Raised CRP to 5.3 and ESR to 25: Hello everyone... - PMRGCAuk

PMRGCAuk

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Raised CRP to 5.3 and ESR to 25

Bringonthemusic profile image
24 Replies

Hello everyone,

Can anyone suggest the best way forward for me. My latest blood test has shown an increase in CRP from 1 to 5.3 and ESR 17 to 25. I currently have a second UTI, first one August and am taking antibiotics. Could the UTI be elevating my CRP and ESR? I don't want to increase my pred unless absolutely essential. It has taken me 18 months to get from 9mg to 4mg a day.

I don't seem to have any PMR pain. The CRP is very low in comparison to the 64 to 78 in past flares.

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Bringonthemusic profile image
Bringonthemusic
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24 Replies
SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane

It is my understanding that any infection can raise your CRP levels. If you feel OK apart from a miserable UTI you might get away with avoiding the sick day rules ie double your dose for a few days and go straight back to where you were. At these low doses, we need to consider our Adrenal recovery - see FAQs.via this page. This is very soon since your last UTI or the infection is persisting.

Bringonthemusic profile image
Bringonthemusic in reply toSheffieldJane

Thank you. It is a tricky one. And i agree I do think perhaps my kidneys are not playing nicely.

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane in reply toBringonthemusic

I have been told that we are pretty prone as we get older. My hygiene, non scented precautions have helped me. Adcal was an awful trigger, I stopped calcium supplements and hopefully get enough through diet and K2 and vit D supplements - lots of water - keep hydrated. Mannose D waterfall helped as much as antibiotics that bring their own miseries.Good luck!

Bringonthemusic profile image
Bringonthemusic in reply toSheffieldJane

Very interesting you state Adcal is a trigger. I had my bone density scan on Wednesday in the hope I can stop Adcal and Alendronic Acid. I have been taking both for 4 years with no break. Thanks again for taking the time to respond.

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane in reply toBringonthemusic

That’s a clue!

SnazzyD profile image
SnazzyD in reply toBringonthemusic

Or you could rely on diet for your calcium as it is relatively easy to do.

Bringonthemusic profile image
Bringonthemusic in reply toSnazzyD

Yes, I agree and I am pretty good on my calcium intake through dairy products.

Pawscat11 profile image
Pawscat11 in reply toBringonthemusic

My consultant has removed calcium from my meds and told me to take it through diet as it was causing problems. I still take the alendronic acid and vit d though

Bringonthemusic profile image
Bringonthemusic in reply toPawscat11

Thank you, I am hoping bone density scan is good enough to stop the calcium and Alendronic Acid - at least for a while.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toBringonthemusic

Even with good bone density it is better to take the calcium so there ie plenty in the system to be absorbed as pred increases the amount you lose in the urine.

Bringonthemusic profile image
Bringonthemusic in reply toPMRpro

Gosh its a vicious circle .... You learn new things every day! :)

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toBringonthemusic

I do!

AliDeJ profile image
AliDeJ in reply toSheffieldJane

Hi Sheffield Jane. What is Adcal? Thanks. AlideJ

Bringonthemusic profile image
Bringonthemusic in reply toAliDeJ

Hello, It's a calcium and vitamin D tablet often prescribed when you also take Alendronic Acid.

AliDeJ profile image
AliDeJ in reply toBringonthemusic

Thank you. Mine is called Calcichew D3.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toAliDeJ

One of the calcium/vit D supplements - there are other brands available.

SnazzyD profile image
SnazzyD

A UTI could influence those results. Are they treating an known offending organism or are they just treating symptoms?

Bringonthemusic profile image
Bringonthemusic in reply toSnazzyD

They ran a urine test, no bacterial growth but pus in urine so they are treating as a UTI. I am not 100% convinced to the cause.

SnazzyD profile image
SnazzyD in reply toBringonthemusic

Here is a useful bit on pus in urine and other causes, notably kidney stones (high calcium supplementation?) and proton pump inhibitors like Omperazole. Also for ladies, particularly those past menopause, can cause contamination of urine samples that have come from elsewhere in the region. If you are getting a bit of cystitis from the calcium it might be swaying the result. If you end up with more antibiotics again, I would ask them to ask “why?” a bit more.

my.clevelandclinic.org/heal...

Bringonthemusic profile image
Bringonthemusic in reply toSnazzyD

Thank you, really useful!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

The infection could well be the cause of the raised markers - and a single raised set of markers unaccompanied by symptoms should NEVER result in a kneejerk increase of pred dose. Give it a week or so and get it checked again to see if there is a rising trend which is what might suggest PMR flaring.

Try adding D-mannose to the antibiotics - I find it really helps clear out the bugs. It is supposed to flush them out of the bladder wall where it is said they "hide" from the antibiotic which tends to be concentrated in the urine rather than in the tissues.

I found calcium supplements caused cystitis symptoms - the burning and frequency due to irritation of the bladder and urethra. Doesn't happen with a high calcium diet though. And keep your vit D supplement, preferably higher than is in AdCal!

Bringonthemusic profile image
Bringonthemusic in reply toPMRpro

Thank you for the information. I will look into D-mannose.

PMRnewbie2017 profile image
PMRnewbie2017

Have a look at my reply to Tayzee in this digest today.

Bringonthemusic profile image
Bringonthemusic in reply toPMRnewbie2017

Thank you. I am now monitoring closely.

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