Should I call my RA tomorrow?

There are well over 30 studies that have found markers of inflammation, and furthermore, Whoever told you there are no patients with fibro who have higher Sed Rate or CRP they are wrong. They have not kept up with the research.

One quote from a study that applies to you: "Serum CRP levels were higher in FMS and significantly correlated with BMI, ESR, IL-8, and IL-6 levels [interleukin-8 is an inflammatory cytokine found in other fibromyalgja studies. IL-6 can be inflammatory], suggesting that inflammation may contribute to the symptoms in some FMS patients, particularly those who are obese."
The title is
Elevated serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in fibromyalgia syndrome patients correlate with body mass index, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/23124693/?i=2&from=/21773883/related

Jerrod Younger's team's low dose naltrexone/LDN study analysis found that patients with an elevated ESR (SED) at the start of the study had greater benefits from LDN, including improved peripheral inflammation (it somehow involved microglia and macrophages, I think?).

Younger et al. tested ESR (SED rates) at the beginning of the study, but I think they didn't realize that those with elevation in SED would be the ones that improved the most, because they point out that their study design didn't include having it run again at the end of the study. University Of Alabama/Birmingham has lured Jerrod Younger away from Stanford (#2 medical in the states) to head up a new "Neuroinflammation Lab".
---- -----

Bote et al
Inflammatory/Stress feedback dysregulation in women with fibromyalgia.
Bote ME, García JJ, Hinchado MD, Ortega E.

Source
Group of Immunophysiology, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain.

Abstract

Paraphrasing: 100% of the fibromyalgia group had markers of an inflammatory state and altered stress response. They say that was demonstrated by high circulating levels of interleukin 8, a major mediator of inflammatory response, and C-reactive protein, which rises in response to inflammation.
----- -----
Xiao et al.
(Univ. TX Med San Antonio) (Dr. Jon Russell was also on this team). They used high-sensitivity C-reactive protein tests (CRP indicates inflammation) in a fibro study and found patients with higher hs-CRP in the fibro group. There were correlations with higher ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate: elevations point toward inflammation), IL-8 (inflammatory cytokine), IL-6 (can be an inflammatory cytokine).
Then in another study they looked for a genetic polymorphism for that and found that a genetic SNP (pronounced "snip", Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) for the gene: brain derived neurotropic factor/BDNF was associated with higher CRP ....I think only when it was also accompanied by higher BMI. (remember that some genes must be turned on before they are expressed but fyi, I'm not very knowledgeable about genetics)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/21773883/
--
Xiao et al has also discovered statistics for elevated ESR (SED or erythrocyte sedimentation rate) in a fibro cohort. ESR or SED indicates inflammation in the body.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/23124693/?i=2&from=/21773883/related

------------
Earlier this study found that inflammatory markers in fibro are found independent of having a higher Body Mass Index.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2891797/

My personal feeling is that it is a shame people have you doubting. Do what gives you peace of mind. Perhaps it does not hurt more than your pocketbook to continue to do whatever will assure you. You are worried. 30 studies cannot allay your fears. A doctor appointment might.

This is a thread about fibro studies looking for markers of inflammation. Over 30 up to 2015 found some evidence. I added a study from March 2017 to demonstrate that the findings continue. I have read that CRP and SED/ESR are rougher measures of inflammation, and that ther absence of an elevation may not mean no inflammation is present. I cant remember if I read that in a study or an article or blog.
/www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=24&m=2756942&g=2756942#m2756942

Post Edited (Rockon) : 12/26/2017 10:12:08 AM (GMT-7)

In case your rheumatologist does not know about all of this inflammation research, I wanted to tell you the title of a presentation.
11/8/2015
Presentation at the meeting of the American College Rheumatology. (ACR & AHRP)

ABSTRACT NUMBER: 67
Higher Levels of Pro-Inflammatory and Lower Levels of Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines Are Present in Fibromyalgia Patients

http://acrabstracts.org/abstract/higher-levels-of-pro-inflammatory-and-lower-levels-of-anti-inflammatory-cytokines-are-present-in-fibromyalgia-patients/

Not that it sounds like this is the case, but in my 20 years of moving around the country because of my former husband's work, I did come across doctor's who were not aware of fibromyalgia research. Some did not even believe fibromyalgia was real, and these drs. will be deceptive about their beliefs, too.

The last rheumatologist I saw wrote me a note at my last appoint saying that I had fbromyalgia. I needed my records, and when I picked them up, on that day's appointment notes she wrote "I do not believe in fibromyalgia.".

I called to inform the local fibromyalgia support group leader, in case they kept a dr. list. When she spread the word, one of the members asked her to call me and give me the name of her rheumie that treated her fibro. She said to tell me not to be put off by the fact that my doctor and hers were in the same group, because hers believed in fibro and was a wonderful dr. for her.

Post edit 3/3/18
The other inflammation thread once again shows up in my site search for: "inflammation fibromyalgia".

Post Edited (Rockon) : 3/3/2018 5:22:47 AM (GMT-7)