C-Reactive Protein last year was 13, test not repeated?

[NameChange259]

I've been generally unwell the past couple of years with fatigue, and I'm unfit and overweight also. Lots of small issues building up and now my blood pressure/pulse is high and not coming down with meds.

Last year the doc ran a thorough series of blood tests - thyroid, diabetes, cortisol, menopause. All the biggies were negative.

I've just got into my patient access info amd looking through results. I can see my CRP was 13 and there's no repeat test on the records. Could they have been repeated and not updated on patient access? I remember having to go back to look at repeat bloods. Cant remember if I did or not but I thought I had and everything was fine.

Doctor told me I should eat better and I'd feel better. I went on to be diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, but auto-immume conditions run in both sides of my family.

I'm seeing doc on Monday but just wondering until then. Mainly if the results were retaken and not put on system. I've had bloods done again last week but not the CRP repeated.

Did this start after the vaccine

A CRP of 13 is low enough to be of no real concern. The average person's CRP will periodically be as high or higher than that, just from usual exposure to viruses etc from normal life. A CRP in that range can also simply be associated with obesity - obese people typically have higher inflammatory markers than normal weight people.

Speak to your doctor for individualised advice, but I wouldn't generally consider a CRP at that level in need of rechecking as it's very unlikely to be of any clinical consequence.

I have cfs too :(. Always here if you want to chat about it

Thanks v much everyone. Sorry for some reason these messages didn’t show up till today?

@pbdr thats almost exactly what the doc said. I’m now on bisoprolol as well as amlodipine and ramipril for blood pressure and heart rate tho. I’m not 40 yet and although I have a high bmi I just wish I could find an explanation for it all other than weight.

@worldwidetravel2017 its so tough isn’t it. How long have you had it for?

Officially diagnosed recently
But consultant says / believes body has struggled/ have had it for at least 2 - 3 years :(

A CRP of 13 really isn’t anything to worry about. It’s only very slightly over the normal range (anywhere up to 10). For instance in a full blown infection it can reach up to the high hundreds!

@worldwidetravel2017 and OP I would be interested in hearing how you got diagnosed with ME/CFS

I am really struggling because I cannot get a diagnosis because apparently I am 'too well' except I'm not at all and I'm really really struggling to hold down my job. At least if I got a diagnosis I could talk to work about it!

I'm away at the moment but going to try and get a GP appointment once I'm back. @worldwidetravel2017 you mention a consultant, what type did you see?

Thanks @clipclop5 , appreciate the reply.

@WillWeSeeTheSunAgain I saw a rheumatologist privately. I'd had many blood tests done through GP to rule out other conditions causing fatigue.

As I understand it a rheumatologist is the consultant who could diagnose long covid/fibromyalgia/CFS/EDS etc

Private rheumatologist consultant

Thanks. I don't have joint involvement which is what is causing the issue with them not knowing who to refer me to I think. My main symptoms are crippling fatigue plus constant sore throat/malaise.

Btw my CRP (in blood tests done beforehand, not recently) is almost always at those levels (around 20) - I think it's because we have low level inflammation with these illnesses

And also, if it makes you feel any better :), I was super fit before I got this. I don't think fitness or lack of it has anything to do with it.

Did they ever test 4 glandular fever / ebv past or present infection ?
Also thyroid function tests

You get a lot ( a lot ) of blood tests to rule stuff out b4 cfs diagnosis

Im being given a consultant @ fatigue clinic

Coincidentally I had full blood tests done earlier this year for something else so thyroid/vitamin levels fine. I had glandular fever as a teenager.

I couldn't get an appointment with my own GP so paid for a private appointment with a guy that was great and he basically said he is almost 100% sure I have it based on my symptoms (PEM/sore throat that does not clear up/malaise/terrible fatigue) but he didn't want to do all the tests due to the cost.

I'm aiming to get my own GP to see me next week and get him to do the tests and at least we can rule all the other stuff out. As I don't have joint involvement it's very unlikely it's lupus etc.

Weirdly CFS now makes a lot of sense to me and I suspect I've had it mildly since I had glandular fever and only now it's got worse, I realise how bad it is.

Any chance you had covid lately / since glandular fever ?

Full blood count doesnt include b12 , vit D , feretin - make sure you get those ones too

Try and ask 4 referal to fatugue clinic once/ if cfs is conformed

How are you legs?

Have had covid 3 times. But I just woke up one day with a sore throat plus the fatigue and it's never gone away. I didn't realise what it was so I carried on exercising and I think made it worse. Only once I saw private GP and he suggested this did I look it up and see what was going on.

Legs are fine but I was running loads before I got this. Was running 3x a week plus doing a cycling commute to work. Now I can only walk in short bursts and I can't stand for too long - both give me PEM. Legs feel like they have no strength but I think it's also fear on my part that I'm doing too much and making it worse. My walking pace has really slowed down sadly. It's all very upsetting.

The FBC had ferritin, vitD and B12. All fine. Folate was on lower end of normal but im now taking CoQ10 plus vitB plus fish oil and a whole load of other supplements recommended for CFS/ME (NAD/NAC).

Totally get the walking pace slowed down and cant stand up for too long - - - im the same

It is very frustrating - i hear you

Consultant told me i have to accept the diagnosis tho

It's hard isn't it. How long have you had it and how are you getting on with it? I hope the fatigue clinic is useful for you

Hmm, just had the CRP test repeated As I was having bloods taken.

thanks to access to online records I can see my CRP levels were 17 in Feb 2023, retaken a month later down to 13. Now 19.

Everything else (bar cholesterol) is completely normal. I don’t feel normal.

Ive never had a crp test b4 but my dr is doing that this month :/

Hope it helps you find some answers @worldwidetravel2017

@NameChange259 - have u had
Feretin
B12
Vit d

Tested ?

I was low in all 3 and felt extra ' horrendous -

All 3 are fixed now and it helps

I take 2000 iu / 3000 iu vit d daily

I think im estrogen dominant

I had some private thermal imagery done that showed that

Now i have a load of hormone tests to do

CRP tends to be mildly high like this in inflammatory bowel disease - the autoimmune condition I know about - would not be surprised if similar in other chronic inflammatory conditions.