Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

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I had blood work done a couple of weeks ago, I won't post the whole thing here but everything came back good except on the low side for B12 and a Sed Rate of 73. Over the course of the last 6 months I've developed a widespread pain and stiffness issue that I can't really describe any better than to call it "fibromyalgia" type of pain. So my doctor is referring me to a Rheumatologist because she's not sure why the sed rate is so high. On the blood test it is called Sed Rate, Westergren and I wonder if any of you know what that could indicate.

flag	asked May 13 2011 at 15:45 HeatherC 4,267●1●4●12

That's a high sed rate. Maybe try a neurologist as well. – balor123 Dec 8 at 0:04

Dexter · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-13 16:01:41Z UTC

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Lots of folks have gotten rid of their fibromyalgia FM by supplementing with Vit D3. About 5000IU a day is what I take to keep my serum lever at about the mid 80s ng/ML. Dr K wants his patients to be 70-100ng/mL

Sed Rate is an indication of inflamation in the system. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sed-rate/MY00343

Getting rid of all sugar and all wheat and its products will go a long way to getting rid of inflamation and thus the FM you have...along with the immune boosting properties of the Vit D3.

See this thread re: Low B12 http://paleohacks.com/questions/38050/has-anyone-of-you-tested-your-b12-level-how-was-it/38076#38076

answered May 13 2011 at 16:01

Dexter
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	Thank you Dexter - She did check my Vit D- I've been supping 10,000iu per day and I walk about 3 miles, 4 to 5 days a week so I'm out in the Florida sun for 45-60 min per day. My level was 67 ng/ml. I haven't been eating right lately either so sugar and gluten most definitely could be the big issue here. – HeatherC May 13 2011 at 16:13
	If you have a low grade UTI, or any infection... that will elevate inflammation and will show up on Namby Pamby recommendation of getting a Ultra Sensitive C reactive protein. You have some inflammation as indicated by your Sed Rate. Again that inflammation will abate by elim of sugar and wheat products. – Dexter May 13 2011 at 17:14
	Do you think spring time pollen allergies could affect that sed rate test? As far as I know, I'm not sick and have no infections. – HeatherC May 13 2011 at 18:18

Travis Culp · Answer 2 · 2011-05-13 17:32:52Z UTC

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If you get the sedimentation rate done right after being sick it will be elevated, as it was for me a couple years ago. I don't think it was quite that high; I remember it being 45 or something. The doctor wanted to do a chest x-ray, which I declined and of course it was normal the next time around.

It's a really non-specific measure of a system-wide inflammation, so you can't really pin anything down from it other than "something's out of whack."

answered May 13 2011 at 17:32

Travis Culp♦
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Thanks for your input Travis - That is pretty much what she said, that it was very non-specific and doesn't get us any closer to figuring out what my problem is. As far as I know, I'm not sick and have not been for as long as I can remember. I don't think I have any infections either. It is odd that my B12 would be on the low end also, I believe it was 339 and she suggested I supplement that. I eat plenty of animal products though so I don't understand why it would be low-ish. – HeatherC May 13 2011 at 18:07

Betsy · Answer 3 · 2011-05-13 16:26:12Z UTC

Hi-My Mother had a terrible lot of pain last year and it was only through finally getting her blood work done (her sed rate was high)that they discovered she had polymyalgia.Interestingly enough,she said she felt her trouble began years before,after having being on,and eventually quitting,statins :(.

Namby Pamby · Answer 4 · 2011-05-13 16:45:57Z UTC

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That's a marker for inflammation. If you got that done, I would also ask for CRP (hs crp) for CVD-related inflammation and perhaps also Ferritin. You can isolate what might be the issue by doing full metabolic and lipid panels. Also, repeat the same Westgren test a few months later. Lots of times, such markers are elevated only temporarily, when you're stricken with a bout of gout, RA, autoimmune attacks, etc. It should fall back to normal when you're in remission or in between attacks.

answered May 13 2011 at 16:45

Namby Pamby
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	My lipid panel was - HDL 42, LDL 105, Trigs 70, VLDL 14, total cholesterol 161. She said that looked fine to her. I didn't have the CRP though. I did have a full metabolic panel, everything came back normal except for Globulin high and A/G Ratio low which I don't know what either of those are either. – HeatherC May 13 2011 at 18:20
	You have a Conventional Wisdom doctor. HDL needs to be above 60...the higher the better, Trigs less than 60, LDL is not ok if the preponderance of the particles are small dense. You need a NMR Lipid profile done. Total C is low. See this thread on low C paleohacks.com/questions/37956/… Also what was your fasting blood glucose level? – Dexter May 13 2011 at 19:28
	See all of Dr K's comments. Low TC and low HDL is a big marker for premature death. – Dexter May 13 2011 at 19:36
	Dexter my fasting glucose was 96. I need to clean up my diet, I was glad TC was low enough that she didn't try to talk me into a statin but I realize my trigs are high and hdl is too low which is because I've been eating shitty food for the past few months. – HeatherC May 13 2011 at 20:13
	See if you can find a low carb Doc at Jimmy Moore's site. lowcarbdoctors.blogspot.com – Dexter May 13 2011 at 22:44

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PMR · Answer 5 · 2012-10-02 16:58:46Z UTC

When SED is high it tests inflamation, and from the symtoms it seems to be PMR Polymalgyia Rheumatica, it is an illness where white cells grown fast , it is like an inmumne illness. Nothing to do with fibromalgyia, I have both, the last one has only pressure points to diagnose. PMR has blood work to diagnosed it. Also one can became anemic, loose weight and liver enzymes are higher. Have a rheumatologist check all .

PMR · Answer 6 · 2012-10-02 17:03:08Z UTC

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Do not ignore inflamation, it can be Lupus, hearth,or cancer. If one has PMR one needs to pay attention also to any jaw pain, blurred vision, because there is a similarity with Giant cell Arteritis.

answered Oct 2 at 17:03

PMR
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What is hearth? – Dan Oct 6 at 4:43

joanna · Answer 7 · 2012-10-05 22:49:11Z UTC

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i also have a high sed rate and have just learned to live with it. i am praying with paleo that it goes done eventually. i have UC so that's the reason for the inflammation.

answered Oct 5 at 22:49

joanna
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Faye · Answer 8 · 2012-12-08 00:00:03Z UTC

I had a high sed rate for years - 37 to 40. Mine is now 11 two weeks after going sugarfree. It is an extremely variable test and if you have a cold , for example , it can be high. That being said, yours is very high. More than I have seen. I would have the doctor keep watching it and do his thing. Keep in mind though, could be something so minute .

Sed Rate? Can someone elaborate on what it means?

8 Answers