• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

Any idea what this means??

Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
AJLang

AJLang

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Phoned GP surgery for result of ESR test knowing that it had increased from 29 to34. The GP had written " has improved from last time but probably not a significant level". When I said that I didn't understand what that meant I was told that if I wasn't happy to see the GP. I'm not unhappy I just want to know what it means and why she has written that it has improved? I've asked for the gp to phone me but feel like I'm being labelled as a troublemaker for wondering what it means
 
That's barmy Amanda - makes no sense. You are entitled to an explanation and no doubt your GP will say the comment referred to when it had dropped to 29 - lets face it he/she hadn't even noticed it had gone up had they? Hope they get back to you soon.x
 
From Google is suggests the ESR test is a non specific marker of inflammation......so the main thing I get from this is, well, not much, as it seems as though its pretty insignificant as there are many factors involved in its changes and that its to work along side the other medical information on your file.........

So worth asking about for sure.........

Sorry I didn't really give anything useful there.....🙂
 
I just checked with the surgery because I had an ESR test in June 2009 when my frozen shoulder was badly inflamed and then the ESR was only 15. I can't understand why it would more than double in three years. from what the GP said in the autumn the issue is that they don't know what other tests to do without further information. This is so frustrating, I wish that I had a doctor friend I could phone for advice.
 
Sorry to be so ignorant but what is an ESR test please ? 😱
 
The results of the ESR test depends what medical condition the test is being used for.

In some medical conditions e.g. Crohn's higher levels indicate inflamation and a lower number would indicate it has improved since the last test, but in a few medical conditions lower levels indicate a problem and increased levels would indicate an improvement.
 
Hi Faith
An ESR is an indicator of inflammation. With the test that my GP uses the normal level should be under 10. When I had mine checked eight weeks ago it was 38, two weeks later it had gone down to 29 so the doctor asked for it to be repreated again. This time it has gone up to 34. I don't understand why they are checking it if they don't want to do something about it.
 
Thanks Phil - they don't know what condition they are testing for. They did the initial tests because I was getting extremely fatigued and generallly feeling unwell.......which is what I am still like. They don't seem to know what else to test for despite the ESR being continually raised - it is extremely frustrating. they did originally test for lupus but that result was ok.
 
AJLang said:
Hi Faith
An ESR is an indicator of inflammation. With the test that my GP uses the normal level should be under 10. When I had mine checked eight weeks ago it was 38, two weeks later it had gone down to 29 so the doctor asked for it to be repreated again. This time it has gone up to 34. I don't understand why they are checking it if they don't want to do something about it.
Click to expand...

Thank you - that makes more sense then. I have IBS and when I saw another locum chap at the hospital recently for my usual diabetic check he said he wanted a blood test to exclude any kind of digestive problems (other than IBS) so I guess that would probably be the ESR you are talking about: well, you're never too old to learn are you ? Thank you again for making that plain.
 
AJLang said:
Thanks Phil - they don't know what condition they are testing for. They did the initial tests because I was getting extremely fatigued and generallly feeling unwell.......which is what I am still like. They don't seem to know what else to test for despite the ESR being continually raised - it is extremely frustrating. they did originally test for lupus but that result was ok.
Click to expand...

I had a second lot of blood tests yesterday including the ESR as the doctors think I have another form of IBD(inflammatory bowel disease)I already have colitis. But have not been very well for the last few months, on lots of meds including antibiotics as I have a nasty flare up of Diverticulitis. Saw the doctor today and she has refered me to the Gastroenterologist. Hope I get a diagnosis soon as most of the time i feel c**p.

Hope you get a diagnosis soon as well as it's so frustrating feeling unwell all the time but knowing what is wrong.
 
Phil sorry to hear that you are having such a bad time as well. I hope they find out what is wrong with you as well. I'm going to the GP tomorrow to see if she thinks that there is a link between my ESR levels and bad hip/lower back stiffness and the pain that I have at the top of my back/bottom of my neck
 
AJLang said:
Phil sorry to hear that you are having such a bad time as well. I hope they find out what is wrong with you as well. I'm going to the GP tomorrow to see if she thinks that there is a link between my ESR levels and bad hip/lower back stiffness and the pain that I have at the top of my back/bottom of my neck
Click to expand...

Thanks, good luck for tomorrow.
 
All the best for tomorrow Amanda, I hope the doc is helpful & you get some useful help! Take care x
 
Thanks Twitchy and Alan. I'm dreading seeing the GP because I'm worried that they are going to be patronising. I'm finding it all very frustrating. My OH is not at all happy with my GP.
 
AJLang said:
Thanks Twitchy and Alan. I'm dreading seeing the GP because I'm worried that they are going to be patronising. I'm finding it all very frustrating. My OH is not at all happy with my GP.
Click to expand...

Hi Amanda,
best of luck with the apt.
Would it not be best for all concerned just to change GP? I know from reading previous posts you are not happy with your care from this GP.
If no explanation from GP this time ask for copies of the results and and then ask to see your diabetes consultant. Your consultant is more than qualified to explain the meaning of the test results. If no apt available to see consultant write him a letter enclosing the test results also explaining your worry and concerns.
 
Hi Sue

A good suggestion but when I spoke to my consultant about the ESR result and fatigue he said that there were hundreds of things that could cause it and he wouldn't know where to start. He knows how lacking in energy I am because he even wrote on my letter that I only had the energery to work 21/2 days a week. If somebody else was writing this I wouldn't believe that the nightmare I am going through with trying to find out what is wrong would be true. But unfortunately it is. I went through sometime similar before the gastroparesis was diagnosed - and then the scan showed that it was severe! I don't want to be told I have another illness - I just want to find out what is wrong so that I can deal with it and feel better.
 
Hi Amanda, I had blood test taken this week and one of them is an ESR test. I have been looking on line about the results of the test and it appears to be different for males and females and also your age, as we get older the ESR level goes up and then other medical conditions can give a lower ESR. One site said 100 is extremly high and others have said, 30/40 is okay!!!!! so I will be wondering what mine is going to be. It must be so frustrating for you, but I am happy you don't have Lupus.

PhilT, I hope you you do get your diagnosis very soon, they are such debilitating and painful conditions and I hope you start to feel a little better soon.

With very best wishes to you both Sheena
 
Hi Sheena I hope that your blood tests are ok. I've found out that the ESR result depends upon the test used at your hospital..So for my ESR test anything above 10 is considered abnormal
 
Catwoman76 said:
Hi Amanda, I had blood test taken this week and one of them is an ESR test. I have been looking on line about the results of the test and it appears to be different for males and females and also your age, as we get older the ESR level goes up and then other medical conditions can give a lower ESR. One site said 100 is extremly high and others have said, 30/40 is okay!!!!! so I will be wondering what mine is going to be. It must be so frustrating for you, but I am happy you don't have Lupus.

PhilT, I hope you you do get your diagnosis very soon, they are such debilitating and painful conditions and I hope you start to feel a little better soon.

With very best wishes to you both Sheena
Click to expand...

Thanks Sheena, Hopefully once I see the Gastroenterologist they'll get to the bottom of it (no pun intended).

How are you and Tia doing by the way?
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Back
Top