Flare going on and on! Bloods

[Elmo333]

Hi again. This flare up is still going strong and it’s kinda getting to me! Had bloods done this week which showed ESR 41 and CRP 29. I know not everyone’s blood results reflect their symptoms and my figures are always slightly raised. I’m just wondering if these numbers are high enough to make the RA Dr realise that I’m struggling. My GP says that the numbers don’t matter but my consultant focusses on them quite a lot when deciding disease activity. Do any of you have similar results when flaring? (My numbers were much higher a few years ago so I know they go high)

[helixhelix]

My numbers are always low. And the way I persuaded my consultant was showing a graph of my levels for last x years. It was then obvious that normally my numbers were 1 or 2, but every now and then there was a small peak that coincided with a flare.

And ESR of 41 would have me bed-bound!

[Hidden in reply to helixhelix]

I’m the same as you helixhelix. My bloods are always low with the odd slight peak. I’ve woke up this morning with Fatigue!!!!!!! And my feet and ankles are solid with stiffness and they hurt . My hands are swollen and making a fist is an effort and I know this flare won’t show on my bloods on Monday.

[Mmrr]

My bloods are within normal range, yet I flare regularly. I think as helixhelix says keep a record of how you feel , the ups and downs and show these to your consultant. Ask the him/her the questions, can you flare without it showing in bloods ? If it is not a flare what is it that is happening to me ? Ask for your written questions to be submitted , with answers into your notes.

[Hidden]

I can't remember what the highest CRP has been, but the highest ESR was 86. At which point my GP referred me to Rheumatology. I was seronegative at the time (32 years ago) I'm now seropositive.

[medway-lady]

My bloods do not reflect the swollen hands ! Sausage fingers usually indicate something wrong as does fatigue so its never been an issue.