Re: ESR (sed rate)= A question

[Guest guest]

Hi Deb, I would think will respond to your question. She is extremely 'in the know' about this stuff and can also explain things in a way we can all understand. I would though like to say that you are correct in your thinking. We want the prednisone to alter the effect of the test. If my ESR is 60 and my doctor puts me on prednisone, I would hope that in a couple of weeks or sooner my ESR would be much lower than 60. If it isn't going down, or not going down fast enough then an increase or change in medication may be warranted - or the current med and dose needs to be given more time to work. Vioxx should help inflammation go down, but it isn't the big gun that prednisone is. I had rheumatic fever when I was about 7 and again at 17. My ESR was really elevated. Dr put me on Aspirin, Prednisone and Antibiotic therapy. The antibiotic did nothing for the ESR, but the aspirin and prednisone did finally get my ESR to start going down. I remember the day it hit 45. I thought the doctor was going to kiss me he was so pleased. 45 is still way too high. Those of us with inflammatory diseases tend to always have elevated ESR. What you want is to get yours as close to normal as you can by using the least caustic method possible for you. This is where a very knowledgeable doctor comes in to play - and the necessity to educate ourselves.

Hugs - a

ESR (sed rate)= A question

> The more inflammation in the body, the more the red blood cells >will clump together, the faster they will settle, and the higher >the sed rate. The ESR means there is inflammation in the body, but >it doesn't show where or why.If I am taking a strong anti-inflamitory like prednesone or Vioxx how does it affect the sed rate? Seems as if it treats the inflamation (reduces it) then it will alter the effects of the test?Inquiring minds want to know! (OK, just fogged minds, OK?)Thanks!! Deb"The LUPIES Store" Come check out our store...http://www.cafepress.com/thelupies"The LUPIES Web Page"http://www.itzarion.com/lupusgroup.html"The LUPIES online photo albums!" Check out what your fellow Lupies look like...http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=lupies