Near Perfect Blood Test Results - 12/06/2019

[Amy_Lee]

I have been keeping track of my blood test records to monitor my own performance since the very early stage. I am very pleased that I have been having near perfect blood test results since many months. In Aug 2017 when my liver markers went up again, my rheumy reduced the dosage of my mtx immediately and the markers came/come back to normal again until today.

The only problem with the blood test this round were my cholesterol went up a bit toward the high side and my blood pressure too was consider high today. I know I need to take immediate action to put these 2 back into normal.

After my appointment, I went to get some ginger and apple cedar vinegar, this mixture will be ready in a week time for me. I am going to start the garlic, lemon and honey drink first.

Good record helps me a lot in my recovery process. Immediate action will help me to go a long way too.

[Amy_Lee]

Dear Ajay, I do think it does. I always have a simple and healthy life style. I also committed to do my best all the times. I always find way to solve issue if there is any problem along the way.

[WomblingFree]

My aim is to have normal bloods. After 6 weeks on MTX my CRP is down from 28-10 and I aim to get it down further. I thought 4-5 was a bit ambitious but worth a try, so I’m really encouraged by how low yours is. Have you stuck to an anti inflammatory diet? What else have you done? I’d love any advice you can give. Thanks

[Amy_Lee in reply to WomblingFree]

Hi Wombling,

My CRP started with 177.6. The lowest reading was 0.97. I aim to go further down instead of accepting the reading of 1.22 now. You are very much luckier than me, I took mtx for about 9 months, then only my CRP down to 4.18.

My rheumy told me that RA is not because of food but immune system hence I eat everything, no diet plan at all. I used to exercise daily but lately I have been a bit busy hence skip some days.

I sleep early and get up early too. I eat very simple and healthy food. No other special program at all.

[Lizbain1]

Are you taking garlic to lower the alt? Just wondering

[Amy_Lee in reply to Lizbain1]

My ALT reading was normal hence I am not doing anything special but do as what I do and eat what I eat. My cholesterol and pressure are on the high side, hence I take immediate action to see if I can lower these two reading in my next blood test.

Anyhow, garlic, honey, lemon and ginger are good for our health hence no issue to just try them out.

[Hessie5]

Hi Amy Lee - so organised - it's impossible getting these results from my Consultant - how do you manage to get them? I have to phone and even then they seldom have them all.

Well done, you are inspiring as give hope as you can get better. What meds are you currently taking ?

Thanks, Hessie 😌

[Amy_Lee in reply to Hessie5]

Dear Hessie,

Over here in Malaysia, my rheumy had no issue to give me a copy of the blood test results. Unfortunately, recently she told me that she is not supposed to give me anymore. I requested to take a photo using my handphone.

I have been taken Arava 20 mg, methotrexate 7.5 mg, osteocap 0.25 mg, calcium 500 mg and folic acid 5 mg. I have been in remission since Nov 2015, my rheumy said that she intended to reduce the Arava the next appointment. But since I complaint that my fingers and toes still feel a bit different, she requested to have Vit-D test to rule out deficiency of Vit-D.

[Hessie5 in reply to Amy_Lee]

You are fortunate. I think we should all be allowed copies of all blood tests. It helps should I need to source a private consultant.

Thanks for sharing your medication too. I hope to be in a place where there is little pain and I can get back to a place what once was normal 😌. All the best.

[Amy_Lee in reply to Hessie5]

Dear Hessie,

Do not give up. I have no pain at all since my remission. I was very much weaker at the early stage of my remission and I am getting very much stronger now. If not because of the little feeling of my fingers and toes, I am almost as normal as I was.

I strongly believe you will be the same one day as long as you work closely with your rheumy.

Amy

[Pawz4me]

I've always had normal CRP and ESR. Even when I was first diagnosed and my rheumy counted twelve swollen joints. I'm keeping watch on my blood counts, though. I've been edging toward anemia.

[Amy_Lee in reply to Pawz4me]

Dear Pawz,

My CRP was 177.6 and ESR was 98. It is very crucial to keep a good record of our blood test, in this way we can monitor our own result. Are you also taking folic acid? Folic acid should help in anemia issue.

Amy

[Pawz4me in reply to Amy_Lee]

Yes, I take a prescription folic acid supplement every day.

[Amy_Lee in reply to Pawz4me]

Dear Pawz,

That is great but not on the day of mtx though. Check with your rheumy to see how to improve your blood count since you already taking the folic acid daily. In my case, I am always quite pale even before RA. What we Chinese do is to boil the dates and drink them daily. You may try and see if that helps your condition.

organicfacts.net/health-ben...

Amy

[Pawz4me in reply to Amy_Lee]

I am in the U.S. Taking folic acid every day is the norm here. My rheumy would NOT be happy if I skipped it, and from the studies I've read there really is no valid reason to do so.

Thanks for your concern about the anemia, but I've dealt with it on and off since I was a toddler. I'm 56 now, so it's by no means a new thing, and I know all sorts of strategies for dealing with it.

[Amy_Lee in reply to Pawz4me]

Folic acid will interact with mtx hence RA patients will be advised not to take folic acid on the day of mtx. Do check with your rheumy on this please.

Folic acid will reduce the effect of mtx if they are used on the same day.

