Flare with normal lab work?

[BizCat]

Hi!

I’ve been having all the flare symptoms por the past couple of weeks after a very intense work journey (24h all day every other day), however my labwork comes normal my Dr said it might be emotional stress but I know my body and I’m not well.

Have any of you experienced something similar?

[PMRpro]

For most people it takes a certain amount of inflammation and for long enough to trigger the liver to produce the proteins that increase inflammatory markers. And if you are on any immunomodulatory medication or corticosteroids it can be quite delayed before they move. Good doctors go by symptoms ahead of lab results - but they are often a rare breed ...

[MrsMarigold in reply to PMRpro]

I didn’t know this. Good to know. I’m just coming out of a flare lasted almost 2 weeks. I’m a wet kitten. My Dr is very good at looking at symptoms but it’s been zoom calls for 2 years now. It’s difficult ; possible but not as effective. I know when I see him later this month I will be anxious to see what my inflammation markers are. But I’ve had them be within normal limits and feel awful.

[eekt]

Longer travel is most certainly a trigger for me, by road, train or plane...just waiting on the chance for a flight to Spain to prove it! xxx 😜😆👍

[Tanitani]

What symptoms are you experiencing? The labs my doctor takes (inflamatory markers) aleays show up normal even when i have a bad flare. There are many other markers that doctors cant order so you ha e to go with your symptoms only

[Tanitani]

Also a trip at least by pla e always triggers a flare 7 days after the trip. eekt do you also ha e the same pattern in germs of days after stress/travel?

[eekt in reply to Tanitani]

No, I start flaring en route! xxx

[Maddymay65]

HiSorry to hear you are having a rough time. I have had lupus for 15 years and had numerous flares which rarely show up on my bloodwork.Its frustrating and unfortunately not helpful. I agree with you you know your own body if you have the symptoms of a flare which dont settle down after a normal period of rest. then you probably need medical intervention. This in my case is normally a steroid injection. Hope your doctor is sympathetic and empathetic and you receive the treatment you need to get better. Good luck M x

[Roarah]

My doctors need to see organ and/ or serum changes before altering my medical protocol. My team defines a lupus flare according to the international consensus for a definition of disease flare as “an increase in disease activity in one or more organ systems involving new or worsening clinical signs and symptoms and/or laboratory measurements”.

So if symptom changes are seen in my joints, liver, kidney, heart, skin etc and not just vague symptoms such as fatigue, headache or aches than antibody changes would not be as important but without evidence of organ changes I would need serum changes to warrant a treatment plan change.It might be important to understand how your own doctor defines a lupus flare. Good luck.