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No more blood tests says GP

Posted , 9 users are following.

margot34956
margot34956

So I had been asking for CRP test every month, results have been between 8 and 18, the last one was 3, because of that good result my G.P says I don't need anymore tests.

Is this right? Does anyone know?

I still have pain at such a low result, not sure what to think about that.

0 likes, 18 replies

18 Replies

  • susan43406
    susan43406 margot34956

    Posted

    I believe NICE guidelines say blood test every 3 months in the first year. Personally I go more by how I feel. My GP practice leave it all to me, I only get a blood test if I ask for one. 
    • margot34956
      margot34956 susan43406

      Posted

      Thank you, Susan, I was thinking it was monthly. A lady I know has one monthly
  • EileenH
    EileenH margot34956

    Posted

    So he doesn't care if it goes up again? Anybody would think it was coming out of his pocket! Monthly is a bit often maybe - but none to too far the other way. 

    I've never bothered with blood tests as my markers have always been "in normal range". It turns out they were raised for me at one time - but at the time noone reacted at all, ESR was below 20!!

    But symptoms always trump blood tests - so if you have any increase in pain request a test. Did you have less pain at your starting dose? That is your reference - you were looking for the lowest dose that maintained that level of relief. Some people are never totally free of pain and there are other things that can cause pain that are not directly PMR - such as myofascial pain syndrome. It is caused by the same inflammatory substances as PMR but they are concentrated in trigger spots and the muscle fascia so don't always register in the blood tests.

    • margot34956
      margot34956 EileenH

      Posted

      Thanks Eileen, no I did not have less pain at the starting dose

      . The tests are not as important as I thought they were after hearing what you are saying. That is good to know as I won't be too bothered now. Yes I did think too, that anybody would think it was coming out of their pockets.

       

    • EileenH
      EileenH margot34956

      Posted

      Are you saying that the pred has never provided pain relief? If it is PMR you should achieve a minimum of about 70% improvement in your symptoms within a couple of weeks at most. If you don't, then there MUST be a question about the diagnosis. A lot of things can cause the symptoms we call PMR - it isn't the disease but the visible signs of an underlying condition and the others must be ruled out before saying it is the PMR we talk about here.

    • margot34956
      margot34956 EileenH

      Posted

      Hi Eileen, Yes I have had 70% improvement and it had always been around that.
    • EileenH
      EileenH margot34956

      Posted

      If you "only" had 70% improvement - did your doctor try you on a slightly higher dose to see if you got a better result? Some people need up to 25mg to start in PMR. Or did they feel the left-overs were due to something else?

    • margot34956
      margot34956 EileenH

      Posted

      Hi Eileen, No my doc didn't try me on a higher dose, I didn't have a good Doc then.

      Also when she diagnosed me I had no idea what PMR was, and didn't understand how important prednisone was, so when she prescribed 15mg, I didn't pick it up from the chemist until I was so sore and stiff it was very difficult to work, then when I did pick them up I only took 10mg.

      If only if I knew then what I know now.

    • EileenH
      EileenH margot34956

      Posted

      "If only if I knew then what I know now."

      We all say the same!!!!!

  • ptolemy
    ptolemy margot34956

    Posted

    They say that your symptoms should be taken into account rather than blood tests. My blood tests have never been normal in four years. My original rheumie totally ignored them, so I suppose they were a waste of time in his case. I think initially it is a good idea to have blood tests, but you as get to know more about your PMR they are probably not needed so much. If you have pain a blood test is a good way of backing up the fact that things may be wrong. 
    • margot34956
      margot34956 ptolemy

      Posted

      helpful Ptolemy, I am not too bothered now, after reading your comments. Thank you
    • margot34956
      margot34956 ptolemy

      Posted

      Thanks Ptolemy, I was more concerned with the blood tests than I needed to be. I am not going to ask for anymore. Thanks, hope you are doing well
  • Anhaga
    Anhaga margot34956

    Posted

    I had tests every three months until my CRP got properly low enough and then my doctor said I didn't need to come back for a year, after nearly three years of treatment.  I did feel a bit abandoned.  I felt as steroids are still rather serious medications even now at my very low dose (at that time it was 2.5, now 1.5) I should still be monitored, although perhaps every six months.  I do think once a month is a bit ott.  I was only monitored that closely for the first few weeks.  

    Also, what is your dose?  We all should be monitored regularly while we are taking them.  

    • margot34956
      margot34956 Anhaga

      Posted

      Hi Anhaga, this is interesting, a lady I know has them monthly and uses the results to taper.

      it would be wiser after talking to people here that symptoms are a better indicator for tapering.

      Thank you

    • EileenH
      EileenH margot34956

      Posted

      It depends - my blood markers have never been out of the normal range - although it now appears they have been raised FOR ME no-one ever reacted to them in the earlier days. For a lot of people using the blood tests to govern tapering may work - but they need to be checked after the reduction more than before. Though I suppose you could say that if you are tapering monthly the one before the next taper is after the last...

      But if there are symptoms and the blood markers aren't raised then you shouldn't reduce yet. And conversely if the blood markers are raised but you have no extra symptoms then you should also neither reduce nor increase the dose on the basis of one reading. The bloods should be checked a week or two later to see if there is a trend. They often lag behind symptoms developing and may be raised due to other things such as a cold or chest infection or injury in which case they will fall without more pred.

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga margot34956

      Posted

      I've only ever used my symptoms to taper and in fact my doctor downplayed the test results almost too much.

    • margot34956
      margot34956 EileenH

      Posted

      Thank you Eileen, I am not going to ask for any more tests. confused
    • margot34956
      margot34956 Anhaga

      Posted

      Yes Anhaga It does seem to me that you were being neglected. A lady at work has PMR and I was comparing her care to mine, different G.P, she has the CRP test monthly and does not need to ask for it

      Mt dose is 7mg, trying to taper to 6mg

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