[Pawz4me in reply to Amy_Lee]

I have checked with my rheumy. He looked at me like I was an idiot when I mentioned skipping it on the day I take methotrexate. I remember verbatim his reply: "I don't know where you heard that, but it's wrong. You take it every day." The protocol in the U.S. is set by the American College of Rheumatology and their guidelines are very clear--folic acid is to be taken every day of the week. Now we can argue the merits of that. I know the U.S. is different from some other countries on this. But it's the way it's done here.

[Amy_Lee in reply to Pawz4me]

Let me see if I can find any research of that from US. If many researches prove that this is what will happen, whether the researches were from US or not, a good doctor should at least have an open mind to check that out. This is to ensure the best for the patient. This is only my own opinion.

[JFlay in reply to Pawz4me]

My CRP is always normal too (they don't use ESR in my area) it confuses me as to why this is? yet I have seropositive RA.

[Amy_Lee in reply to JFlay]

I am seronegative RA. My RF factor and CCP tests were negative hence I was told I was seronegative. But then my CRP and ESR were so high then. I think the definition of seronegative or seropositive will be determined by the reading of the CRP and ESR then.

Recall those painful days, I hope I can continue my remission forever though I may have to continue the DMARDs.

[JFlay in reply to Amy_Lee]

The consultant described my RF as 'very positive' (but that's in a negative way) it's 186.

[Amy_Lee in reply to JFlay]

What is the normal reading for RF? Mine was negative and my rheumy didn't mention the reading to me hence I have no such record with me.

[JFlay in reply to Amy_Lee]

Normal is less than 15 IU/ml (as far as I know).

[Amy_Lee in reply to JFlay]

You are right, I just Google it. Thank you so much. That means your RF was really high since it was 186.

According to information that I Google, seronegative can achieve remission slightly easier than seropositive. How is your condition? Are you in remission?

[Mmrr in reply to Amy_Lee]

There is a lot of contradictory information in the web regarding seronegative RD. Some saying it is not so aggressive , easier treated and so on than seropositive RD, but also a lot of new emerging reserach which says , no it often takes longer to diagnose during which time joint damage can be done and response to treatment is not necessarily better if you are seronegative.

[Amy_Lee in reply to Mmrr]

Surprisingly RA hit me hard, I therefore was treated very early. But then my RF and CCP were negative.

All my fingers were curved in, unable to open straight. My toes were in great pain, my ankles didn't follow instruction to move properly, my knees were in great pain too. Most of my joints were warm and swollen the very first appointment.

Slowly my neck and body couldn't turn as they were in great pain too. I walked like a machine then. I wonder if I could ever recover and back to my normal life?

About 6 months of treatment, I felt my pain level started to reduce, I was so happy and I started to believe that I would be back to my normal self one day.

Of course I did my painful exercises too beside taking the medicines.

Really not sure if I was lucky to be seronegative? But I am glad to be function as normal now for sure.

[JFlay in reply to Amy_Lee]

I have only started on DMARD's in January, MTX but I can't tolerate it, they told me to stop it. I go back to see the consultant in July to see what is next, so no remission yet!

[Amy_Lee in reply to JFlay]

When were you diagnosed RA? I did have a lot of side effects with mtx. I told my rheumy, she said that mtx would give me a lot more benefits than the side effects, she wanted me to bear with them first.

It was so hard but slowly after about a year, many of them went off and I was finally in remission after about 1 1/2 years treatment.

Recall those days, I think I was great to tolerate mtx temporary in exchange of my condition now.

The worst side effects were the rashes on my limbs and the day of mtx. It was so bad that when I saw mtx, I started vomiting before I even took them. I requested for injection instead but over here only the hospital far away can do it. My rheumy told me that I would not allow to do it myself so I must go to the hospital daily far from home. No choice as I was working, I continue the oral mtx.

When the dosage has been reduced to 7.5 mg, I am perfectly OK to have it. No more vomiting with it now.

So it is your tolerance level if you can accept it and let it works on you a little longer. I can only offer you my own experience. You may have worse side effects, I don't know really.

My advice is to talk to your rheumy and see what he says. Don't listen to others as they are not your rheumy. It is dangerous to listen to non professional, that may cause your joints damaged.

Amy

[JFlay in reply to Amy_Lee]

I was diagnosed end of 2018. I gave MTX nearly 6 months try but it was my guts (pains, bloating) headaches, sinus problem and felt worse than the RA symptoms. It was my consultant that told me to stop taking it and they will see me next month to decide the next steps to take. Maybe they will suggest a lower dose? or injections (we do MTX injections ourselves in the UK) will have to see. Thank you 😊

[Amy_Lee in reply to JFlay]

I did have similar problem with my guy that led to vomiting. Finally I found if I ate half full, I took mtx then continue eating, my stomach was very much better. But then I still had the vomiting sensation the whole day. A lot time, I vomited.

Until today I carry on the same way to take mtx, no issue now as the dosage is low now.

At the early stage, I would be quite sick for around 2 days after mtx. Slowly it went to 1 day. Now I no longer sick on day of mtx.

I didn't have sinus and headache problem with mtx. I had hair lost, itchiness with the rashes, diarrhea and my liver markers went up and down a bit. Diarrhea was stopped after a few rounds of mtx. Hair lost and rashes were gone after more than a year.

Yes, see what your rheumy suggests next. Just can't reduce the dosage on our own.