CRP levels raised

[Agapanthous]

I was diagnosed with PMR in April 23 , starting on 15 mg Prednisolone reducing to 8mg. Then started with terrible headaches in the morning on waking & a watery right eye . Bumped up to 20mg immediately which stopped the headaches . Now reduced down 1/2 mg every 2 weeks or so as I feel able , now down to 7mg. I requested a blood test to check my blood sugar, (which is fine) but has shown my CRP levels are raised to 48 The doctor seems concerned but I am reluctant to up my dosage of Prednisolone as feeling ok except for tiredness which I fight through. I’m fit, slim walk miles do heavy duty gardening & generally keep as active as possible. Just wondering about other people’s blood results & has anyone else been concerned about their CRP levels . If I hadn’t of requested the blood test I & my doctor would have been none the wiser !

[piglette]

I tend to have raised CRP levels. My feeling is that if I feel OK not to worry, it is only if I feel yuk.

[Agapanthous in reply to piglette]

Thank you .its interesting to know.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

CRP can be raised for all sorts of reasons, not just GCA or PMR. Even a chesty cold will send CRP way up. The correct response to a raised CRP without GCA/PMR symptoms is to redo it a week or 2 later to see if there is a rising trend, if there is then some investigation to identify a possible cause is needed. If it is falling again, just keep an eye on it.

In fact - had you done heavy gardening duty just before the blood test? Muscle damage can raise it too!

[Agapanthous in reply to PMRpro]

Many thanks for advice

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

As said CRP can be raised for a variety of reasons, so get it checked again to see if it reduces, remains the same or increases.

Would just lob in, 0.5mg every 2 weeks may be too quick to reduce, for a couple of reasons -

at your level you need to be much slower to allow the adrenals to be nudged back into life [tiredness typical symptom], and

2 weeks is not really long enough to know current dose before you drop down [it can take that long for a flare to materialise].

In view of the original symptoms of headaches, I think you would be wise to monitor bloods a bit more just in case GCA is lurking, and your GP is obviously aware of that, hence their concern.

[Agapanthous in reply to DorsetLady]

Many thanks . I will certainly take your advice about reduction time as noticed since last drop feeling extra tired & very hot 🤦🏼‍♀️

[Agapanthous in reply to Agapanthous]

Hi again, I was reading one of your replies yesterday to someone where you gave a link which showed pictures of th adrenal glands and steroid info….? I found this very informative,but can’t seem to find it again.Could you possibly show me the link? Many many thanks.Agapanthous

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Agapanthous]

Hi- do you mean this one -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

You can always save a post you think might be useful…

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[Agapanthous in reply to DorsetLady]

Yes Got it now,many thanks🙏

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

I take it that is in the FAQs under Adrenals??

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Yes it is…

[Bcol]

Just add to everything already said, you have have done very well to get to where are after sixteen months. Would strongly suggest future tapers are nothing more than 0.5mg on something like a five week taper. Might sound slow but it will hopefully stop you having to go back up and in the end taking longer and even more Pred.

[Agapanthous in reply to Bcol]

Thank you .Im definitely going to take the advice given & slow my reduction right down . So pleased I joined this forum.

[Doraflora]

hi Agapanthous. I can’t add anything more than has already been said, but I certainly agree that reducing every 2 weeks is much too soon.

I have had PMR for 4.5 years and each time I’ve tried to taper down I’ve stayed on a particular dose for at least 4 weeks (sometimes 6-8) just to give my body ample time to get used to the lower dose.

Slowly slowly is key….

[Agapanthous in reply to Doraflora]

Yes thank you. I am going to take everyone’s advice as said it’s not a race & I don’t want to have to relapse go up to a high dose again. Thank goodness I joined this forum.

[Doraflora in reply to Agapanthous]

Me too. I don’t know what I’d do without all these lovely people, no matter what subject I bring up.

[Alebeau]

Interesting as I also had a high CRP last week- 45.9 up from 0.6 the previous month

I feel fine so am not concerned as I suspect the cause is probably related to a nasty one week sickness just before the blood test

Am anxious to see my next result in early September

Thanks for posting this

[Agapanthous in reply to Alebeau]

I,ll be interested to hear your result. Thankyou.

[Alebeau in reply to Agapanthous]

I will repost around September 10

Hoping for a return to normal