blood test results

[Rebsy]

Hi PMR people! This site is an amazing source of info - thank you! This is my first post and I’d appreciate your thoughts. I’ve just had a blood test before I go and see my rheumatologist. My markers are up CRP 25mg/l compared to 8mg/l in May and erythrocyte send rate 32mm/h compared to 10mm/h in May. Currently on 10mg pred a day which seems to be ok ( I’m a little achey but nothing I can’t cope with) I seem to remember from this site that these tests are not an accurate way to monitor PMR. Should I be worried about the raised inflammatory markers? Rheumatologist increased my pred when my markers were raised last time - to get the inflammation under control he said.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Inflammation markers do vary a bit even when on Pred, so we usually suggest if it’s higher than expected ,and you don’t have an increase in symptoms you get them retested just to make sure it’s not a blip. Plus other things can increase markers from a virus to a stubbed toe-and many things in-between!

But you say you are “a bit achy’ so may have gone just a tad too low…a small increase may help.

[Rebsy in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Rebsy]

Just amended slightly..pressed reply too quickly..

[PMRpro Ambassador]

You admit you are a little achy - that and raised markers would more often than not herald a flare because the 10mg you are on isn't quite enough so there is a bit of inflammation left over each day and, like with a dripping tap, eventually the bucket will fill up and overflow. You may only need 10.5mg to stabilise things - but as we say so often, what a difference 1/2mg can make!

What you should do really is have the ESR and CRP checked again in a week to 10 days to see if there is a rising trend. Have you had any other things going on that could be to blame? A cold, severe stress, minor trauma?

[Rebsy in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for the reply PMRpro. I finally got covid about 5 weeks ago which manifested as a lingering cold but not sure if that would affect i now? I live with stress unfortunately, it’s not constant but like PMR it has flares and I’m often aware of low grade anxiety most of the time, this has definitely got worse since my diagnosis - the pred, lifestyle change, post menopause. I shall see if I can get hold of some 1mg pred tablets from my GP.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Rebsy]

More than likely then - the inflammation can hang around - and the B4 and B5 versions last a long time compared with the previous iterations.

[piglette]

It is how you feel that is more important than your markers. You should feel as good as when you first took steroids, trying to tough out extra aches as you reduce is not a good idea, just going up a bit to stamp out the PMR is worth it.

[tangocharlie]

Wow, sounds like a good rheumatologist who knows that PMR varies and sometimes you need to adjust the dose! Real life experience from patients instead of what's in the ancient textbook presumably? My CRP varies, usually if I'm having a flare it's up in the mid to high 20s and if things are under control between 5 and 8. My rheumie is amused that I can usually guess from 10 years' experence what my reading will be!

[Rebsy]

Thanks for all your helpful comments.