Im back again with a question. Hubby been back on 7.5 gm steroids for well over a month now and per tel call to GP this morning, GP said blood results were excellent. It seems that previously something was 65 and is now down to 2. I have no idea what these numbers mean but it sounds bl**** good to me!! Is this a cause for celebration???
Hubby recently lost his balance and went head first through the greenhouse. Finished up in A and E, I was as much use as a chocolate teapot but he has recovered now. Didnt do the greenhouse any favours either!!!!
Cheers folks
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piggylovesgolf
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Thanks DL. He hasnt had any pain for a few weeks so thats' good but I have taken on board all the responses I received last time re reducing slowly and will keep my eye on him.
But has the greenhouse recovered????? Were the plants ok?
I would imagine it is the ESR the GP was talking about - erythrocyte sedimentation rate, the speed with which red blood cells settle to the bottom of a vertical tube. It is increased by the presence of proteins on the surface of the red cells which make them stick together and so they sink quicker. The liver produces these proteins in response to the presence of inflammation in the body, any inflammation will do. It is often raised in PMR (20% of us don't have such raised values and it often delays diagnosis) and as the pred combats the inflammation caused by the PMR, there are fewer proteins being made and the red cells don't stick together as much and the speed of settle slows. The normal range (that covers 95% of the values seen in a large population of healthy adults) is usually taken as from 1 to 20 (measured in mm per hour) so he is now at the low end of normal - his normal and what he should be aiming for in future. It doesn't mean the PMR is gone (whatever a doctor may try to tell you), it means he is on enough pred to suppress the inflammation well. It may still be too much pred - but as you reduce the dose you should keep an eye on this marker and if it starts to rise steadily, stop reducing. It will also rise in response to a cold, injury and other acute problems, if that happens stop reducing and test again a week or two later to see if there is a rising trend. You are looking for the dose that keeps it steady and no symptoms - no symptoms is as important as the lab result.
Many thanks for that PMRpro. I didn't think for one minute that it had all gone and he was completely cured but I don't understand the numbers---he isnt interested in them and just soldiers on hoping to get better---- but I was filled with deep joy 😀😀😀😀 after the telephone call. A ray of sunshine after Covid and everything else. It clearly is a good sign and I intend to celebrate.👍
It is a good sign - the management principle is working! I said it because there are doctors who think a normal ESR means the cause of the symptoms has gone and get gung-ho about reducing the pred dose, even getting the patient off altogether. THAT just leads to tears ...
Just raising a cup of tea to you - bit early for prosecco yet ...
No--- the doc has told him to reduce thats all and he did in fact say on a previous call that these "levels" were raised and they were the same as they were originally when diagnosed but he went on to say that a lot of things can raise these levels---I think he said "like a cough". He does like to get people off steroids if possible, describing them as "nasty things" (referred to in my previous post) but he does seem to know a thing or two and he gets on really well with Phil. There was some laughter on the phone this morning connected with the greenhouse issue as A and E had sent report I think as hub was explaining that he had bashed the greenhouse first with his nose and was having difficulty breathing through said nose. I do feel he is in good hands and of course I prompt him with all the things I read on here. So between me, you and the jolly doc we are taking care of him. All is much appreciated 👍
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