Re: High Inflammation Marker terrified
Originally Posted by
Honeyskye
I've not posted on here for years now because I've been doing so good but now I'm in the grasps of health anxiety once more.
I've been getting a funny pain in my right upper quadrant for a couple of months now. Funny stabby pains behind my sternum over the right side and through my back and also my ribs and under my ribs. It feels like my esophagus sometimes then others it feels like where my gallbladder is. I had the same pains three years ago but a scan revealed nothing. The pains really bother me and always seem to be there.
I had some bloods done and got the results today and my inflammation marker was raised. It was 32. I got asked a barrage of questions like history of arthritis in the family, bowel conditions, etc. My mum has rheumatoid arthritis and so did her father but I have no joint problems. I'm having no bowel issues either. I've not lost any notable weight. Just these weird pains.
The Dr wants me to have repeated bloods in 4 weeks and some more specific blood tests and a urine test this week. He's also referring me for an abdominal scan and an endoscopy to look down my throat. I am beyond terrified now I have cancer somewhere. Everything points to it. I just don't know what to do, I'm a mess.
Inflammation markers can be raised for lots of reasons, and most of those reasons are nothing to worry about at all. Mine were raised after I had the common cold. I got another high reading when I was stressed out one time from needing to reach a work deadline.
Your doctor isn't running tests because they think something is gravely wrong, they're just checking for some of the usual (easily solvable) suspects that can cause pain in the areas you describe, and because you have RA in your family. It's pretty standard to have those checks done and no way indicative that they suspect there is anything bad. I was referred for GI imaging too when I complained of right side pain, and have a family history of autoimmune issues.
__________________
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” - Albert Einstein