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Why the big wobble in SED rate? 57, 20, 52, and now 120!

Posted , 7 users are following.

DebbieHurts
DebbieHurts

My last lab a week or so ago showed 120 as the SED rate, higher than I've ever had it before.  The dr called to tell me to go up from16 to 20 mg prednizone and to test again next Monday.  She said keep a watch on my eyes, too.  Any explaination for this?

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • EileenH
    EileenH DebbieHurts

    Posted

    At a guess she is suspecting your PMR may be morphing into GCA which is why she wants you to watch out for visual symptoms. 

    It is impossible to say why your ESR has swung around like that. SED rate is affected by any infection - it isn't specific to PMR and GCA. A single raised level shouldn't result in a knee-jerk raising of the pred but you've had 2 rising readings so there must be something going on.Your doctor is doing things absolutely right - raise the pred dose and monitor. 

  • adette01750
    adette01750 DebbieHurts

    Posted

    Hi Debbie, 

    I am wondering what your CRP level is, my consultant will not change anything unless my CRP raised, I'm at 7.5 mg now and very very stiff, not sleeping with the pain and stiffness,.but as my CRP is 7 and ESR 24 they don't agree to put prednisolone up.

    I do hope you get an answer soon to your elevated ESR.

    • EileenH
      EileenH adette01750

      Posted

      Your consultant is wearing blinkers - some people DON'T have raised CRP, some people don't have raised ESR and some people don't have raised either of them.

  • DebbieHurts
    DebbieHurts

    Posted

    adette, my CRP is .61, a little below the high level.  I don't know if your testing is different.  The one high test was my hemoglobin, which showed I have prediabetes, I think.  It was 6.2 over the high range of 5.6.  I have to start that no carb diet you all talk about -- back to Google to find a simple menu!

  • adette01750
    adette01750 DebbieHurts

    Posted

    I see 2 doctors Leeds and Barnsley they both say the same,I will have to challenge it but not really good at it. 

    I see your remarks on this time and time again, where do I say the information comes from was there a paper written on it? 

    Thank you

    • DebbieHurts
      DebbieHurts EileenH

      Posted

      My comment was aimed at both of yous...  Eileen, do you think the high hemoglobin could be why the SED is so high?  Or could a heat rash on my stomach be a reason for it?
    • EileenH
      EileenH DebbieHurts

      Posted

      It isn't ordinary haemoglobin - it is a test called Hba1c. High Hba1c may be accompanied by a high sed rate - but I don't know how high it has to be to have that effect but I would be surprised if 6,2 was enough to make much difference.

      Are you sure it is just a heat rash?

    • DebbieHurts
      DebbieHurts EileenH

      Posted

      Oh, that's good to know.  Now I won't panic.  But I do need to lose weight.  The heat rash is recurring under my tummy fat and goes away as soon as I pay attention to it, using powder or whatever.

       

    • EileenH
      EileenH DebbieHurts

      Posted

      I had something like that in the 5 years I had PMR before pred. I eventually worked out it was due to an allergy to wheat. No wheat - no rash.
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