Re: ESR--Erythrocyte sedimentation rate--aka sed rate

June 7, 2004

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate will increase during pregnancy,

Fliss how good a time did you have in spain....hhhmmmm.... also it

will be elevated when there is an inflammatory process going on,

like you said. Which could be many many things. Arthritis is one

as well as anemia. It will rise significantly in wide spread

inflammatory disorders from infection and autoimmune mechanisms,

rhumatoid arthritis and in some cancers.

I am typing this, not verbatim, from a lab book I have and all it

says is some cancers, it does not specify. Normal sed rates, as we

call then, ranges from 0-20. How high was yours? Of course this

is in the US I have know idea if it is valued or ranged differently

in the UK. One other thing, rates do increase with age so we may

have a 10 or 15 and thats normal. Did he say what your value was?

An elevated sed rate is no big deal. My dad had a form of lupus and

rhumatoid arthitis and his sed rate would freak them out. Hells

bells he was old as dirt and sick as a dog; but I wouldn't have

messed with him.

I would imagine we all had a high esr at some time or another, its

just an indicator that an something is inflamed not how badly or

where. I wouldnt worry so much but would certainly want further

tests.

My son is bugging me to get off the computer so I better go, take

care and dont worry about that, its not a biggie.

Love

Chrissy

> Hello everyone,

> I have just had a letter from my GP saying that a recent blood

test

> indicated a high ESR level. This is non-specific and apparently

> indicates inflammation somewhere in the body. I have an

appointment

> for 16th June. I was wondering if this could refer to the pancreas

> itself or, possibly, to arthritis eg. in the feet, as I have been

> having so many feet pain probs. I know nothing at all about the

ESR

> level and have not had time to do any reading on the subject this

> evening.

> I'd be very grateful if anyone has any info.

> With good wishes,

> Fliss (UK)

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