Blood Tests!

louise7111
louise7111 Member Posts: 31
edited 19. Jul 2010, 05:36 in Living with Arthritis archive
Evening everyone

Just wondered if someone could help me with a question?
I was just diagnosed on Wednesday with Inflammatory Arthritis & have been prescribed Naproxen. My blood tests to check to see if I have a specific arthritis is not until next Friday by which time I would have taken several Naproxen.
Does anyone know if taking Naproxen will affect the result of my blood tests due to the fact that they are reducing any inflammation I have?

Thank you

Louise :?

Comments

  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Louise...nice to meet you. :D

    I don't really have an answer to your question...it depends exactly what the blood tests are for. If they are checking for rheumatoid factor RF ...which is an autoantibody......then it may be that the Naproxen won't affect the outcome.

    Naproxen is one of the non- steroidal anti inflammatories so it's purpose is to reduce inflammation and pain....so if it works it will/ should lower the inflammatory markers ..but I have no idea how long that would take!

    sorry, not much help!

    hope someone else here can give you better info. or it might be a question for your doc!!

    iris x
  • woodbon
    woodbon Member Posts: 4,969
    edited 9. Jul 2010, 17:37
    Hello,
    Thats quite an interesting question! :shock: I don't know the answer, but I would think that if you have a serious problem and they suspect RA or an inflammatory condition, they will want to test more than once, if you are worried about taking the medication that they have given you, it might be a good idea to either ring the doctor or nurse and see if you can speak to them on the phone, or ask the chemist, they can be helpful with medication questions.

    I'm glad you have posted this, its quite possible someone on here will know the answer. Also, I'd just like to say welcome to the site!
    Love Sue
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Louise and welcome to the forum,

    sorry I can't help answer that either ...

    Speedy
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • louise7111
    louise7111 Member Posts: 31
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you Iris, Sue & Speedy,

    Hopefully somebody will know or i'll ring the surgery as suggested on Monday. I think my GP thought I would have got a blood test appt within a couple of days but they were fully booked up.

    The blood test is for RA factor, ANA, CRP, ESR & Gout.

    If I find the answer out I shall be sure to let you all know.........

    Best wishes

    Louise
  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    probably a stupid question....but why can't your doc do the blood tests on Monday??
    then they/ you'd get the results quicker and have a more accurate reading of the various markers.

    Iris :?
  • bubbles
    bubbles Member Posts: 6,508
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Louise, welcome and a pleasure to meet you

    From what I can gather, Naproxen should not affect your blood tests, only if you are on specific drug therapy, such as methotrexate, and other chemotherapy treatments.

    Hope that helps, take care, XXX Bubbles
    XX Aidan (still known as Bubbles).
  • skezier
    skezier Member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Louise,

    I'm fairly sure they wont affect the blood test as well. Its not a drug I take but I do take some similar and that didn't effect the bloods. I think its better for you to check though just in case. Take care and nice to meet you. Cris x
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,895
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Lou

    My doc woudnt let me take anything before he did my foirst bloods and it was days away..... :(

    I think I would ring the surgery for def.

    Good luck

    Love

    Toni xx

    PS dont be suprised if they are neg though :roll: It happens with some inflamatory arhtritises :roll:

    Your doc sounds nice and you should still get help.
  • woodbon
    woodbon Member Posts: 4,969
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I agree with Toni, as I said in my post before, if in any doubt phone the surgery. Its better to do that than find out that the medication has effected the results. Don't worry about feeling silly. Its no sillier than me, I took my tramadol early one morning as I was in a bit of pain, then, later when I got up I took my tablets.

    A little while later I felt funny and dizzy and a bit 'high'. Straight away I realised that I'd taken 2 slow release tramadol within about 2hours. Looked at the packet and read all the warnings about not taking too many and scared myself. So, I decided the only thing to do was to ring the surgery. They got the doc to ring me back, he told me I'd live! But to rest and not drive. He seemed to think it funny I was so worried about one tablet, but you never know and I was in the house alone. :lol:

    Love Sue
  • louise7111
    louise7111 Member Posts: 31
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you everyone,

    My GP is lovely & is so thorough. He did warn me about the results. The fact that sometimes they can give negative readings & some 30% of women have RA Factor. My GP thought I would have got an appt for the blood test yesterday but they were full so hence i'm having to wait a week. So thats why he never mentioned about taking the Naproxen before the blood tests.
    I shall ring the surgery on Monday though & ask. It's the only way to be 100% sure.

    When I get the answer I shall let you all know

    Regards

    Louise

    p.s Hope you're all enjoying the fab weather :D
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Louise, sounds like you have a plan and are covering all bases.

