Good appointment today

[Koalajane]

About 2 months ago I had blood tests for my PMR review and was told my ESR had gone up to 27 from 9 and that I had signs of anaemia. I had blood tests on Monday for my diabetic review and my review today.

My results are a lot better. My ESR has gone down to 16, no anaemia. My hba1c has gone down from 41 to 35. Cholesterol is 4.4. Only downside was my B12 is slightly up but doctor can’t be too concerned as she has requested a further test in 6 months when I have my other blood tests done.

Does anyone know anything about slightly raised B12?

Anyway I am not too concerned just pleased my ESR has come down a bit.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It is unusual to find raised B12 levels - but in the absence of other indicators maybe she is waiting watchfully?

[Koalajane in reply to PMRpro]

Mine is 730 and my other results are normal. My doctor says 600 should be upper limit although I have seen 900 in some places

I am having repeat blood tests in 6 months time.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Koalajane]

Maybe she needs to check - or is that the range on the local lab's results?

Because

hey.nhs.uk/wp/wp-content/up...

says up to 900 pmol/l

while

southtees.nhs.uk/services/p...

apps.nhslothian.scot/refhel...

both say up to 2000 ng/l

(where 1 pmol/l = 1·355 ng/l).

There will be variations in the numbers due to the methodology and units used - and 730 doesn't seem a concern to me ...

[Koalajane in reply to PMRpro]

Yes that is the range on the local labs result

180.00-640.00ng/L.

So perhaps I can stop worrying. Why would the local labs range be different?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Koalajane]

The techniques used are different perhaps. But in most lab estimations there is a variation even within a given lab and everything must be done with quality controls even after the equipment has been set up with the standards. That's a lot of the reason that there is a range for many tests. And then sometimes there are local decisions about where they set the tolerance for abnormal results. A lower level at the top would identify problems sooner maybe?

[Koalajane in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for that. I think I should now stop worrying until my next blood test in 6 months time

[Koalajane in reply to Koalajane]

I also notice the levels for ESR have an upper level of 15

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Koalajane]

That IS low - wonder how they came up with that?

[Koalajane in reply to PMRpro]

I really don’t know. So my 16 is above their normal levels but to me I am happy with it

[piglette in reply to Koalajane]

My lab results show 700 as the top normal, So 730 is not that much over. The ESR has an upper limit of 20 in my case. If your doctor is not asking for any more blood tests for six months I am sure there is nothing to worry about. Mine seem to ask for new ones every month, mainly because my inflammation markers are so high. I don’t think they have a clue why but asking for blood tests may just be wishful thinking that they will go down and they are doing something!