Got some bad news from the doctor last night

[GrantMeThePower]

I went in for a physical last week. Last night the doctor called me back with the results from the blood work. Many of the things he checked came back normal (white blood cell count, PSA, liver function, thyroid funciton, testosterone, yada yada yada).

But there was a really bad thing. He says that my "C Reactive Protein" count is off the charts. He said that normal was between 1 and 3 and that mine was at 45. This is indicitive of an extremely overactive immune system response. Most often this is seen in things like Rhumetoid Arthritis, Lupus, Tuberculousis, heart disease and infection, lung infection, etc. Typically it is a disease or bacterial infection that causes either A) extreme inflammation in tissues or B) an immune system that attacks the body (like the opposite of aids, where it isn't able to act at all).

It will take a couple months at the least to find out whats going on. I'm scared and don't really know how to like go about doing sh!t normally with this in the back of my mind the whole time. When he told me he sounded pretty concerned.

 

[DVad3r]

Damm man that sucks Go in for a second opinion is all I can say right now, hopefully it is not too serious and everything works out for you. Keep us updated.

 

[djheater]

Definately get tested again. Could be false results.

Don't panic.

 

[jupiter57]

Sorry to hear this, dude!
Take it from me, pray to the Good Lord (Yes, there certainly is one!)that it's not Rheumatoid Arthritis.
I mean, these other probable causes are by no means good, but I can attest to the fact that Rheumatoid Arthritis is BAD! No cure, and it's a real pain trying to convince anyone, especially Doctors, just how painful it is.

 

[Descartes]

Sorry to hear that bro! Good luck to you!

 

[Doboji]

This just happened to my wife's cousin. Exactly the same diagnosis....

Turned out to be nothing... don't panic yet.

-Max

 

[Goosemaster]

 

[GrantMeThePower]

Originally posted by: Doboji
This just happened to my wife's cousin. Exactly the same diagnosis....

Turned out to be nothing... don't panic yet.

-Max

Are you sure it was the same test?

 

[Aikouka]

Well, you can cross Lupus off the list... after watching enough House, we know that these "mysteries" are never really Lupus, although it always comes up!

Hope things go well for you.

 

[Doboji]

Originally posted by: GrantMeThePower

Originally posted by: Doboji
This just happened to my wife's cousin. Exactly the same diagnosis....

Turned out to be nothing... don't panic yet.

-Max

Are you sure it was the same test?

Yep...

Here's an article... there's alot of events that can jump that particular protein...

Text

 

[IGBT]

..hang in there and get another test. Otherwise how do you feel? Any aches or pains i.e.sore finger joints or similar? Friend of mine got tested for aches and pains and it turned out to be gout. To much uric acid. Just needed a change of diet and more exercise.

 

[slurmsmackenzie]

Originally posted by: Doboji

Originally posted by: GrantMeThePower

Originally posted by: Doboji
This just happened to my wife's cousin. Exactly the same diagnosis....

Turned out to be nothing... don't panic yet.

-Max

Are you sure it was the same test?

Yep...

Here's an article... there's alot of events that can jump that particular protein...

Text

:beer: :thumbsup: for the silver lining provided

 

[GrantMeThePower]

Originally posted by: Doboji

Originally posted by: GrantMeThePower

Originally posted by: Doboji
This just happened to my wife's cousin. Exactly the same diagnosis....

Turned out to be nothing... don't panic yet.

-Max

Are you sure it was the same test?

Yep...

Here's an article... there's alot of events that can jump that particular protein...

Text

Thanks for the article.

This is the line that scares me (and apparently my doctor) :
"The one great advantage of C-Reactive Protein testing is its ability to detect increased risk among apparently healthy people."

I'm only 26 years old. I'm not sure why it would be heart related. I also had an EKG done at the physical and the only thing it showed was an elevated pulse rate.

 

[eits]

have you noticed any changes in your bowels? stomach pains? joint pains? back pains? hip pains? itchy skin?

 

[GrantMeThePower]

Originally posted by: IGBT
..hang in there and get another test. Otherwise how do you feel? Any aches or pains i.e.sore finger joints or similar? Friend of mine got tested for aches and pains and it turned out to be gout. To much uric acid. Just needed a change of diet and more exercise.

Thats one of the things....i feel fine. I mean, i'm tired, but i think i'm always tired (kinda like Waynes World...i once thought i had mono for a whole year, but it turned out i was just really bored). I don't have aches and pains. I dont have fevers and night sweats. I dont have symptoms of anything wrong specifically.

In fact, on tuesday i went to the climbing gym (rock climbing). that puts a ton of pressure on your joints. I have arthritis in a finger (not rhumetioid, but due to an injury i had) and even that didn't feel badly afterwards. Yesterday morning i went running before work. I felt fine (aside from the tired) after that.

Then I got this call.

 

[GrantMeThePower]

Originally posted by: eits
have you noticed any changes in your bowels? stomach pains? joint pains? back pains? hip pains? itchy skin?

