Posted 1/5/2017 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
Twice in the past year (2016), 'CRP & Sed Rate won't tell us anything' - is what my longtime primary care provider has said when asking that these inflammatory markers be included in blood work.
What? Since when and why are we not monitoring for inflammation? Are there other, newer, more specific biomarkers to be evaluated?
Brief background:
Periods stopped for good in February 2013. Went through menopause at 53 without problems - so I thought. Three months later I was seeing a rheumatologist for joint pain. Then the ulcerative proctosigmoiditis progressed to uncontrollable pancolitis.
Since reaching UC remission in 2014 , degenerative osteo-arthritis has been marching forward like the Red Army up & down my spine, both hands, and right hip.
In addition to chronically high lipids (as a 40 year vegetarian!), over the past two years I'm experiencing rising blood pressure, glucose and weight gain. Together these spell metabolic syndrome. But the pcp says; 'no, it's called pre-diabetes'.
It's exhausting to self-manage all these moving parts. I've been away from nursing too long to be in the know about the medical management side. From all I've read in the medical literature it seems that inflammation is the provocateur of most of these problems, while central obesity (omental fat) is the likely source of inflammatory cytokines.
Boomers with the pain of bone-on-bone hip (&/or knee) arthritis understand the challenge of maintaining healthy weight. The aqua-aerobics classes are filled with pre & post joint replacement recipients. Glad to report that a hip replacement is in my near future.
I've completed a year of aerobic workouts in the pool three times a week. From complete deconditioning to an improved level of cardiovascular fitness; my pcp still declines to monitor any inflammatory biomarkers. What's up with that?