Abnormal ESR but normal CRP post ablation

[Karendeena]

Hi all, I have had a few blood tests because I have episcleritis in one eye and some aches and pains in back, neck and shoulders.I had a catheter ablation on the 26th of March this year. I previously had polymyalgia and finally got off the steroids in January this year

My ESR markers have come back as 'borderline at 30' but my CRP has come back normal, both tests are used to determine inflammation in the body.

As there will be some inflammation following catheter ablation I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this? I find it strange that one is elevated and the other is normal. All other blood tests are fine, including full blood count, liver and kidney, only one slightly out is cholesterol

[Thomas45]

I don't, but did a Google search under ESR AND CRP and found a medical article which said that CRP reduces comparatively quickly after an inflammation event, while ESR can takes weeks to reduce.Several years ago my Warfarin would not stabilise and I was transferred to Rivaroxaban. Within hours of taking it I had pains throughout my body, fortunately not in my head but everywhere else. After a few days I rang the GP who said my body would get used to the drug. It didn't. I decided to stop taking it after the 12th, and to go back to Warfarin. I saw a GP the day after I'd stopped who had not realised how debilitating the pains were. I needed a stick to walk, and help to get out of a chair.

Tests started, but it still took 4 weeks of other blood tests before I had the ESR test. My result wasn't borderline at 30, but very inflamed at 130. I was put on a very slowly reducing dose of prednisolone. It gave immediate relief. I managed to get from 30mg a day to 0 a day in just under 4 years. It was deemed that my body didn't like Rivaroxaban and reacted with the auto-immune response.

After seeing the GP on the 13th day, I bought a Coagucheck meter and started eating foods regularly. I don't avoid greens, but adjust my Warfarin dose when needed.

[Karendeena in reply to Thomas45]

Thanks for responding and sharing your story ❤️I am thinking that my GP is going to reinstate the prednisolone which I am not keen on as it took me 3 years to get off them last time 😞

Are you ok now?

[Thomas45 in reply to Karendeena]

Yes thanks. I have permanent though asymptomatic, AF now. I only take Warfarin because of AF. I have occasional higher doses of prednisolone but only for a week at a time when I have exacerbations of asthma which pre-pandemic were 3 times a year, but I've I my had one in the last year.

[Karendeena in reply to Thomas45]

Thank you ❤️I have been under a tremendous amount of stress just lately, not only with the surgery on my heart but also trying to cope with a 96 year old mum who has turned against me and a brother who has had stroke taking his left peripheral vision and declined mentally. I have the two of them living together and feel like I am looking after 2 children. I am saddened to say that I do my own fair share of shouting and I am burnt out. This is not me and probably why I have the inflammation.

As PMRPro says if I can catch this early then a short burst of prednisolone taken down from 5mg to 1mg over a couple of weeks may just stop it in it's track