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.
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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!!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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