    As Iris said, maybe when your Gp realises how long you have to wait for the tests he or the nurse might be able to take the blood samples and send them off to hurry things up a bit for you.

    Speedy
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • louise7111
    louise7111 Member Posts: 31
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I rang my doctors surgery today to ask about having my blood tests while taking Naproxen and unfortunately my own GP is on holiday this week. The receptionst was completely unhelpful and wouldn't ask any of the other doctors there as to whether or not I should stop the meds before my blood test. The receptionist told me that I should not stop the meds. So I still don't know what to do!

    I was considering stopping them 48 hours before........ :?

    Louise
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,895
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi louise...

    can you ring NHS diresct or someone else? You need to knwo what to do - Ithink A/C have aleaflet about blood tests....can you see if it says anything on them?

    Do you still have signs of inflamation?

    Love

    Toni xx
  • louise7111
    louise7111 Member Posts: 31
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi ya Toni

    I can't see anything in the A/C leaflet & i've searched the internet. Nothing! I was wondering if I should call A/C?
    I still have some inflammation but i'm really tempted to stop my meds for 48 hours. . . . . . . . .
    I've been coping so long with the pains that i'm sure I can cope with 48 hours.
    I also have a rash on both hands, which i'm not sure is Psoriasis or a side effect of the meds. So if I stop taking them & the rash goes I will know for sure.
    Thank you for all your help
    Best wishes

    Louise
  • livinglegend
    livinglegend Member Posts: 1,425
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    For arthritis, blood tests are checked over a period of time and not as a one-off diagnosis of your condition. They should only be a part of the diagnosis, not the only one.

    Starting, stopping and then restarting regular meds can't be good for anyone, so you should continue with your meds as prescribed. Also, whatever the blood tests show will be interpreted as if you were on the meds. Stopping 48 hours before a test won't make a lot of difference anyway due to the meds requiring time to clear completely from your bloodstream which could skew the results.

    If you are still in doubt, then pop in and ask your local pharmacist, as they are pretty good at this type of thing and have access to their own private online meds system.

    Joseph 8)
    Josephm0310.gif
  • louise7111
    louise7111 Member Posts: 31
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you Joseph

    That all makes sense & I agree 100% that I shouldn't mess around with my meds.

    Thank you for your help. I really appreciate it.

    Best wishes

    Louise
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,895
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hiya Louise

    Just want to wish you all the best for your bloods tomorrow.

    Love

    Toni xx
  • louise7111
    louise7111 Member Posts: 31
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you Toni,

    Fingers crossed that they will provide some answers :)

    Love Louise
  • tarasmygirl
    tarasmygirl Member Posts: 70
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Louise

    I went to my GP with sore swollen hands and he put me on Diclofenic and then sent me for blood tests the following week ( he couldn't do them then as it was late Friday afternoon).

    Blood tests showed RA factor and I was referred to Rheumy Clinic approx 3 weeks later. Still on Diclofenic. They took more blood tests and had me back following week for results. RA levels were higher, so don't think anti inflamatories will have any effect on blood tests.

    As others have said, best to check with pharmacist or NHS 24

    Good luck.

    Cath
  • tillytop
    tillytop Member Posts: 3,460
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Louise

    sorry, come late into this thread but hope you got on ok with your blood tests today. And welcome to the forum - as you have already seen you will get lots of support here.

    Love TIlly x
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi louise 7111, how are things today? I've been on naproxen for ages, it's fairly useless for me and doesn't affect bloods. My ESR and CPR were regularly in the upper tens to low hundreds whether I took it or not: humira, an anti-tnf treatment is the one that has reduced them to single digits. Once you are on the routine of regular bloods (mine are fortnightly) you don't stop any meds unless they start affecting you in a negative way! Good luck with it all, I hope you are sorted now. Dreamdaisy (Do you have PA? I do, but without the P for the most part.)
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • woodbon
    woodbon Member Posts: 4,969
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    HI Your doctors receptionist sounds like the receptionist from Hell!

    Why on earth can't you speak to another doc, I do at my doctors surgery, they have doubled up with a 'buddy' doctor who sees their patients when they arn't there. Still, that dosn't help you. Why not ring again and just ask to speak to the doctor, say its important advice you need. Hopefully, that will get you through. You could even say urgent! :wink:

    Otherwise, ring NHS Direct, or have you got a rheummy at the hospital? If so, ring his sectretary and ask her.

    I do hope that all goes well for you and nothing interfers with the drugs results. You need to have piece of mind as well, so you don't worry that the result has been upset by the drugs and for that you need to ask a doctor. Especially if the result is good, you'll keep thinking, is it me or the pills? Well, thats what I would do!!! :oops:

    Sorry, I didn't mean to worry you, but trust in results and treatment is important. I hope all goes well for you. Love Sue