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Measuring the body's inflammation

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Posted 11/12/2016 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
So I asked my LLMD last visit how to best measure if I'm having inflammation as the cause of my symptoms (or not) and he said the best overall measure is C3a and C4a tests. Are there any other tests that people have tried that help measure inflammation response? Thanks.
Posted 11/12/2016 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
From a topic a year ago
"There are many many tests that can be performed to clarify diagnosis and treatment, and a lot of tests can be performed to specify pathways of immune inflammatory response. Some are in wide usage, like procalcitonin measurements, and some are less used, like IL-6. Some measure the interleukins or cytokines themselves, some the metabolic byproducts or effects of inflammation, eg CRP."


It goes on to say that once in treatment there's not much use in them because die off responses, etc, will make the results too "whacky". In other words, up and down depending on the moment of testing.
Posted 11/12/2016 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
One way I've used to try to tell is by ramping up my detoxing to see if I feel any relief.

Sometimes you do, and there is your answer.

And, do you meant you want to know if your symptoms are because of inflammation or the other way around.
I was looking at it from the first direction. IE: inflammation causing symptoms.
Posted 11/13/2016 2:55 AM (GMT 0)
This is a weird area. Measuring inflammation from these bugs. My llmd tried to explain that what C4a shows is a different inflammation. Different because you can be elevated in that and not in others.

I just asked a Dr about cytokine testing. He said if your sed-rate (common test) is not elevated, cytokine wont be either, so save your money. Wonder about that as my sed-rate was always normal. C4a was high, 55,000 once.
Posted 11/13/2016 3:41 AM (GMT 0)
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate -ESR

Range was 2 to 30 - my count was 7.
Posted 11/13/2016 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
My GP tested for some of the common inflammation markers such as homocysteine, C-reactive protein, etc.

It's my understanding that symptoms are a sign of inflammation - at least that's what I've garnered through research and from the words of Tim Scott, one of Buhner's recommended herbalists.

I think Tim is onto something because he referred to the mild twitches I get in my lower legs as inflammation.

Starting Dan Shen (Salvia Miltiorrhiza which modulates neuro inflammation) per Tim's advice has helped tremendously.
Posted 11/13/2016 2:13 PM (GMT 0)
My CRP and ESR were always in the normal range, however, my inflammation is huge. My CD57 and the others are very bad.
Posted 11/13/2016 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
I always used the SED rate. The scale from my lab was 5-12. My results for the past 10 yrs(I get it tested once a yr) always hovers between 17-22
Posted 11/13/2016 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
I prefer cheaper methods of determining inflammation but they aren't as accurate. They're only as accurate as you can make them. If you weigh yourself daily upon getting out of bed, that number is a great baseline for your weight. If you eat the same amount of the same things daily drinking the same amount, that gives you a baseline for the effect that food has on your body. The amount of food you eat will make you gain weight, lose weight, or stay the same weight depending on the amount of calories and your metabolism. Do this over time and you get an idea of what you "should" weigh. Then substitute a food for what you have been eating and examine the results. The food must be the same amount of calories and the food you substituted for. Everything else stays the same. You will gain weight as your body holds fluids. Women will see a hormonal influence on water retention as well and it is cyclical. Learn the patterns and you know what you should weigh.

Some people aren't as methodical as I have been on eating and would find this method difficult to follow. It was easy for me as my eating has been structured for years before I got sick.

How well my ring fits is a good indicator as to how much inflammation I have. It takes me about 1 to 2 days to build up that inflammation so that my ring won't come off. Those foods I ate 1 to 2 days before are foods that increase histamine formation. Histamine formation can be bad or it can be good depending on your situation.
Posted 11/13/2016 3:17 PM (GMT 0)

1000Daisies said...

CD3764 said...
My GP tested for some of the common inflammation markers such as homocysteine, C-reactive protein, etc.

It's my understanding that symptoms are a sign of inflammation - at least that's what I've garnered through research and from the words of Tim Scott, one of Buhner's recommended herbalists.

I think Tim is onto something because he referred to the mild twitches I get in my lower legs as inflammation.

Starting Dan Shen (Salvia Miltiorrhiza which modulates neuro inflammation) per Tim's advice has helped tremendously.

Do you have more information on the Dan Shen?

Dan Shen (Red Sage/Salvia Miltiorrhiza) is part of Buhner's Babesia and Bartonella protocols. Along with Chinese Skullcap, Dan Shen comprises the cytokine remodulation component of Buhner's Lyme protocol.
You can find info on Dan Shen in the Materia Medica section of Buhner's books.

Here's some info from the web:

www.chineseherbshealing.com/salvia-miltiorrhiza-dan-shen/

www.doctorshealthpress.com/food-and-nutrition-articles/chinese-herb-dan-shen-treats-many-different-problems

I got up 1/2 tsp 3x daily of Dan Shen as well as Chinese Skullcap when I followed Buhner's full Lyme, Bartonella and Babesia protocols. Titration of those started in August of last year and I was up to what I thought were full doses (per his books) by December.

I finally consulted with Buhner-recommended herbalist Tim Scott in early August of this year. I thought I was ready for a modified protocol and had become tired of trying to figure thing out for myself.

Tim had me cut back on the number of herbs I'd been taking, increased the doses of the herbs I would continue taking and suggested I dose 4x daily. Dan Shen and Chinese Skullcap had been eliminated at that point for me.

In speaking with Tim most recently about my mild but stubborn twitches, he recommended 3/4 tsp Dan Shen 4x daily and dosing that amount as frequently as every hour to treat acute symptoms.

I'm to start 3/4 tsp Chinese Skullcap 4x daily in 2 wks. Dan Shen was easy to titrate but I'm not taking any chances and will titrate Chinese Skullcap as well.

I've read that women often need more aggressive treatment and I seem to be one of them.

So far, Tim Scott's recommendations have been spot-on and my healing is once again moving forward (in spite of my wacky thyroid lol)
Posted 11/13/2016 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
So all of you have inflamation per the "normal" inflamation tests?

I didnt/dont. Even when my pain was nuts. Am I the only one????

But CD57 , C4a were always off.
Posted 11/13/2016 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
1000D- OK, I'm not the only one. As I re-read, I see kirkys normal sed rate too.

I wonder what makes the difference then.
Posted 11/13/2016 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
GH said: "How well my ring fits is a good indicator as to how much inflammation I have. It takes me about 1 to 2 days to build up that inflammation so that my ring won't come off."

And here I thought I might be the only one that watched this as well. LOL! When my inflammation is really low, my wedding band fits over the knuckles on my index finger as well. When my inflammation is really bad, I can see my feet & ankles getting 'puffy', and I can't wear my wedding band at all.

I learned years ago to not wear my wedding band to bed, as I could (& usually do) have changes in my inflammation over night, if I'm going to have changes.
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