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I'm New here, Sed Rate Question

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Posted 2/15/2008 12:14 AM (GMT 0)
nono  Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum and have a question about your Sed Rate.  I'm not yet Dx, the specialists and my MD think it Lupus, Autoimmune or MS.... I get my Sed rate checked often lately and it's been 40 to 50 to 74 and last weeks test is 32...I'm a 54 yr old woman and wonder why it changes so fast...it went from 74 in Dec to 32 last week?  Any help would be great...thanks alot

quack

Posted 2/15/2008 1:21 AM (GMT 0)

Hi quack, welcome to the forum. I have had mine go up and down like that before too. My Rheumy said it has to do with when the blood was taken. If I was in a flare or had an infection than it was higher. If I had been on meds and my infection was gone it would drop. If i was somewhere in between sick and done ok than it was some where in the middle.

I'm sure others will have a better explaination but I mostly wanted to say hi and I hope you get some answers soon

again

welcome

carol

Posted 2/15/2008 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum Quack, I'm 55 so hello sis!! Your SED rate is 'one' indicator of inflammation. So if inflammation is up, your SED rate might be up too. Mine ran in the 50's for a couple of years and was down to high 20's a couple months ago. Carol (Okie) is right, it goes up and down with inflammation. Has your doctor referred you to a rheumatologist (for Lupus) or a neurologist (for MS?). They are the docs that would be the ones to rule out or dx these issues. A doctor can do basic testing, but putting together the big puzzle should be done by a specialist. I ended up working with a primary care doc and a dermatologist for years . . . until I finally learned (from the Lupus Foundation) that I should be seeing a rheumatologist. The rheumy is the one who finally got me properly medicated to help my symptoms. The derm cared only about my skin and my primary care doc didn't believe there was anything wrong. ???? Lots of helpful members at this forum so if you have any questions be sure to ask. There are some helpful links in my signatures you might want to check out. I hope you'll keep us updated with your findings, your symptoms and meds. Blessings!
Posted 2/15/2008 5:14 AM (GMT 0)
SED rate is a measure of inflammation but it does not tell where and why.  It just indicates that you have an inflammatory process in your body and is just one piece of the the puzzle.

SED rates and other indicators can go up and down so it can be very frustrating trying to make sense of it.  If your SED rate is too high then know that you have an inflammatory process that needs diagnosis.  Many of us with a myositis disease have found that it is signaled first by a high SED rate and then by a high CPK rate.  We get frustrated because our cpk rate can be normal and yet we have an inflammatory process going on and feel like crap even though our cpk rate is low.

Bill

Posted 2/15/2008 7:28 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the info, I have seen a Rhumatoligist, Neurologist (2), Internist, and was in VGH hospital for a few weeks a year ago, the Hemotologist wanted me to have a bone marrow, LP, and other Lung function tests etc. 

My symp started with Vertigo and off balance, alot of joint pain in my hands, wrist, ankles, knees, shoulders. then I got worse with Double vision/blurry vision etc.  Now my leg musells??  are sore and my calves get crampy almost everyday in the late afternoon and evening,  My hand get so cold I wear glove in the house, everyday.  My symptoms are more now then they were a year ago when I saw the specialists who said they don't know what is wrong.. I did have two MRI...showed lesions in corpus callusom and subcortical...but they said not the MS type??  I had Granulomas in my Bone Marrow and monoclonal bands in my blood...?? I don't know .. my GP says he is stump and now I'm going to try a psyciatric and see if its in my head...as well as the pain..??  thanks for any info..

take care

quack

Posted 2/15/2008 9:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hi quack, I can't help with your dx, but your cold hands (Raynaud's?) may be helped by wearing a hat. We lose lots of heat right through the top of our head. So, when I'm feeling cold, I'll just put something on my head. A small towel, a hat, a piece of newspaper. I just grab anything near me and put it on my head. It is amazing how this helps to warm your hands. Of course you'll want to do whatever you can to keep your hands warm enough by wearing gloves, but I find it is hard to get the hands warm if you can't get your whole body warm enough. Just a thought. I also use a grain bag warmed in the microwave (fill a man's tube sock about 2/3 full with rice, feed corn, or dry beans and sew the top shut. Fold it down a bit and sew it again so its real strong. Put this in the microwave for 2 minutes and you'll have a nice warm bag for a couple hours. Blessings!
Posted 2/15/2008 7:35 PM (GMT 0)

Yes, I use those bags everyday for my hands and legs, they are so helpful, sometime wish they were full size. hehehe....I never thought of my head..I will put something on my head too...boy I think I will look silly, glove and hat in the house...Oh well, it's only my hubby with me and dog..thanks for that idea

quack

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