Oh @elipt66 I am sorry to hear about the shingles despite having had the vaccine last year.
I had the shingles during a house move 10 yrs ago and now it reoccurs if I have a shock, stress or overdo it emotionally, medically, practically or physically.
I also had the Shingrix vaccine last year.
Your mindfulness sounds brilliant.
I attach a link to the Blood Cancer UK mind and emotions tips
Yes, isn’t nature wonderful and free, enjoy
Blood cancer: mind and emotions | Blood Cancer UK
Take lots of care of yourself
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Hi Elizabeth,
I enjoyed your “its all greek to me” .
Helen
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Hi @RM952 ,
Sorry to hear about the SMM diagnosis but it was good that the consultant explained things and was happy to answer questions. It sounds that you have a supportive partner which is really great and worth a lot. My husband tends to switch off when it comes to medical things, even when it concerns himself.
Take care of yourself.
Helen
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Hi Elizabeth,
Are you getting any treatment for the Shingles. I had it in my early 20s when I became run down from working too hard. Seem to remember it was painful but I had a cream or ointment to apply to the rash and was told to rest.
At my last appointment my PTH levels were also high. I saw a rubbish consultant who didnt mention it at all during the appointment but did in the clinic letter. He suggested it was due to either my osteoporosis or vitamin d deficiency and asked the GP to follow up with repeat bloods and onward referral to endocrinology or rheumatology. I updated my Rheumatologist and booked a GP appointment. I am wondering how high PTH can go before it is considered clinically significant. I have had mine measured twice at two different nhs laboratories and their reference ranges are widely different. Having discovered this I am less worried, just disapointed because I am taking prescribed Vit D! Hope you get an answer to your high PTH soon Elizabeth.
Best wishes
Helen
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Hi Helen and Hi to everyone. 
For the shingles, I’m using the cream right now. It’s 2 weeks before I can get in to our home doctor and get the prescription for the dermatologist appointment. I tried to take tachypirina (paracetamol) for the fever but it makes me sick to my stomach. It’s a recurring issue for me, so part of my back is scarred from previous outbreaks. I don’t know if my immune system and stress gave a hammer blast to the vaccine. I’ll see what the dermatologist says. She’s been great each time I’ve had to see her.
Yes, the PTH thing is really confusing, isn’t it?! And oh my goodness, trying to understand and compare results reported in different values from different labs is really perplexing. I wondered the same thing about how high is too high for the value. I’m still taking the vitamin D too. The value of D is normal, calcium is normal. My endocronologist is aware (I have to see her every year for a cystic multi-nodular thyroid). I’ve decided to put that in to the bucket of… it’ll be followed up on in 4 months.
I know it’s not good to google search things, but what has wrecked my curiosity the last couple of days is trying to understand just how could having shingles and a fever have influence on the monoclonal component on the recent blood test?. There too… I have to put that in to the bucket of… follow up in 4 months.
Hope you get answers soon too, Helen! And do take good care!
All the best, 
Elizabeth
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Hi Elizabeth, as a guess during in infection inflammatory molecules are released which cause an increase in the number of plasma cells, including the abnormal ones which produce paraproteins. When the infection passes the number of plasma cells decreases. No idea if this is right.
Best wishes
Helen
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That makes sense to me. Thank you, Helen.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Elizabeth 
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Hello all, just wanted to alert you to our new MGUS information, which can be downloaded/ordered for free, here - Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) | Blood Cancer UK Shop
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Thank you Alice, I will download it.
Helen
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I think my last posting was March. I was going for a cystoscopy (camera into the bladder) and I was also newly diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS). Having to get the results of both at the same time was a nightmare. Another lesion had been found in my bladder, this was the eleventh lesion found, each had been operated on and I was also expecting a phone call from the hospital haematologist at the same time for bloods given. Coming forward to now, the lesion in my bladder is maybe scar tissue from previous ops even though it is not presenting the same as other scar tissue so its a wait and see how it goes, next cystoscopy in December. Then the hospital phoned with my latest lot of bloods. I was convinced the news wouldn’t be good as I had been feeling so rough with bone pain, fatigue, numbness in lower limbs and a feeling like an insect was crawling over my skin. The news was good, my bloods hadn’t changed and the readings were the same as the previous lot given, and my next lot of bloods to be given in December. The relief was enormous. I am now learning to live with the strange things that happen with monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS). I do get respite from the pain and some days can feel quite normal while others not so good. I know all my fear will return come December when I have to go through both again but I feel well enough to home more rescue hens as I have been doing for four years. I read a lot of your postings and I feel lucky compared to some but I wish you all well and hope for the best for you.
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Oh @Annie666 it is really good to hear from you again.
You have really gone through it and show why we often call it an emotional rollercoaster and everything comes at once for you.
Yes, if you are anything like me the fear will return in December, but we are here for you as is the Blood Cancer UK support line on 0808 2080 888.
So glad you feel up to housing more rescue hens, I bet they are a good diversion.
Look after yourself and spoil yourself and please keep posting
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Really pleased to hear things are stable, @Annie666, and that you do get some good, pain-free days. It sounds like you’ve had an anxious 6 months though. I hope you can relax for a bit now, and do some lovely things for you - you deserve it. X
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Thank you Erica and Full of beans for your kind words and good wishes. I sound brave but I’m not at all but I am starting to get used to what is happening to my body and taking it one day at a time, thats all you can do. I do keep popping onto the site, it helps a lot. Thank you for being there and thank you for replying. Good wishes to you and all on this site.
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I’ll check in with you too, Annie. My next appointments for 4 month follow-ups are Oct. or Nov.
One day at a time. Rescuing hens would be so worth every second! How wonderful!
All the best for everyone from Italy.
-Elizabeth 
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Aw, thank you so much. Yes please do check in, it will e good to hear how you have got on. I hope everything goes well for you Oct/Nov, its always such a worrying time. I already have my appointment through for my next lot of bloods, give blood just before christmas and results on the 9th January. Cystoscopy appointment won’t be through yet but its due in December. As for the rescue hens, they are terribly spoilt but after what they have been through, they deserve some TLC.
You have a few months to go yet before your next appointment, enjoy your peace and I wish you well for the future. Xxx
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Oh @Annie666 glad to hear you a some planned dates for the end of the year.
Unfortunately you have the ‘festive season’ in the middle and I find everything closes down over that period apart from our natural anxiety thoughts and emotions.
We will be there for you as always, so please keep posting.
As you say enjoy your peace xx
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That is so true. I’m hoping my cystoscopy will be over with before christmas as my consultant gives me the news while the camera is in situ so no waiting for results there, only the blood results in January but I am going to try and stay positive, I always expect the worst. I hope all is going well for you, the support you and others give is always a great help believe me.
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Sorry, I don’t think I replied to you personally but to the forum. Thank you so much for your kindness and please let us know how you get on Oct/Nov. And love to you all in Italy.
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Hi@Annie666,
Hope your cystscopy goes well, not very pleasant things. Good that Haematology bloods are stable. Hopefully your aches and pains might receed as your stress levels will hopefully drop in the intervening months.
Best wishes
Helen
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Thank you Helen. The cystoscopy itself isn’t too bad as they use an anaesthetic gel in the urethra, it tends to be afterwards I get pain but everyone is different and a couple of painkillers soon sort me out. Gosh, I sound brave but I’m so not.
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