Some blood results

[Billylyne5]

Just got some blood results back that my GP ordered for my rheumatologist appt tomorrow
low white count which has been consistent just below the normal level for months
Low ESR which is also always low, 2mm/hr normal range is above 6
Liver enzymes have finally come down  yippeeeee
So the ESR isn't showing inflammation despite my symptoms 😁
No doubt I will have a whole bunch of bloods done tomorrow

[wildforwater]

Just copies this from Labs online.  My ESR is always low normal, even when I'm in a lot of pain, so this explained why.

What does the test result mean?

The result of an ESR is reported as the millimeters of clear fluid (plasma) that are present at the top portion of the tube after one hour (mm/hr).

Since ESR is a non-specific marker of inflammation and is affected by other factors, the results must be used along with other clinical findings, the individual's health history, and results from other laboratory tests. If the ESR and clinical findings match, the health practitioner may be able to confirm or rule out a suspected diagnosis.

A single elevated ESR, without any symptoms of a specific disease, will usually not give enough information to make a medical decision. Furthermore, a normal result does not rule out inflammation or disease.

Moderately elevated ESR occurs with inflammation but also with anemia, infection, pregnancy, and with aging.

A very high ESR usually has an obvious cause, such as a severe infection, marked by an increase in globulins, polymyalgia rheumatica or temporal arteritis. A health practitioner will typically use other follow-up tests, such as blood cultures, depending on the person's symptoms. People with multiple myeloma or Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (tumors that make large amounts of immunoglobulins) typically have very high ESRs even if they don't have inflammation.
When monitoring a condition over time, rising ESRs may indicate increasing inflammation or a poor response to a therapy; normal or decreasing ESRs may indicate an appropriate response to treatment.

Plaquenil helped with my low WBC.  Not sure if you're on it.  But good news about your liver enzymes.  I'm sure you are correct in expecting a lot of blood work tomorrow at your Rheumy appointment.  Good luck and keep us posted.

Maria

[irish]

I have never had an elevated ESR in all the years they have checked by blood. I have severe Sjogrens so don't guess that blood work is helpful to even check on me. The highest it was is 18 and the normal is 0-20 on the test they use. My doc got all excited when it went up to 18 and the next time he checked it was down again.

I don't worry about any of these blood work as it changes so much and it is what it is. I go only by how I feel and that is lousy much of the time. On Plaquenil, prednisone and IVIG and that hasn't changed any of my blood work. It just goes up and dow2n and does it own thing. Doc treats my symptoms. Irish