No. None of those things. No rashes, no nothing. I havne't felt anything different or wrong.

I played basketball over the weekend and had a lot of trouble. But I've been going through a really stressful time and haven't been eating much and have been smoking too much, so I thought that was all it was.

On the stomach pain thing- i have had stomach pain, but its been stress and lack of eating related I thought.

I've always been very consistent with my weight, but by not eating for a couple weeks and being stressed and not sleeping as well i lost a lot of weight right before the physical. I told him about all that though, and he said those things wouldn't have shown such a high level in that test.

 

[her209]

Yes, get a 2nd opinion. ATOT doesn't count.

 

[ForumMaster]

go to a different doctor. it might have been a mistake.

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: GrantMeThePower

Originally posted by: eits
have you noticed any changes in your bowels? stomach pains? joint pains? back pains? hip pains? itchy skin?

No. None of those things. No rashes, no nothing. I havne't felt anything different or wrong.

I played basketball over the weekend and had a lot of trouble. But I've been going through a really stressful time and haven't been eating much and have been smoking too much, so I thought that was all it was.

On the stomach pain thing- i have had stomach pain, but its been stress and lack of eating related I thought.

I've always been very consistent with my weight, but by not eating for a couple weeks and being stressed and not sleeping as well i lost a lot of weight right before the physical. I told him about all that though, and he said those things wouldn't have shown such a high level in that test.

could potentially be the start of crohn's... i doubt it, though.

i assume the doc is in the "wait and see" period and will check your crr in a month...

whatever it is, if it is anything, it's not like there's a small window of opportunity to catch it and treat it before it becomes incurable. if it's anything, it's most likely a long-term illness that needs to be monitored and treated for symptoms...

 

[TraumaRN]

Originally posted by: GrantMeThePower

Originally posted by: eits
have you noticed any changes in your bowels? stomach pains? joint pains? back pains? hip pains? itchy skin?

No. None of those things. No rashes, no nothing. I havne't felt anything different or wrong.

I played basketball over the weekend and had a lot of trouble. But I've been going through a really stressful time and haven't been eating much and have been smoking too much, so I thought that was all it was.

On the stomach pain thing- i have had stomach pain, but its been stress and lack of eating related I thought.

I've always been very consistent with my weight, but by not eating for a couple weeks and being stressed and not sleeping as well i lost a lot of weight right before the physical. I told him about all that though, and he said those things wouldn't have shown such a high level in that test.

Between stress and working out....sounds like a perfect recipe for an increase in CRP....*shrug* it's a thought at least from a health care worker.

 

[GrantMeThePower]

Originally posted by: eits

Originally posted by: GrantMeThePower

Originally posted by: eits
have you noticed any changes in your bowels? stomach pains? joint pains? back pains? hip pains? itchy skin?

No. None of those things. No rashes, no nothing. I havne't felt anything different or wrong.

I played basketball over the weekend and had a lot of trouble. But I've been going through a really stressful time and haven't been eating much and have been smoking too much, so I thought that was all it was.

On the stomach pain thing- i have had stomach pain, but its been stress and lack of eating related I thought.

I've always been very consistent with my weight, but by not eating for a couple weeks and being stressed and not sleeping as well i lost a lot of weight right before the physical. I told him about all that though, and he said those things wouldn't have shown such a high level in that test.

could potentially be the start of crohn's... i doubt it, though.

i assume the doc is in the "wait and see" period and will check your crr in a month...

whatever it is, if it is anything, it's not like there's a small window of opportunity to catch it and treat it before it becomes incurable. if it's anything, it's most likely a long-term illness that needs to be monitored and treated for symptoms...

I just looked up crohns disease. That sounds pretty scary. But unless i am missundertanding the symptoms, it doesn't sound like me. I have pretty consistent bowls. I've never noticed bloody stools. I've never had to go "up to 20 times in a day". I mean, i'm pretty much one and done. I dont ever recall having to go in the middle of the night.

I've had stomach pains throughout my life...but its almost always been assosciated with stress and anxeity. I dont know if that is indicitive of ulcers or just a phycosomatic response to the emotions.

You're also correct in the "wait and see" and recheck in a month. Thats what he said. but it leaves me in limbo and is scary.

When you say, "if its anything, its probably a long term illness that needs to be monitored and treated..." that is pretty much what scares me a lot. I mean if it was like, you have a flu, you'll feel better in a couple weeks then i'd feel ok. but if they say, you have a disease that will be with you for the rest of your life and you need to take medication and you may need surgury or you may live a limited life like this and that....thats what my fear is. Like you say, if its anything, its something really bad.

 

[GrantMeThePower]

Originally posted by: DeathBUA

Originally posted by: GrantMeThePower

Originally posted by: eits
have you noticed any changes in your bowels? stomach pains? joint pains? back pains? hip pains? itchy skin?

