Hi everyone - can anyone please advise me. I went to my GP yesterday for my monthly blood test - the nurse informed me that I needed to see the doctor as my CRP level had shot up from averaging <10 for the past year (in fact my last blood test it dropped to <5) now it is reading to 19.3 - has anyone had this happen to them, I am also getting reflux problems lately, and another side effect hair loss which is becoming more prominent and I am becoming down about it. Several of the other readings alo were higher.

I am taking 5 methotrexate a week and one folic acid - I have heard that if the folic acid is increased it can help with the hair loss !! My feet have deteriorated and I am seeing my foot consultant and podiatrist next week. When I mentioned the hair loss this to my RA consultant his response was well that is one of the side effects and duly went about increasing my mtx dose (dah) he didnt say anything about increasing the folic acid - mind you I see him supposedly every six months - but no sooner than I am in to see him I out within 5 mins !!!!!!!

I have an appointment tomorrow with my gp - just wondered if anyone could give me any advice.

Thank you - Jane

Hi Jane

Raised crp indicates active disease or infection so if you are well otherwise, ie no obvious infection of any kind, the RA may be causing a flare up or has become more active. This is why your dr has said you need to take more mxt. I have posted about hair loss before. ( I think it is under drugs - hair loss.) I know how you feel. My hair started coming out in large handsful after I had a bad spell at Christmas. It has settled down now so was probably caused by other health problems. Mxt does or can cause thinning of hair probably because it is a chemotherapy drug but I believe more folic acid can help, although my rheummy nurse is not kean on me taking more. I don't know why. Have you had your thyroid checked? This is also a cause for hair thinning. If you haven't ask your GP for a test when you go tomorrow. If thyroid is underactive you will need to start on thyroxine. Hope that is helpful. Good luck with your appointment.

Sheila x

Oh thank you for your advice - I will ask the gp about a thyroid test I hadn't even given a thought also about increasing my folic acid. My apointment is this morning - I will let you know how I get on !!

Jane xx

Hi everyone - just to let you know how I got on at the gp's - she was really good, I asked about the thyroid as you suggested and they will add it on to my bloods for next month's test. She is also contacting the RA dept in the hospital regarding upping my folic acid to see if that will help with my hair loss. She is also looking into having patches to see if that will help - just in case it is hormonal (as I am post menopausal I may need a hormone boost). She said that I could possibly try another form of treatment other than MTX - I feel wary about that as I have not had any major side effects with MTX except for some tummy upset now and again and the hair loss. So I have to ring the surgery by next Friday and she will be able to update me following her investigation the RA dept. I will let you know what the outcome is. Thank you all for your advice - it is reassuring when you speak to others who have experienced problems that there can be a solution (perhaps)!!.

Jane xx

I've read this post and it's made me wonder about my blood results.

I've been taking MTX for just over a year now and normally my CRP ranges from 5 -10. If it does go above 10 it does reflect to how I am feeling at the time. Last April I did feel really bad and when I got my results in May (they are put in my booklet the following month in the monitoring clinic), it had reached the dizzy height of 56.

My May result was 27, which is still high for me. I have yet to find out my June result, but at the moment I am having problems and know that things aren't right.

So, if Jane's GP was concerned because her showed 19.3, is 56 really high?

Paula

Thank you Jenni

I thought it was high, well it certainly was high for me. I have read on another forum that it is only when the reading is consistently high that they start to investigate why but at the moment I feel worse than I did in April, so heaven knows what it is at the mo.

I do know that my readings in June were high, because (such along story here, so I won't bore you with the details), but on my GP's orders I had to go to casualty the Friday before last bank holiday and I ended up being admitted on the the emergency admissions unit with a suspected blood clot. I had some bloods taken in casualty and these according to the doctor pointed to me having a blood clot. In the end the consultant who I saw on the ward said my inflammation levels were high due to my RA and not in her opinion a blood clot, so I went home.

I was a little worried all weekend due to the fact that the test did point to a blood clot and the consultant had just assumed it was my RA, so I spoke to one of my specialist nurse the following Tuesday just to check that this was right. Her first reaction was 'I wish they wouldn't always think that everything is down to RA', however she did check my results and said they were high and the consultant was right.

If I don't start to feel any better I will have to ring up and ask for a review or something, trouble is I've got Julie coming over in four weeks time with grandchildren, she is stopping here a week, then going back to Gibraltar and leaving Daniel and Paris with us for a few weeks. I really don't want to start taking something new or upping MTX incase I get side effects, but on the other hand I want to feel better than I do now. Don't we just love this blasted RA!!!!!!!

Paula x

all the best to you and keep smiling i have no answers as i am much like you but you will be sorted.
regards
Audrey.