ESR level higher then usual what it mean

[Tashybar]

hello everyone

I have RA and recently went for my 3 month routine bloods my ESR level normally low range as have been digbised as having the serno- negative rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed in 2019 finally .

My range is still in normal range and it’s gone up from 2-8 . But for as long as 2018 till June 24 been 2 now 8 .

Should I be concerned I have had a horrible flu like symptom virus and still have a slight cough . And all joint stiff and achy and puffy hands , feet etc ?, so having a flat I take Sulfasalazine , Just a bit worried as suffer with health anxiety after a little cancer scare but likely was not breast cancer just. A fibroedema over a year ago now but had therapy and started on steriline to help manage the symptoms , I’m probably over thinking it but obviously Dr google said it can indict cancer , RA wording etc. now mibd racing , also possibly start perimenopause so having test for that too .

Thank you in advance Natasha x

[Amnesiac3637]

Please don't panic. Your ESR varies anyway from day to day and 8 is absolutely nothing to be concerned about. If you’ve got a virus your body will increase its inflammatory response which is why your titres have risen slightly.

Please DO NOT consult ‘DR’ Google! It’s nothing more than an algorithm which will pick out key words and fit them to a possible diagnosis which always seems to involve having cancer……….If you had health anxiety before, you certainly will have after reading anything on Google!

Talk to your doctor rather than anyone else. They are the soundest source of advice for your particular circumstances and current medical condition. I have been a clinician in the NHS for years (tho now retired) and am distressed by the inaccuracies on various websites which all copy each other’s information and frighten people silly when the complete picture is by no means defined.

I am not giving medical info but if you need to know the various parameters for blood tests next time you have one ask for the results on PatientAccess (or whichever way you get your results) and the normal ranges are always shown and your doctor will notify you if they are outside those ranges.

And breathe………..

[medway-lady in reply to Amnesiac3637]

Good advice.

[Tashybar in reply to Amnesiac3637]

Thank you so much you have reassured me incredibly, I have recently been to utc as a uti so guess would make since x

[Runrig01]

An ESR of 8 is really nothing to worry about. It will fluctuate slightly, but is still in normal parameters. Any inflammation in the body will affect the result. It’s not uncommon to get an ESR over 100 for chest infections. Your levels certainly don’t suggest cancer. I often feel that releasing results without meaning, causes unnecessary stress to some. If you’re still concerned call your gp, rather than resorting to Dr Google as it’s never reassuring and only increases anxiety. I was a nurse for 34yrs, and have seen too many patients stress unnecessarily about test results.

[Tashybar in reply to Runrig01]

Thank you so reassuring x

[oldtimer2]

Raised ESR levels indicate some sort of inflammation in the fairly recent past. If you have had a viral infection you should have had an inflammatory response. A level of 8 (hardly raised at all!) indicates that your inflammatory response is a bit suppressed by your medication for your RA or that you are now recovering well (or both).

(If it's any consolation my ESR has been up around the 100s in the past when my disease process has been poorly controlled.)

[Tashybar in reply to oldtimer2]

Thank you so much

[debjw]

mine is always between 130 and is 134 at the moment! My consultant says it’s the Sjögren’s syndrome (I have ra too and pbc) and isn’t unduly worried. My crp is usually normal.

[Tashybar in reply to debjw]

Thank you

[Nyreedw]

Normal ESR is 20 or below. My RA is misbehaving at the moment, long story and at 97. Apart from CRP being up, everything else is normal, so know its RA. I've recently had surgery so being monitored closely as previously had serious post op complications.

[Tashybar in reply to Nyreedw]

Hope you feel better soon sending hugs

[Nyreedw in reply to Tashybar]

Glad you are sorted. Thank you, I'm heading in the right direction, definitely, now xx

[Tashybar]

thank you for all your advice I have been to utc as got a uti so go said barkers are fine and usual when battling infection I will game myself from dr google as never helps thank you