ferritin levels high - abdominal scan booked.

[NewPMR53]

hello

concerned about my gp referring me for abdominal and pelvic ultrasound because of my ferritin levels.

May 185

June 205

July 191

My Google searching indicates he is looking at potential liver issues.

My ALT is under 3 and I drink maybe 2 units per month these days.

Are liver issues linked with PMR?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

High ferritin can act as a acute phase response marker to inflammation - just like CRP and ESR. Raised liver enzymes are also seen in PMR.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

journals.sagepub.com/doi/pd....

Google "raised liver enzymes in pmr" and you will get a whole load of references. But they should normalise if the PMR is well controlled - is it?

[NewPMR53 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you PMRpro. Yes I feel the PMR is well controlled - was nervous this week that GP might want to reduce the dose of pred (20mg currently) but he is happy to keep it at this level at the moment. My nervousness is because on a sunday when I take the pred 3 hours later than normal I do have many more pains and aches until they kick in so I'm assuming the 20mg per 24 hours is what is necessary to control it at the moment.

Will read those articles now and thank you again.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to NewPMR53]

Difficult to say - it may simply be that the antiinflammatory effect isn't lasting more than 24 hours so that morning batch f inflmmation is getting an extra 3 hours to get going before the pred kicks in.

How long have you been at 20mg?

[NewPMR53]

started on 15mg on 22/5 - increased to 20mg on 30/5 as was having five or six hours of pain each day on the 15.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to NewPMR53]

Early days ...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

As you still seem to be struggling a bit on 20mg, although as PMRpro has said, early days in the great scheme of things, can I ask

a. As you are in your 50s are you still working? and

b. Are you treating yourself as a poorly person, and pacing yourself, or trying to get back to normal activities?

PS - just seen in a reply to another post you are still working… that makes a huge difference to some… what sort of work - stressful, energetic? Have you had any time off sine diagnosis?Is management aware you have a serious illness and making allowances?

[NewPMR53 in reply to DorsetLady]

Hi DorsetLady - I am still working full time but from home so no commute stress etc. It is a stressful job but is computer based (I run the news and training websites for a global company).

Management are aware and have put things in place like I must not attend company events or try and do any office days for as long as treatment lasts. They know I lie down every lunchtime so no-one is allowed to schedule meetings with me then etc. They could help more by reducing some of my work load but that is not forthcoming at the moment.

I've had one day off sick and two half days for medical appointments. I do treat myself as poorly yes but possibly not enough. I used to be on 20k steps per day and ran every single day and I prob average about 1k now.

I am considering taking a couple of weeks off soon to just decompress and give myself time and space to adjust to the new me which I know I have not done properly yet.

I think I've adjusted my activity etc but not my brain. However my brain still thinks I'm 18 so that might take a while!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to NewPMR53]

Okay- and yes I think you do need to take time off… and have a good think about things…

As for thinking you are still 18.. I’ve only just reached 25! 🤣😂