1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Polymyalgia Rheumatica and GCA

Lab results...

Posted , 12 users are following.

judytal
judytal

Welll the lab results came in the mail today.  .C.-Reactive Protein was 0.3

and the ESR was 7 

I'm taking 6mg of Pred. but still don't feel great.... especially with the fatigue, which can be very inconsistent.  Some mornings start out good and then by the afternoon I'm so beat it's crazy or the other way around.  Out of bed my legs and arms feel like they will fall off and are difficult to move and this can last all day. Occ. I still can experience some shoulder "achyness" and neck aches.  Also the tooth ache also comes and goes !!  I don't understand the inconsistent days of bad and not quite so bad.

  The only comment from the physician was "neither of which showed significant inflammation"  Not exactly sure what that means...I guess it's not like you are either pregnant or not !!!

  Hope everyone is having a tolerable weekend.

All the best,  judy

 

3 likes, 49 replies

49 Replies

Prev
  • kathy67492
    kathy67492 judytal

    Posted

    Hi Judy...sorry you do not feel great. I had tapered down to 6 mg and lasted two weeks, but didnt feel great...lots of fatigue, then pain. This is my 3rd day back on 7 mg and I feel much better....what was I thinking! Thanks to the forum for getting me back on track! You might consider taking 1/2 or 1 mg more of the prednisone. Good luck.
  • eileen11130
    eileen11130 judytal

    Posted

    Blood tests do not always read true.   I have had as high as 68  and could hardly move and 6 and felt the same.   Inflammation is inflammation.   I go by how my body feels to me.   Like heat in the places that hurt, swelling, pain to move and to touch that area.   Right now I am in so much pain for the PMR that I can't even have clothes around my shoulders or arm.   Even a light sheet causes pain.....I don't need a blood test to tell me it's a flare up.  Also.  I take an extra Pred when I know I amhaving a flare up.   Then I drop down to the maintenance amount when it feels better.    But my flare up has been lasting a long time without relief this time.......but the doctor said there is nothing else he can give me for the PMR.    Keep the faith.....good luck!
    • EileenH
      EileenH eileen11130

      Posted

      Having a flare that lasts more than a few days is an indication that your "maintenance dose" isn't enough so be careful. Let it get away and it will be all the more difficult to get sorted out. 

      A flare can either be due to reducing the dose too far or doing too much . But it can also happen when the underlying autoimmune cause of PMR has been relatively quiet for a while and allowed you to reach a lower dose and still be comfortable. But then the autoimmune part becomes more active - so you need to go back to a higher dose to manage the new level of activity.

    • eileen11130
      eileen11130 EileenH

      Posted

      I have to say, I should discuss my doctor visits with you before I go, Dr.H.....my doctor said the same thing.....as there is no "average dosage by weight".  It seems everyone is told the same thing.....I am a large girl having gained 63 lbs. since being on prednisone.  But now the 10 mg. is not working and I kept trying to go down and it was destroying me.   I am now taking 15 mg. and see if that is enough.  5-10 may be good for a flare up of a 100lb. Person, but not a 180 lb.    so I will let  you know how it goes....it won't be apfor a bit as I had a terrible reaction to the ORENCIA I had this week.   I thought I was dying....fever, chills,my earache, nausea, every bone in my body in pain, sweating.....for two days.   Three weeks ago I had a similar, but milder experience.   But this was way too much.    Thus us a new Biologic and different properties than the last one.   I have had four different biologics over the years and have NEVER had a reaction.    In fact they hardly ever worked.  So this is alarming.    Keep happy thoughts.   Take care. 
    • EileenH
      EileenH eileen11130

      Posted

      Have you ever seen/read a blog called Carla's Corner? She has RA and is working her way through the biologics - mostly with little result or result that only lasts a short time. I enjoy her insights - and another blog called Rheumablog is good too.
Back to top
Prev

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.