ESR

Aprilann
Aprilann Member Posts: 49
edited 11. Mar 2012, 17:38 in Living with Arthritis archive
Would anyone know if my ESR of 40 is high please. I have RA and have cut down a little on my medication recently and so consequently I seem to have a bit of a flare up. Thank you.

Comments

  • CJHunter
    CJHunter Member Posts: 1,038
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hiya, If my reckoning is right 40 is hi, I cant remember the markers but from what I recal it is up.
    Were you not advised by whoever did your blood test??
    Im sure someone else can enlighten you . Hope yr flare eases soon. :smile:
    Clare xxeyeore-1.jpg
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,230
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi April

    I think anything above about 7 is up for a woman, but l have known people on here have scarily high levels :shock:

    Did they medics suggest you cut down on your meds?? If so maybe you could have a chat with someone about it - especially if you are suffering.

    Love

    Toni xx
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi April
    Sorry I cant help, but I just want to give you my support, and if you are new then a very warm welcome form me.xxx
    Love
    Barbara
  • Nixxy
    Nixxy Member Posts: 23
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Normal ESR range is 0-10 but does increase with age. It is also not specifically related to RA but is a useful indicator of flare in conjunction with others. I always ask my GP or rheumy to explain results as I like to be informed. It's your blood so do feel able to ask to discuss it.

    Mine has been in the 90s before!

    Hope things even out soon :)
    There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something better tomorrow.
    Orison Swett Marden
  • jillyb1
    jillyb1 Member Posts: 1,725
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    My highest ESR was 157 ; since being on humira I'm down to 49 . I was also told that 10 or under is " normal " but as with everything , we are all different in how we react . Jillyb
  • Aprilann
    Aprilann Member Posts: 49
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Thank you to everyone for replying.

    After nearly 32 years of RA I should know the answer. I do remember a 19 ESR.

    I have taken long-term high dose prednisolone for my lungs but since a steroid inhaler has been introduced I have been able to get down to 9mg whereby my RA seems to be worse. I also take azathioprine for my lungs (which is also used for RA) and I suggested to the rheumatologist if I could cut down to 75mg and she agreed because of my low body weight but this may have caused a bit of a flare-up. I saw her a couple of weeks ago and on that particular day my hand and knuckle were slightly swollen and red and she said if it doesn't improve come back the following week but I didn't because my hand improved. She also mentioned trying (wait for it I can't spell this) sulpfazalizine but I'm a bit frightened to come off the azathioprine completely because it has been good for my lungs (seven years ago I had lung failure over the Christmas and New Year which was a risk to my life). Also, recently, I have been under more stress because I am quickly losing my independence - this has come to an head when I had two fractures to my left arm and right wrist when I was knocked off my mobility scooter five days before Christmas - which wasn't my fault. Feel I little brighter since Wednesday because brace has been taken off the arm and it has healed without having to have an operation - I can only have local anaesthetics because of my lungs and then there is no guarantee they can get the spinal block in.

    My GP did an ESR blood test last Thursday and so I rang the surgery who told me the ESR was 40 but the doctor has not commented on the results yet so will wait and see.

    Thank you for reading.

Categories