Lab testing
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I am going to my rheumatologist this Friday for a monthly check in. She does not always order any lab tests, so I haven't had any in three months. I am going to ask her to check my blood sugar level; can anyone tell me which other tests are needed at this time? I am 9 months into treating PMR and am down to 13 mg of prednisone at this time. I know that I read a list of laboratory tests that should be checked routinely, but I can't seem to find that information again. Thank you all for your help.
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EileenH Padada
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karren61208 EileenH
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Here's a definition from the Mayo Clinic:
Sed rate, or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), is a blood test that can reveal inflammatory activity in your body. A sed rate test isn't a stand-alone diagnostic tool, but it may help your doctor diagnose or monitor the progress of an inflammatory disease.
When your blood is placed in a tall, thin tube, red blood cells (erythrocytes) gradually settle to the bottom. Inflammation can cause the cells to clump together. Because these clumps of cells are denser than individual cells, they settle to the bottom more quickly.
The sed rate test measures the distance red blood cells fall in a test tube in one hour. The farther the red blood cells have descended, the greater the inflammatory response of your immune system.
EileenH karren61208
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The blood tests I suggested were on the basis of the British Society of Rheumatologists recommendations for the management of PMR/GCA. If it were me I would want some other tests checked at least once a year but I'm just a patient who worked in a lab!
bob73443 Padada
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EileenH bob73443
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