ESR Level

caleykate

Hi there,

I started sulfasalazine 3 weeks ago and I have been having blood tests to monitor my liver function. During last weeks app with the nurse I told her how bad I was feeling, had a lot of pain, so she decided to check my ESR levels.

I went back today for my weekly blood test and saw a different nurse, she said my ESR was pretty high, caught a glimpse at the screen and think it was 40. I'm 31 yrs old. She said the doctor had written on the results "tell patient ok" so why would they do that?

Also wondering if the sulfasalazine should have been having an affect by now? Ie shud my ESR have been that high even whilst taking sulfasalazine? This is all pretty new to me, I was tentatively diagnosed with sero negative inflammatory arthritis back in may, my ESR has always been raised but never that high, so actually really pleased to finally have some back up in the form of blood results.

Do you think this may change my diagnosis?

Sorry lots of questions...xx

Toots

Hi there x

I was told that sulfasalzine could take anything between 12 weeks and 6 months to start working, so it's too early yet for you to be benefitting. I've been taking it for 6 or 7 weeks now and can't say I notice any difference yet either. It's not a simple fix it would seem. My last ESR was increased too, and like you I was sort of grateful to see it reflected in my bloods.

Your doctors note to tell you all ok was probably with regard to the other tests they're doing, regarding liver/white blood count/platelets etc - in otherwords, you're tolerating the sulfasalazine with no biological issues for the moment.

Hope this puts your mind to rest a little x

DebbieT

Hi,

I have Osteoarthritis & a Sero negative form, Psoriatic Arthritis. I've never had ESR levels done as we have CRP (more reliable apparently) levels checked instead. I believe they both check for inflammation tho.

Our inflammatory markers can be raised by our arthritis causing some seen or unseen swelling in our bodies or because we're poorly ... A chest infection for instance would cause some inflammation in ure lungs etc It's not always black & white with autoimmune diseases unfortunately.

I hope that helps a little.xxx

trepolpen

Hi caleykate

40 is high for ESR but people can get it a lot higher , with ESR its a very personal thing & varies from person to person but a good guide to how they by comparing the last few months .C-reactive protein (CRP) is a better guide & most will do both blood test , I would ask what your CRP result was

I have been on sulfasalazine for a long time with no side effects & as others said it can take a bit of time to work , & if you are suffering you could ask for a steriod injection to help until it kicks in

dreamdaisy

An ESR of 40 is OK, it's not low but it's certainly not high. Sometimes levels can be higher and all feels well, other times it's lower and life is miserable. Sulph had no effect on my inflammation levels, in fact it had no effect on my PsA at all but I have a friend whose PsA is brilliantly controlled by just four tablets a day. So not fair.

It can take some time to establish what meds are right for you so hang on in there and I hope you soon start to feel some benefits. DD

mike26

hi caleykate
pleased to meet you ,when i started my bloods about 15 months ago the doctor gave me a DAMARDs blood monetring card and every time i have
a bloods its filled in in a few days later.
so you can look back on the results very quickly, thay also have them
on computer. (SULF didnt work for me) 4 weeks in and had to stop
(lowerd my white blood cell count)
ESR rate is 1-10 for men and 1-20 for women thats classed as normal
in general the higher the inflamation the higher the ESR.
CRP is another indication of inflamatry markers.
take regular blood tests.
good luck mike26 :roll:

Tinky

Since having bloods from November, my CRP has been 1-3 and a 29 and a 14.
But my ESR has always been high, starting with 35-40 for months and now
it is in the 80's. They do both tests but they take the ESR rather than the CRP
with me.