No. None of those things. No rashes, no nothing. I havne't felt anything different or wrong.

I played basketball over the weekend and had a lot of trouble. But I've been going through a really stressful time and haven't been eating much and have been smoking too much, so I thought that was all it was.

On the stomach pain thing- i have had stomach pain, but its been stress and lack of eating related I thought.

I've always been very consistent with my weight, but by not eating for a couple weeks and being stressed and not sleeping as well i lost a lot of weight right before the physical. I told him about all that though, and he said those things wouldn't have shown such a high level in that test.

Between stress and working out....sounds like a perfect recipe for an increase in CRP....*shrug* it's a thought at least from a health care worker.

You would see an increase in CRP from stress and working out? Really? that is very interesting, as I hadn't heard that at all yet. Would the levels be as elevated as they were shown to be?

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: GrantMeThePower

Originally posted by: eits

Originally posted by: GrantMeThePower

Originally posted by: eits
have you noticed any changes in your bowels? stomach pains? joint pains? back pains? hip pains? itchy skin?

No. None of those things. No rashes, no nothing. I havne't felt anything different or wrong.

I played basketball over the weekend and had a lot of trouble. But I've been going through a really stressful time and haven't been eating much and have been smoking too much, so I thought that was all it was.

On the stomach pain thing- i have had stomach pain, but its been stress and lack of eating related I thought.

I've always been very consistent with my weight, but by not eating for a couple weeks and being stressed and not sleeping as well i lost a lot of weight right before the physical. I told him about all that though, and he said those things wouldn't have shown such a high level in that test.

could potentially be the start of crohn's... i doubt it, though.

i assume the doc is in the "wait and see" period and will check your crr in a month...

whatever it is, if it is anything, it's not like there's a small window of opportunity to catch it and treat it before it becomes incurable. if it's anything, it's most likely a long-term illness that needs to be monitored and treated for symptoms...

I just looked up crohns disease. That sounds pretty scary. But unless i am missundertanding the symptoms, it doesn't sound like me. I have pretty consistent bowls. I've never noticed bloody stools. I've never had to go "up to 20 times in a day". I mean, i'm pretty much one and done. I dont ever recall having to go in the middle of the night.

I've had stomach pains throughout my life...but its almost always been assosciated with stress and anxeity. I dont know if that is indicitive of ulcers or just a phycosomatic response to the emotions.

You're also correct in the "wait and see" and recheck in a month. Thats what he said. but it leaves me in limbo and is scary.

When you say, "if its anything, its probably a long term illness that needs to be monitored and treated..." that is pretty much what scares me a lot. I mean if it was like, you have a flu, you'll feel better in a couple weeks then i'd feel ok. but if they say, you have a disease that will be with you for the rest of your life and you need to take medication and you may need surgury or you may live a limited life like this and that....thats what my fear is. Like you say, if its anything, its something really bad.

well, plus, if you were to have crohn's, you'd have had it by now... i haven't heard of many cases where the patient got crohn's in their 40s-50s... it usually gets diagnosed in the teen years.

 

[Tiamat]

I had something similar to that, and it was not fun. My immune system attacked my joints, skin, gums, cheeks, tongue, shins and I was hospitalized for 4 days. Doctor's had no explaination for this attack, and my body just decided to stop attacking itself the 3rd day. Futher blood tests show nothing out of the ordinary.

It isn't easy doing stuff normally knowing that this attack could happen at anytime, but frankly I've gotten over it after 4 months of worrying. I only live once, and damn it all to hell if I have to live the rest of my life worrying. If its my time to meet my maker, so be it. Until then, I'm livin' life as it comes!

BTW, the closest thing to what I had is called Behçets Disease. It was not Chron's disease which is somewhat similar.

 

[Mark R]

The problem with CRP is that it just measures inflammation - any inflammation, due to any cause, anywhere in the body. This most commonly due to a recent infection - e.g. sore throat, cough, or something - but theoretically could also be due to an inflammatory disease like rheumatoid disease, crohn's, etc.

Unfortunately, your doc has used the term 'off the chart' - and one thing about CRP is that it is something that can be raised so high, that it actually does go off the chart and the lab can't measure it accurately. But at the same time, it should be undetectable in someone who is otherwise well - and some physicians may consider even a detectable level as significant. The problem, however, is that CRP gives absolutely no clue as to the underlying cause - but if it is very high, it's more likely to be some form of infection.

If it really was 'off the chart', I'd expect that you'd know about it. If there was significant inflammation it would normally be causing some sort of problem - at the very least fever and weight loss.

I've never heard of stress increasing CRP - training and physical exercise is known to reduce it (although this is regular exercise - no idea if a single hard workout would affect it. I wouldn't really expect it to).

To be honest, if there aren't any obvious symptoms then waiting a bit and rechecking is probably sensible - if it's a minor infection it should have cleared up, and if the CRP test is normal - problem solved.