I had my bloods redone at the beginning of the week & got the results today. My ESR is 29, which is the same as my results last week.
The doctor is putting it down to being 'secondary' to Fibromyalgia. My understanding is that Fibro isn't an inflammatory syndrome?
I've still to make a doctors appointment to go over results properly. Just slightly confused with their interpretation.
Hi charlie_red
I am so sorry to read that you are having these issues and I genuinely hope that you can find the answers that you are searching for? As far as I am aware from every piece of literature that I have read, that Fibro is not an inflammatory illness and does not cause any swellings whatsoever!
I have pasted a list of the Fibro main symptoms from the FibroAction website:
Chronic Widespread Pain
Hypersensitive to Pain
Chronic Fatigue
Cognitive Dysfunction
Sensitivities or Intolerance's
Myofascial Pain
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease and Irritable Bladder (are also possible Fibro symptoms)
Autonomic Dysfunction (sometimes called Dysautonomia)
Headaches and Migraines
And I have pasted you the link from the brand new FibroAction website:
fibroaction-public.sharepoi...
I have pasted you a passage taken from Patient UK, pertaining to ESR levels.
A normal ESR does not exclude organic disease. A mildly elevated ESR of 20-30 mm/hour probably doesn't mean very much in itself but above 100 mm/hour is very significant and indicates something is wrong.
High ESR: any inflammatory disorder (eg, infection, rheumatoid), tuberculosis, myocardial infarction (early response), anaemia, polymyalgia rheumatica/temporal arthritis.
Please find the link for this page below:
patient.co.uk/doctor/Acute-...
I want to wish you all the best of luck with finding some resolution and relief to this issue.
All my hopes and dreams for you
Ken x
Thanks for posting those values Ken. I only found normal values and those ranges were amost all different. From my understanding, this is a pretty non-specific test that is a piece of diagnosing other conditions. Like you listed, fibro is not just one thing, but could include a condition with higher ESR rates?
Hi clare_hart
I sincerely hope that you are feeling well today? Most of the online literature only shows normal ratio results which really isn't what most of us want to know, as we want to know what is wrong not what is right?
I am a big believer in Fibro resulting from or being part of other issues, as I have so many health conditions and then I was diagnosed with Fibro. My arthritic pain increased well above what my ESR rates were showing? So it had to be something else as well as .... etc.
All my hopes and dreams for you
Ken x
Hello Ken,
Thanks got your message, was very helpful :). I've always had an elevated ESR for the last few years but this past 6 months or so I have had reduced joint movement, clickiness, stiffness & swelling particularly in my shoulders.
I'm going to be making an appointment with the GP this coming week. I'm hoping its nothing, but why would it show raised levels if nothing wrong? Hmm.
C x
Thanks for that Charlie_red
Many years ago I had my first blood test whereby I had very elevated ESR. I was sent to see a consultant and told that I had both Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis in my spine, neck and knees. Years later this increased to Spondylitis in my neck and Costochondritis in my bottom right ribs. So it has increased an expanded over the years and I think that is the crux with these blood tests that they do not give a true picture of what is happening? Of course, my latest diagnosis is Osteoporosis after my coccyx had withered away! So now I am taking medication for this also!
Good look with your tests and I genuinely hope that everything works out well for you?
All my hopes and dreams for you
Ken x
Good morning
Hopefully today will be ok for you. You may well know this but thought I would let you know that lupus and fibro can be both confused and sometimes linked. It's amazing how similar the symptoms are. One of the main differences is that inflammation shows in bloods when lupus but as Ken says not with fibro. Just a thought as it's always good to get things checked out with gp huh.
Take good care.
Lyn x
Hello Lyn,
That's good to know about Lupus, I never knew that. I will have a look at the symptoms of Lupus too.
Thanks! C x
Charlie_red
I'm sorry your bloods are not indicating anything conclusive at the moment, maybe when you go for discussion with GP you will get some answers, I am aware Fibromyalgia is not inflammatory, but when I was diagnosed in 2000 I was on 50mg 3 times daily of diclofenac (ani inflammatory) for 8 years little difference in pain level I chose to come off them myself, I cope not very well with paracetamol as & when at worst! found out in last year diclofenac is now known to cause strokes & heart attacks!!! If not inflammatory why did GP have me on them so long & further risk my health... two new GP's in last 4 years they are fantastic & rry not give me meds only as last resort as I am trying not to put toxins in my system, a point for the female sufferer's my monthly cycle aggravates my symptoms don't know if it's same for any of you!
