ESR Blood test

abfab1963
abfab1963 Member Posts: 41
edited 18. Apr 2010, 07:15 in Living with Arthritis archive
I am sure most of you have very regular blood tests, like myself.

I seem to be having difficulty getting my ESR down to an acceptable level. All other bloods are completely normal.

What is your ESR and has your medication reduced it a lot.

Your help would be appreciated

Cheers!

Abfab
x

Comments

  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hello abfab!

    nice to see you posting again!

    ESR stands for erythrocyte sedimentation rate. It is a test that indirectly measures how much inflammation is in the body and is one of the 'regular' blood tests arther peeps have.

    On it's own it's not relied on for a specific diagnosis as ESR is increased by any cause of inflammation and not ' just arther so it's used with other tests to support an arther diagnosis.

    ESR and the other regular test that I get, C-reactive protein (CRP) are both markers of inflammation. I was told by my rheummy that ESR does not change as rapidly as does CRP, either at the start of inflammation or as it goes away.

    Sorry I don't know what or if there is anything you can do to reduce the ESR :oops: but if you are worried about it best speak to your doc.

    May be other peeps will know more about what influences ESR so hope you get some answers. :wink:

    Iris x
  • abfab1963
    abfab1963 Member Posts: 41
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi Dorcas,

    Yes, I was missing in action for a while....work thingies!!

    I know what ESR is ok chick.....I am just curious as to the counts of other PA/RA patients.

    My GP rang me on Friday with more results, yet again, going up rather than down!! I am seeing her next Friday.

    Cheers!
  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Nice to see you back! work does spoil the other things we would like to do!

    Did your doc say what your ESR is just now? what type of arther do you have and what meds are you on (I am just being downright nosey now. :oops: )

    sound like arther is playing up if other tests are also on the rise...

    Iris x
  • abfab1963
    abfab1963 Member Posts: 41
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi Iris

    I have PA, diagnosed in Nov 08. Had an ESR of 120 and a CRP of 78 back then!!!! However, I was also diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in May 09 (alls now fine after op and chemo).....while not being able to take anything for the PA.

    Steroids during treatment kept my PA at bay...but weeks after chemo ended in October 09, PA came back with a vengeance. After steroid injections in December 09 my ESR went down to 11....for 2 weeks!! It has been sitting about 45....but last week it has gone to 54.

    Im on 20mg MTX.

    Interesting reading Dorcas....eh?....He he!! :-)

    Im just a little concerned about the consistent high inflammation markers...it cant be good for me really.

    Cheers!
  • marion1952
    marion1952 Member Posts: 963
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi

    When I was first diagnosed 2 years ago my ESR was over 100 for many months... Now it is roughly around 38 - which I have been told is OK for my age (I gather ESR is higher when you get older - I am 58).


    My CRP also used to be around 100 for many months, then it came down to about 20, then just before Christmas last year (on 15 mgs of Methotrexate) it came down to 2 - which I was thrilled aboutl!!!

    My blood test this week showed CRP of 6 and ESR of 39.. I am happy with those levels ..


    Hope this information is helpful..



    Marion
  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Wow! you've been through the wringer recently!

    I've got PA too and my markers are similar to yours...when I was on a combo of anti tnf + Mtx my ESR came down to 7.which was great.

    It's been rising and jumped from 48 and is now sitting at 86 as the anti tnf stopped working a few months ago (new antibodies) and arther is having a ball. :x

    With the cancer history does that restrict you being given some of the other arther meds...like the anti tnfs?

    hope your doc is able to give you some info on Friday about what the blood screens are saying...

    fingers crossed.x

    Iris x
  • abfab1963
    abfab1963 Member Posts: 41
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    This has been a great help chicks, thanks very much.

    It has eased my worries about the higher ESR a lot. Im 46 so, from what I have gathered for females its your age, plus 10 divided by 2, is a good ESR level, so mine should be 28...ish but it looks like an elevated ESR is not so unusual, despite being on treatment.

    Yes Iris, thats right, I cant have anti tnf because of previous malignancy....well not for 10 years! :D Lets hope they come up with something else in the meantime!!!

    I am going to GP next week re pain killers for night time....thanks to folks on here, I know what I can ask for (amitriptyline (sp?) )!!

    Cheers!

    Pauline
    x
  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    abfab1963 wrote:
    I am going to GP next week re pain killers for night time....thanks to folks on here, I know what I can ask for (amitriptyline (sp?) )!!

    Cheers!

    Pauline
    x

    Hi Pauline,

    Yes...amatriptyline 60mg is what I take too for night time. I have to take it fairly early evening or I'm zonked all next day!...dizzy enough without that.:wink:

    good luck with the docs..
    Iris x

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