Bloods before and after steroid injection

[Hels1989]

Could anyone please help me with these results. I've noticed from one result to the next my ESR and CRP score has dropped significantly since the steroid injection. I'm presuming that's good as that is inflammatorys right? Also any insight on what the others are?

[ITYFIALMCTT]

Standard blood cell count (crudely), the inflammatory markers, some liver enzymes, kidney markers etc. - the things that it is good to track to make sure that any medication isn't adversely affecting them. It can be good to look up the blood tests and familiarise yourself with them so that you can better self-manage your condition and medications: labtestsonline.org.uk

Are you feeling any better for the inflammatory markers reducing after the steroids?

ETA: I don't know if you saw this recent helpful post? healthunlocked.com/nras/pos...

[Hels1989 in reply to ITYFIALMCTT]

I'm feeling quite a bit better yes definitely but was still shocked to see how much the inflammatory markers had decreased In just 1 month!!

[SoulmanPaul in reply to Hels1989]

Hi Hels. I'm pleased for you. I'm also dead envious of your ALT liver score. Mine was 70 last week! Here's wishing you continued improvement.

Paul

[Hels1989 in reply to SoulmanPaul]

So does that mean I have a good liver? Haha I'm clueless apart from the inflammatorys

[SoulmanPaul in reply to Hels1989]

Lol well I'd say so. Certainly compared to mine! As I understand it the ALT score shows how hard your Liver is having to work. Since I've usually got high scores I'm not allowed alcohol. The Mtx is working it hard enough on its own!

[Hels1989 in reply to SoulmanPaul]

Oh dear well I very very rarely drink so that has prob helped me so far!!

[SoulmanPaul in reply to Hels1989]

I'm sure it has-good for you!

I just need to add....Ive never been much of a drinker....just in case anyone reading this thinks I've pickled my Liver!

[Hels1989 in reply to SoulmanPaul]

Never crossed my mind 😉 haha only joking

[SoulmanPaul in reply to Hels1989]

Lol. I've actually got 'Fatty liver' so it's more like too much butter than booze

[helixhelix]

If you look at page 41 of the linked Methotrexate monitoring booklet you'll see an explanation and normal ranges for these. I personally think it's a good idea to keep track of your own results so that you know what's normal for you, as ranges are very general. It seems that these days people aren't given monitoring booklets.

nrls.npsa.nhs.uk/EasySiteWe...

[Hels1989 in reply to helixhelix]

Oh I actually have one of these! Thanks Hun x

[SoulmanPaul in reply to helixhelix]

This is excellent and thanks for posting it-Ive learned something from it already! Personally I'm lucky my hospital uses 'Myhealth' so I can access all my bloods results online.

Paul

[Neonkittie17 in reply to SoulmanPaul]

Good you can do that. I get my GP and rheumy nurse to print them off for me. Electronic access would be helpful for many more patients.

[moomie in reply to helixhelix]

That was very useful helix. I have not seen this before.

Hope you are doing ok and have made a decision about your next step treatment wise x

[Hels1989 in reply to moomie]

I'm just on hydroxychloroquine since Friday and am due to start methotrexate in a weeks time also 🙂 X

[allanah]

Great news! X

[Neonkittie17]

I'm not sure we are allowed to be giving advice on your blood tests form, hon? I will say generally that the steroid injections do bring the inflammation right down. If RA is uncontrolled then the inflammation usually goes back up and ESR/CRP results are higher again a few months after the steroid has worn off. I yo-yo-d for ages this way. Do you have a little medication monitoring book from the nurses? They have the figures which are the norm they are looking to stabilise you to in your bloods and also a brief explanation of the tests. xx

[Hels1989 in reply to Neonkittie17]

Ah sorry I was just meaning what the others were not really what my results meant. No harm intended x

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Hels1989]

I understand you hon .. Meaning dechipering what they are. I was unsure too at first with mine. I meant that other people may start over analysing your other results and give confusing advice but haven't seen any of that thankfully. Also I'm not sure we are allowed on here to analyse results as such. 😘 x

[dwsurquhart]

What I see with your blood work is that the steroid (staroid anti inflammatory) brought your crp down. This is normal and why a lot of us are on prednisone. It is gteat at lowering systemic inflammation. I am concerned aboit your hemoglobin though. Normal levels are 135-170. I would be asking your specialist about anemia. Here is a link to the Mayo Clinic.

mayoclinic.org/symptoms/low...

