. My haemoglobin, red and white blood cell count etc. are all fine. My ferritin is up to 13, back in the normal range, yay, and my serum iron continues to be fine. And my other markers have remained more or less the same, for instance my creatinine is still at 0,7, perfectly normal.

 

Let’s see. Now we get to the “big no-no.”

 

Of course we always want our markers to be stable or even better than stable, so any increase is a disappointment if not outright frightening. But I thought I had taken the news quite well…there were no signs of what would happen later on…when Stefano got home from work, that is.

 

I began, “I have something to tell you…,” and then, to my utter surprise and horror, I felt tears welling up in my eyes. Oh no. Not now. I tried to hold them back and managed to continue, “I got my results…and…they…are…really…bbbad…!!!” Then, phoosh!, the deluge…

 

Oh no…my poor husband! Through my tears, I could see the alarmed look on his face, so I managed somehow to reassure him…that he shouldn’t worry, that I was still stable but some of my markers had increased a bit. Phew, relief! This leads me to make the following obvious point:

 

If you ever have some disappointing or worrisome news to break to your caregiver, please try NOT to cry! Not a good idea…mark my words!

 

Well, I obviously have some pondering to do in the next few weeks. In the meantime, I have decided to stick exclusively with what works (no more experimenting!), that is, my daily dose of curcumin/bioperine, quercetin/bromelain and purified fish oil. E basta!

 

Another decision: I won’t fret about these results but will enjoy my summer. No more tests until the fall. And, bloody hell, no more tears!…unless, of course, prompted by a fabulous BBC drama series!