I think some doctors really don't understand Fibro. A lot tend to pass out painkillers here there and everywhere!
Fortunately I've not had any anti inflammatory drugs as I'm allergic to Ibruprofen. Those side effects are serious.
I also find that my time of the month increases my pain & my fatigue.
C x
Charlie,
Keep me posted as to how you get on, I will follow with interest.
What I find helps me, is getting into thhr swimming pool, as the muscles are relaxed & suported by the water, I do 3 aqua fit classes a week, but only do at my own capability level, after two years I can manage them a bit better, but only fit to sleep when I get home :D. I also like going for the social aspect! which was why I joined it the first place, the aqua class was a bonus, I am also tryinng to do treadmill, & a few gentle gym exercise, not too many reps though. I hope to build it up in time though.
Take Care, sending hugs xx
Fibro is not inflammatory, that's correct.
Not sure why ESR would be tested to diagnose fibro, but if that and other inflammation markers were high, it could indicate something else. ESR is a non specific marker that indicates some inflammation somewhere, but not a cause.
I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia but I disagree with the diagnosis, I am also suspected to have a rare form of rheumatoid disease, however all my bloods are negative and my ESR (which took 6 weeks to get the results for) was only 25.
Still no closer to a firm diagnosis, but 30% of people with inflammatory disease have negative bloods.
It is so frustrating and confusing when your symptoms and labs aren't text book! Fingers crossed your GP can answer some questions for you.
Hi shellywelly, do you have a name for the type of athritis ? I was diagnosed with ra at14, then when adult told it was juvenile athritis, but. it never went away. I have always had negetive tests but told thats the way it is sometimes. I always assumed as did docs that it was athritis spreading around body for years before diagnosed fibro by rheumatologist.
Seronegative arthritis occurs in at least 30% of people eventually diagnosed with things like Rheumatoid Arthritis. Having negative bloods, is very common and definitely doesn't rule out inflammatory arthritis. An old school friend has just been diagnosed on negative bloods, with Early Onset Inflammatory Arthritis. My own specialist believes I have Seronegative Palindromic Rheumatism, which is pretty rare and not much is known about it. In fact specialists can't even agree if it is a distinct early form of rheumatoid arthritis (many people with PR will develop RA at some point), of it is is a totally separate disease, but this diagnosis hasn't been confirmed for me yet though. I personally feel my symptoms are closer to Seronegative RA than they are to either Fibro or Palindromic Rheumatism, but as is often the case, I have various symptoms that fit with all 3.
Hello!
My bloods weren't done to diagnosis Fibromyalgia, I was diagnosed through rheumatology three years ago.
It is very frustrating. I've felt 'different' the last 6 months of so, with pain and other symptoms - swelling, reduced joint movement etc.
Something doesn't feel right & they won't listen!
C x
I hope you find out what's going on soon. Very frustrating x
From my own personal experience that comes across to me as arthritis. Obviously I am not a doctor but that is how mine feels and works. I genuinely hope that you get the all clear though!
Good luck
Ken x
All the blood test only eliminate what you've not got it process of illumination! X
Personally I think they don't dig deep enough, which is why an FM test would help us so much.
My Inflammatory markers were through the roof (my doctors words) but the specialist said there was no damage so it was not RA. However I do well on anti inflammatories if I have to take them for some reason the pain eases.
I'm having a few challenges at the moment but would love to try the anti inflammatory diet when things quiet down. Lots of info on it out there, and much better than tablets to control things.
Hmm I wish there was a test, would be so much easier. I've not had the chance to try anti inflammatories as I have an allergy.
I've not heard of the inflammatory diet, I must have a look 
Thanks! C x
Hi Sweetheart. I don't know about it not being an inflammatory syndrome or not. My ESR is always 3 times the highest desired level. Hope this will be somewhat helpful. xxx Mitzi
i don't know what to say.Yes I do what a of c,,,p they just try to fob us of half the time they don't even how to spell fibromyalgia never mind treat it
Blood tests results
Got blood test results
x ray results