[Hels1989 in reply to dwsurquhart]

I am anemic 🙂 strangely I don't feel tired or anything though. But yes they are aware of it but thankyou for letting me know incase I didn't know 🙂

[Hels1989 in reply to Hels1989]

My rheumy did say hopefully when my inflammation comes down my anemia may get better but if it doesn't I may need cameras to see inside 😩

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Hels1989]

That is what usually happens as the RA gets under control. Iron levels return to how they should be. I hovered around 8.5-9 at first for several months and then when RA was under control it went up to 10. Then mostly 11. My GP said anything under 10 and I needed supplements. My supplements are spinach, broccoli and all things green! Mine is now 12-13.5 and has been stable since Rituximab three years ago as I have practically no inflammation. Just old joint osteo damage. I don't take iron supplements as they upset my stomach badly so it's up to me to ensure enough iron in the diet. I manage it quite well. I'm glad you are going to have a dual therapy and I'm hoping that double the med will get the inflammation and pain under control soon. Once it has you will feel such relief. Have you had to take a lot of anti inflammatory tablets/meds? Hugs. xx

[Hels1989 in reply to Neonkittie17]

So far I've only been on naproxen and started hydroxy a week ago, that's it really apart from a steroid injection x

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Hels1989]

Hopefully these are going to start working soon and give you great relief and mobility. x

[dwsurquhart]

Ask your rheumy for a hematology consult. And ask for your interleukins to be checked. Like IL1, IL6 etc. IL 6 will be high as your crp is high. If you were to get on Actemra (Tocilizumab) this would bring your IL6 and CRP down to normal. Mine was 159 before starting Actemra and now is less than 0.2. My hemoglobin also went from 96 up to 165. And I feel almost normal.

Major problem with increased inflammation is severe joint degeneration. The cartilage in my knees has virtually disolved over the last 2.5 years due to inflammation. The cartilage behind the kneecap is supposed to be approx 3/8" think, mine is approx the same as a piece of paper now and the specialist is attributing that too the inflammation.

[Hels1989 in reply to dwsurquhart]

Oh dear ☹️ I'm hoping my inflammation will continue to keep coming down then.

[dwsurquhart]

Steroids did work for me for a while. Brought crp down to 19 from 87 last year sometime and i started to feel better. Then the flare up was brutal and crp went over 119 and the steroids stopped working. Hope you have a better time with this than I did.

[Hels1989 in reply to dwsurquhart]

I've been on hudroxychloroquine for almost a week too and due to start Mtx in a weeks time so hopeing they will help too

[Mandalou]

God your liver is working to perfection!

Glad your ESR and CRP are dropping but they are still high.

Hopefully when you start Mthx that will start bringing those down quite swiftly but it does take a while dont be disheartened if its not immediate.

They will closely monitor your liver as Mthx is a drug that can affect it detrimentally.

You must be a good candidate however with an ALT of 11.

Best wishes

Mx

[Hels1989 in reply to Mandalou]

Thanks Hun and as daft as it sounds I'm glad they are still high as that means I can only feel better still when they drop more! Scary to think just how high they were though!

Haha must be because I drink rarely! Glad something's working how it should haha xx

[Mandalou]

I understand exactly Hels, keep us posted how you get on.

Best of luck to you.

Mx

[Hels1989 in reply to Mandalou]

Thanks Hun, I start Mtx on Thursday so I'm a bit nervous xx

[Stephenlangtonriley]

I used to have random blood tests until it became apparent that the counts were totally eratic, high red, low red, high white, low white. The link was the 6 monthly steroid injections and now I ensure at least 2 months pass before I have any done, it is a known side effect but not very well published. Now they give correct results, unless there is something really wrong.