Question:
johnathon wrote: > I have a combination of Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder (MCTD) and lupus. > Today I received a blood test result in which the Erythrocyte Sedimation > Rate has a figure of 22. I have heard that it’s considered normal for a > figure of 24-25 for a female of my age, but the clinic told me that 15 was > considered the highest safe level. I’m confused and frightened as no one > seems able to agree. Seems that I need steroids – is that really necessary?
Hello and welcome D, talk to us anytime J
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -KCat wrote: > "johnathon" <johnat…@johnathonrose.com> wrote in message > news:creluj$8at$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk… > > I have a combination of Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder (MCTD) and lupus. > > Today I received a blood test result in which the Erythrocyte Sedimation > > Rate has a figure of 22. I have heard that it’s considered normal for a > > figure of 24-25 for a female of my age, but the clinic told me that 15 was > > considered the highest safe level. I’m confused and frightened as no one > > seems able to agree. Seems that I need steroids – is that really > necessary? > > Thanks in advance, > > D. > Hi D. > An ESR of 22 is rarely noted by most docs. If it repeats, then they may > want to look into it further but i’ve had ESRs up to 40 and doc just shrugs > and says "it’s how much inflammation/pain you have."
So anti-inflammatory for pain should do it? J
Response:
Hi D, You really want to try and avoid steriods – if you can. The side effects of long term use are ugly. I’ve been on steroids for a long time. Without steroids my ESR runs from 110-120. With them I’m down to 50-55. With an ESR of 22, you should be ok. Linda
Response:
If there is pain at all – then an anti-inflammatory can help – but they aren’t generally disease-modifying such as steroids and chemo. So they are not likely to alter the ESR. Aspirin, naproxen and such do reduce part of the inflammatory process – but not the beginning of it. But the ESR is just a symptom – and lowering it by drugs of any kind may not mean anything to the disease process. Some people have normally "high" ESRs, some low. I’ve seen people (my daughter, myself) in extreme pain with ESRs below 20. good ol’ immune system, eh? — KCat For Pen Talk, Images, Trading and Reviews: The Fountain Pen Network http://pagesperso.laposte.net/fpnet For Lupus Support and Info http://www.ghg.net/schwerpt/ASLFAQ/ "J" <exam…@example.net> wrote in message
news:41DBC1F9.A7012515@execulink.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> KCat wrote: > > "johnathon" <johnat…@johnathonrose.com> wrote in message > > news:creluj$8at$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk… > > > I have a combination of Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder (MCTD) and lupus. > > > Today I received a blood test result in which the Erythrocyte Sedimation > > > Rate has a figure of 22. I have heard that it’s considered normal for a > > > figure of 24-25 for a female of my age, but the clinic told me that 15 was > > > considered the highest safe level. I’m confused and frightened as no one > > > seems able to agree. Seems that I need steroids – is that really > > necessary? > > > Thanks in advance, > > > D. > > Hi D. > > An ESR of 22 is rarely noted by most docs. If it repeats, then they may > > want to look into it further but i’ve had ESRs up to 40 and doc just shrugs > > and says "it’s how much inflammation/pain you have." > So anti-inflammatory for pain should do it? > J
Response:
I have a combination of Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder (MCTD) and lupus. Today I received a blood test result in which the Erythrocyte Sedimation Rate has a figure of 22. I have heard that it’s considered normal for a figure of 24-25 for a female of my age, but the clinic told me that 15 was considered the highest safe level. I’m confused and frightened as no one seems able to agree. Seems that I need steroids – is that really necessary? Thanks in advance, D.
Response:
Hi D, The normal range for the ESR is listed as 0-20 mm/hr on the listing here. A sed rate of 22 is only slightly higher than the upper limit of normal, and would not be cause for concern really. Is there anything else in your blood results that would prompt the doctor to suggest steriods? Do you have a sudden worsening of symptoms? My ESR is almost always above the normal range, but it isn’t a problem unless there is something else out of whack as well. BJ-Sk.Canada "johnathon" <johnat…@johnathonrose.com> wrote in message
news:creluj$8at$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have a combination of Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder (MCTD) and lupus. > Today I received a blood test result in which the Erythrocyte Sedimation > Rate has a figure of 22. I have heard that it’s considered normal for a > figure of 24-25 for a female of my age, but the clinic told me that 15 was > considered the highest safe level. I’m confused and frightened as no one > seems able to agree. Seems that I need steroids – is that really necessary? > Thanks in advance, > D.
Response:
"johnathon" <johnat…@johnathonrose.com> wrote in message
news:creluj$8at$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk… > I have a combination of Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder (MCTD) and lupus. > Today I received a blood test result in which the Erythrocyte Sedimation > Rate has a figure of 22. I have heard that it’s considered normal for a > figure of 24-25 for a female of my age, but the clinic told me that 15 was > considered the highest safe level. I’m confused and frightened as no one > seems able to agree. Seems that I need steroids – is that really necessary? > Thanks in advance, > D.
Hi D. An ESR of 22 is rarely noted by most docs. If it repeats, then they may want to look into it further but i’ve had ESRs up to 40 and doc just shrugs and says "it’s how much inflammation/pain you have." :P ESRs in the 50s and above are usually when doctors start reacting and looking for the source of the problem. Many things can raise your ESR that may have nothing to do with your diagnosis at all – such as stress, a cold, allergies, etc. So unless you have other symptoms that are creating lots of problems for you that you require steroids for *those* then I wouldn’t worry about this very minimal elevation. It’s important to understand that reference ranges are typically set to pick up on small anomalies that may be inconsequential. An example, blood glucose – when my husbands b.g. got above 120, the docs wanted to test him for diabetes. But every diabetic I’ve ever talked to worries more about levels much higher than that – 200s and up. Reference ranges must also accommodate different genders (women usually have slighltly lower ESRs than men) and ages (younger = lower – typically) and so on. Another example, the ANA – probably the most ubiquitous lupus blood test out there – 1:80 is considered positive. But most doctors won’t even notice this or diagnose until ANAs show up at 1:640 or more. 1:80, 1:160 and 1:320 are often considered "false positive" or ambiguous. It is important to record these of course, and to check them regularly. It may be your "normal" to run at an ESR of 22. That "normal" may be based on your diagnosis or your genetics. So..unless your symptoms have changed significantly, there should be no reason to change your medication regimen based solely on a minimally elevated ESR. I am not a doctor – but I’ve been researching Lupus and related diseases for 8 years and was a lab technician for an immunology research group at Baylor. Unless something has changed very recently in how ESRs are read (and that test has been around for decades) than I feel 99% confident in my assertions. — KCat For Pen Talk, Images, Trading and Reviews: The Fountain Pen Network http://pagesperso.laposte.net/fpnet For Lupus Support and Info http://www.ghg.net/schwerpt/ASLFAQ/ "johnathon" <johnat…@johnathonrose.com> wrote in message
news:creluj$8at$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have a combination of Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder (MCTD) and lupus. > Today I received a blood test result in which the Erythrocyte Sedimation > Rate has a figure of 22. I have heard that it’s considered normal for a > figure of 24-25 for a female of my age, but the clinic told me that 15 was > considered the highest safe level. I’m confused and frightened as no one > seems able to agree. Seems that I need steroids – is that really necessary? > Thanks in advance, > D.
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