Not really happy with my visit to the GP

[KatyMac]

I saw GP 2 weeks ago with various long standing (3-5 years) health complaints

He sent me for some blood tests

These came back this week with high ish results for ESR (55) & CRP (60)

He has said this may be some kind of viral arthritis which could last some time & that he won't refer me to a specialist until I am taking all the anti-inflammatries & pain relief (8 co--codamol a day) I can

Is it reasonable for me to go back & ask to pay to see a specialist?

BTW off for a nap so I may not be back for a while (bit tired - sorry)

Why don't you wait a bit and then come back again and get re-tested to check that the levels have decreased / inflammation has reduced?

Yes but I have been going for the last 3 or 4 years

It's got so I haven't been a day without a pain killer in 6 weeks

Have you had ESR / CRP measured before when you presented with the same symptoms? Ask what the levels were when you were last tested. I presume they've already done rheumatoid factor and it was negative?

No sure tbh

I have had blood tests but everything was within "normal levels"

My Rheumatoid factor is OK but my brother has recently been diagnosed with RA, my Dad has ankylosing spondylitis & is on his 4th discectomy & several great aunts were bent double by the time they died

I just worry a bit

& I worry that the diclofenac I was taking may have affected the results of the tests

Co-codamol isn't really an anti-inflammatory, just a pain relief - can you take ibuprofen instead? It would probably help a whole lot more as it would be bringing the inflammation down. If you saw a specialist, the first thing they try is anti-inflammatories anyway, so it doesn't make much difference in the long run whether you try it before or after referral.

The GP gave me a different anti-inflammatory Nax/Nex(something or other - the box is downstairs)

But does reducing the inflammation affect the ability to diagnose effectively?

From lab tests online re ESR:

Drugs such as dextran, methyldopa (Aldomet), oral contraceptives, penicillamine procainamide, theophylline, and vitamin A can increase ESR, while aspirin, steroids, and quinine may decrease it.

I would take the anti-inflammatories.

The fact that you haven't had raised ESR/CRP before might suggest this is temporary inflammation from a virus or whatever tbh.

I have been looking back on MN & the first time I complained of these symptoms was 2005 - I have seen the GP about them at least 4 possibly 6 or 8 times since