Advice about sharp rise in CRP levels

[Hidcote]

My CRP levels have been rising. In August they were 13.6 when I was on 4.5 of pred. I treated that as a flare and dropped back to 5. Then on the 17 0ctober they went to 17.6 again I treated that as a flare and dropped back to 6. They are now at 55.4. I have been contacted by my doctor and may manage to speak to him tomorrow or Tuesday. I am worried about GCA and am alert to any symptoms. I wonder if I should go up to 15 tomorrow morning.

I feel quite worried about it so grateful for your advice.

My initial starting dose was 15 and that worked well.

Things in my life are a bit stressful at the moment.

[piglette]

A couple of times my CRP has syddenly leapt up to over 100. I felt fine and do not know why it happened. My GP asked have you got internal bleeding for some unknown reason. I said I was pretty sure I hadn’t. I seem to be the only one worried about my high CRP!!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

The last couple of times they have been raised have you had symptoms as well -or just reacted to the readings?

.. and what’s the situation now -what symptoms do you have?

If only raised CRP then you shouldn’t be increasing Pred -but trying to discover why they are going up -it may have nothing to do with your PMR.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I wouldn't immediately jump to the conclusion this is GCA - but I would say the problem started some time ago and there has been a rising trend since the summer. A single raised value wouldn't demand an increase but this is a rising trend and needs to be investigated. If you feel OK in terms of PMR/GCA symptoms, I wouldn't take pred, I would ask the GP to investigate any possible other cause. CRP is a very non-specific marker and could be due to something else.

[Hidcote in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks everyone for your prompt responses as I have been very worried. As I mentioned before, I have very tight leg muscles which makes judging the activity levels of the polymyalgia tricky but I don’t have shoulder pains in the way I did at the onset of the condition. The leg issues mean that I have been crawling round the house and find crouching down to open drawers etc difficult. My GP has been helpful and I have had a Doppler test to look at the blood supply to my legs. That was ok as was the B12 etc. My physio thinks the tight leg muscles are because I have weak core and my glutes don’t engage so the leg muscles are tightening to protect my back.

I had a Covid jab a fortnight ago but that should have worn off. I have also had several bereavements and lots of stress.

From what you are saying the advice to stay put on the current dose.

Thanks

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Hidcote]

See how you are on 6mg…. a small increase might help if you are still stressed, but don’t think you need 15mg..

But if the CRP is still rising there is obviously something causing it…

[Chiqui1950 in reply to DorsetLady]

Dear DorsetLady, I read that you have a suggested tapering schedule but I have not been able to locate it on this forum. If this is correct I would love to be able to access it. I am tapering to 2.5 and symptomless. Thank you so much.

[HeronNS in reply to Chiqui1950]

It is getting hard to find again. In the FAQ post under Tapering Plans.

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to HeronNS]

Not hard , it’s where it’s always been….

[HeronNS in reply to DorsetLady]

I had to find it in the FAQs. If you haven't used FAQs before, how would you know? I think it used to be pinned, but I didn't find it there yesterday.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to HeronNS]

It was pinned when it first came out 5 years ….once the FAQs were put in place it was removed and put there. The problem with pinned post is they only show a few, and as new ones are added the older ones fall down through list and they become unwieldy

The FAQs are in the pinned posts, and also appear as a ‘featured content’ under the first post on the posts page, and Fran_Benson reminds new members in her monthly welcome post.

[HeronNS in reply to DorsetLady]

I understand that completely. Simply trying to help Chiqui1950!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to HeronNS]

I know … thank you..

[Chiqui1950 in reply to HeronNS]

thank you so much!!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Chiqui1950]

here-

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Chiqui1950]

I am so sorry to hear about your CRP levels going up. I also tried to up my prednisone by 1 mg--- but my CRP levels kept on going up. For me it came with sudden and increasing pain all over my body. My doctor concluded it was PMR and up my dosage from 6 to 15mg. the pain went away in two days. In my case I think i was tapering too fast with a CRP 18 which triggered a flare. I am now tapering to 2.5 so there is hope. I wish you all the best!