Prednisone and ESR | Arthritis Information
Ok, I know I'm supposed to be a lab tech and know these things but I can't exactly think straight right now. Does prednisione alter the results of your ESR and CRP drastically? I had both checked the other day and the esr was 2, crp was normal and xrays showed no bone erosions but did have evidence of moderate arthritis.
I'm not complaining but if these things are all so good then why in the hell am I always so stiff and in so much pain? The only thing I can think of is that the 50mg of prednisone I'm still on is playing a big part in this and that if I really start cutting it that the labs will match the way I feel.
Definately Bob, my GP and RD are always telling me the pred masks the blood results so don't go crazy and think you are fine as I often do, then pay for it later. 50mg of pred would make me think I am superwoman!!!!
I can only add to what Janie has said Bob.
The pred masks the bloods.
I'm on Humira along with a lot of other stuff and my recent bloods were to high to get another script for Humira.
The RH bumped my pred up to 10mg for a week followed by another blood test.
The new bloods came in under the levels required and I got another script.
I think you're both right. See before this flare started I was on a maintenance dose of 5mg pred daily. I know this is bad, but when I would have bad days I would take a little more than I was supposed to take. (10 sometimes 15mg then back down after a few days) I told the doc once during a visit and she then said there is no need to do an esr if I took more pred than I was supposed to take because it would alter the results drastically. So, if 15mg alters the results drastically then it stands to reason that there is even less point in doing this and any other test to look for inflammation on 50mg wouldn't you think?
By the way Stephen I read your reply in the last thread I started. Thanks for the support and the words of encouragement. I used to enjoy playing guitar, riding atv's, and other outdoor sports as well as photography of wildlife. Now because of how stiff I am I can't do any of those things. I'd love nothing more than to get enough of an improvement to do those things again but the way things look this may be as good as it's ever going to be for me again.
Bob
Bob, Cordelia alerted me to what was going on via email so I think she deserves some credit.
As to doing some of those things that you mention, you can and will be able to do some of those things again.
Photography is one of the easy ones that you can pick on and one that is also of interest to me.
You do not have to go out of your premises to start. I'm assuming that you may have a small point and shoot type camera, that's fine.
You can start by taking images of flowers, bees, leaves, water droplets, birds, spiders, webs.
There's a ton of things to get started on and practice.
Research on the net, compare what you are doing to what others have done.
Do other's images look better than what i produce, how did they do that, try to replicate.
You can be stiff and ache, even in some pain and still do it.
Sit out in the yard and wait for a bird, talk to the bird, ask that bird to move closer so you can get a real great shot.
If you don't get that shot, do it again the next day, and the next until you achieve what it is that you want from the image.
If you concentrate hard enough and want hard enough you will notice a few things over time.
What you will notice is that for a short period you will feel a little less of your own discomfort, this might only be a few seconds at a time but it is all a small step forward.
If you are interested enough in photography then you will be able to achieve things over twelve months that you thought were gone.
Forget the hard yakka stuff, concentrate on the easier things in life, the little things that can bring joy.
If you want this little thing Bob you can do it, I Know because I have traveled that path.
With a sore hip that was giving me pain, a sore foot and a bakers cyst behind one knee, off I hobbled.
It might have only lasted fifteen minutes before things got to much for me, but it was fifteen minutes more than I thought.
Over twelve months this time extended to two hours before fatigue set in, but I was a happy chappy. My pain levels had decreased and my stamina had extended to two hours.
All that does not sound much over twelve months, but it was a long way from the hell hole I was in, a long way.
With photography and wildlife Bob, some magic moments can occur that will make your heart sing. I've had little birds perch on the lens, land on my shoulder, sit and look at me for those brief seconds it takes to press the shutter.
I've had tears in my eyes at some of those things because I had just finished talking to them and bingo, it happens.
I have literally been touched by angel moments, it has fascinated me to see nature show some trust and lack of fear.
I could go on Bob but feel it's time to stop.
PS; If you talk to nature and other people are present, then talk in your head, most don't quite understand what is going on.
Have a great day.
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