A reader has both diagnosis and asked me about any relationships and the complexities of treating both concurrently. I’m not a MD, but I am a tolerable researcher.
Co-Morbid Instances
My first observation is that getting numbers may be challenging because a myeloma diagnosis may disqualify many people from getting a CFS diagnosis. If the MD attributes some of the CFS symptoms to myeloma — then the CFS diagnosis cannot be done with the research definition (see symptoms in red below).
Myeloma impacts red blood cells which can result in low oxygen delivery which will cascade into symptoms also seen with hypercoagulation and thus CFS.
“Some problems (e.g., weakness, confusion and fatigue) may be due to anemia or hypercalcemia. Headache, visual changes and retinopathy may be the result of hyperviscosity of the blood depending on the properties of the paraprotein. Finally, there may be radicular pain, loss of bowel or bladder control (due to involvement of spinal cord leading to cord compression) or carpal tunnel syndrome and other neuropathies(due to infiltration of peripheral nerves by amyloid). It may give rise to paraplegia in late presenting cases.” From Wikipedia
WebMd says “Multiple myeloma is a blood disorder related to lymphoma and leukemia, because it usually arises in the bone marrow. There is no cure for multiple myeloma, but treatments are available that slow its progression.”
There is an increased risk of cancer with CFS, CFS-Ireland gives a nice list of studies, and the original Incline Village outbreak had a high incidence of cancer.
Mechanism?
We know that many cancers are associated with a virus, we also know that virus can alter gut bacteria (effectively farm it to support the virus). There has not been (that I could find) a specific virus associated with Myeloma.
At this point, if you have an apparent double diagnosis I would suggest trying to verify that CFS is likely, to do this, I would strongly recommend:
- A SPECT (not MRI) scan — which should show major issues in 80% of cases
- A Microbiome analysis — which should show almost no E.Coli and the typical shifts seen with CFS
- Vitamin 1-25 (not the regular Vitamin D) – which should show very high levels
If you are not positive on at least 2 of the above 3, then the CFS diagnosis is probably (95%) false.
CFS Remission 