Any Ideas of Diagnosis based on my blood results? high ERS and CRP

[missc85]

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone here has any ideas what my blood test results might point to.   I'm a 25 year old female and have been having pains in my joints for over a year now - started mostly in knees and elbows but now in a lot more joints.  Previous to this I have had symtoms which drs put down to ibs, extreme pain - especially in upper right abdomon radiating to back - I also get blood in my stools sometimes but this has been explained with piles.  My symtoms tended to come and go however they seem more contant now and the fatigue I'm experiencing is more pronounced now too.  The pain is no longer just in the joints but more so in my muscles and nerves of my arms - when I experience the nerve pain I notice some twitching afterwards.  I am prone to chest infections and at the minute everything that is going around!  I have also had kidney problems in the past and often have traces of blood and protein without infection.  I also have a gland that has been painful behind my ear - I'm not sure if thats significant. I know I was diagnosed with some sort of ME/chronic fatigue syndrom as a child but I think this was because drs were at a loss and I did seem to grow out of it - whatever the problem was.  I saw a rheumatologist once, months ago and got blood tests done - I am due to go back this week.  This probably all sounds worse than it is - I am a normal 25 year old and lead a pretty much normal life but this is really starting to interfere and I want to get it sorted so any ideas welcome!!!  Thanks!

I got bloods done in the drs last week as I was feeling very weak - these are my results.  

Plasma C reactive protein -    15.89   (range 0-5)

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate - 31  (range 1-12)

rheumatoid factor - < 20  (range 0-25)

Full blood count the 'abnormal' (some only seem marginal?) values were

MCHC  37.1 (range 30-37)

Platelet count - 489  (range 150 - 450)

percentage lymphocytes 41.1  (range 25-40)

[karajo]

I'm not sure what the percentage is, but usually fibromyalgia does not occur alone.  

After a brief overview of erythema nodusum, it doesn't appear to be autoimmune related.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000881.htm

Be persistant w/ you GP.  Keep a daily symptom journal.  Will the amitriptyline help you sleep?  That seems to be one of the major factors in helping w/ fibro.  So many times when someone is debilitatingly sick, they get depressed, but I KNOW depression is an actual symptom of lupus.  

Praying for you hun, Kara

[missc85]

Thanks Karajo, I went back to the rheumatologist and he said my blood results from 5 months ago were normal - I think he was happy to leave it at that but I explained that I certainly hadn't felt I got any better - infact I have these new symtoms.  He examined me and concluded that I had fibromyalgia.    After the diagnosis I showed the dr a picture on my camera of some leg hive like swelling things I've been getting - he said they were erythema nodusum and looked a little perplexed.  Having read up on fibromyalgia I'm not sure that it explains everything however I will take the 25mg a day of amitriptyline I have been prescribed and hope for the best.  I am however meeting with my GP this week to discuss the blood results as I don't feel they have been explained if its fibromyalgia.  
Thanks again for all your help, God bless x

[Spurtler]

I am a member of a couple of autoimmune disorder social networks. I am not selling anything!

Here are a couple of websites that might help you:

http://www.labtestsonline.org/  Explain clinical lab testing in plain English
http://www.healthline.com/      Check out the treatment search and symptom search
http://www.aarda.org               National association for autoimmune disorders

[karajo]

I think your rhematologist will probably check for lupus.  I would encourage you to spend time in the sun prior to them checking your ANA.  This could expidite your dx if you have lupus.  

platlet count too high - rule out bleeding, cigarette smoking, excess production by the bone marrow, strenous activity, myeloproliferative disorders, infections, inflammation, and cancers.

C reactive protein too high - rule out inflammation in response to infection, vascular disease, heart attacks or strokes.

Sed rate is usually an indicator of inflammation.