Blood Work Back - Hmmm

October 15, 2008

I have the luxury of being able to have blood drawn here at our

medical clinic at the company and they send it out. When the results

come back, I get a faxed copy at the same time they are sent to my

Rheumy. I like this process but sometimes it may raise too many

concerns that aren't really concerns, if you know what I mean.

I've been on MTX now 3+ weeks and my Rheumy ran the tests to see how

well I'm tolerating the MTX and I guess the Prednisone as well. In

addition to running SED and CRP she did a CBC, as well as liver and

kidney function tests. Looks like she's on the ball there.

Nothing too much surprising. The ESR (SED) is still somewhat elevated

but down from 53 to 27. Good. CRP is now under 20 and was elevated

prior to the Pred. and MTX. Even better. The Pred. and MTX are working.

Several of the CBC tests were our of range but not too far out of

range. WBC is High (just out of range) HGB is low (13.5) HCT is Low

40.5, MCV is low 79.4, MCH is low 26.4 and RDW is high 15.4.

Looks like Creatinine, AST-SGOT, ALT-SGPT are all within range.

OK, my educated fellow forum friends. What's your take on this? You

think she's going to be OK with going down on the Prednisone and up on

the MTX? Any other interpretations with what you see? I know many of

you have been through many of these blood tests and results so hoping

you can continue to educate me.

I'm not surprised the SED is still elevated some. While the MTX (3

pills - starting dose) and particularly the Prednisone (20 MG/day) has

been saving me from daily agony, I do still experience pain and

inflammation. Just more tolerable than before. This is with the

exception of when we failed to lower my Pred to 15MG from 20.

I really do want to get down as far as possible on the Prednisone and

suspect that's only going to happen if we can increase the MTX. With

Liver and Kidney function looking OK, do you think that's within my

future? I know. I'm thinking too much, but what else would you expect

for an " uber Geek " .

Thanks,

Bob

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