My doctor ordered a c-reactive protein test because my chloesterol seems to be out of control.  After a strict diet for two months my LDL had gone up 14 points!  My HDL had dropped 4 points.  Have any of you had this test?  It is a predictor of heart attacks.

Hi Gran......I have not had the c-reactive protein test but I am familiar with it.   How high is your cholesterol?  I hope all turns out well for you.  Please post and let us know what your test results indicate.

Blessings.

Thanks for your reply.  My total is 193.  Triclycerides 303.  I lose too much weight on this diet and besides it didn't seem to help.  My protein test was .3 which is normal.  Hubby's was 2.5 which is terrible!!  We're both on lipitor now.

Hi...I recently had the CRP test, because my total cholesterol is high (255) and the cardiologist thought the  CRP would be a very good second indicator as to whether or not I needed to take a statin drug to lower my cholesterol.  My result on the CRP was 5.4, which he said was normal, so he didn't think I needed statin drugs at this time.  He sent my results to my family doc, and I see him Friday. I hope he'll agree with the cardiologist.   I'd rather try to lower my cholesterol through diet and weight loss.  I just started losing weight  a month ago,and my cholesterol has dropped about 7 points.  My triglycerides are down from 218 to 122 (good) HDL up to 50 (good) but my LDL rose from 167 TO 181 (NOT GOOD.)  Guess I'll find out on Friday.  From everything I've read, the CRP is important, since cholesterol is not the only factor in predicting heart attack risk.  I'm glad they have the test.  Hope yours comes out well.

Gran, I went to the family doc today, and was told that a 5.4 on the CRP is NOT NORMAL, but high risk.  He called the cardiologist's office to verify the results.  It was the office girl who told me it was normal, not the cardiologist.  He  had only asked her to call me and give me the numbers. And since my cholesterol was also elevated, he put me on Lescol, (cholesterol med, a statin) 80 mg. a day.  Anyone know anything about that stuff?  I hate the thought of being on a statin drug, but guess I'll have to try it.  The doctor also told me that the CRP test is a measure of inflammation of the blood vessels, and that  imflammatiion has also been implicated in heart attack and stroke, even when the person's cholesterol isn't high. I asked why that imflammation occurs, and he said it can come from any thing inflammatory in the body, from arthritis to sinus conditions, to viral infections like allergies and chronic colds, possibly even asthma.  He said they don't know much about how to reduce the inflammation other than to use cholesterol medication, which seems to help reduce it some.  That's all I know for now.

Hi Madge:

I was just about to reply when I saw your second posting.  Normal for a CRP test is 0-.5.  Yours is very high.  My husbands was 2.6 and the doctor nearly flipped.  Are you taking asprian?

No. I'm not on aspirin.  Just Lescol, and a low dose of blood pressure medication.  The doctor is on vacation, and I have questions. For one thing, I'm just plain scared.  One of my friends asked me whether exercising could be dangerous for me (could it cause some plaque to loosen), which I hadn't even thought of. I'm trying not to obsess about this, but am kind of worried.  A week ago I thought I was fine, and now I don't know what to think.

Gran, my latest blood test for CRP is much lower...2.2.  And my doctor said that, according to the most recent guidelines, I'm now in the average range.  That would mean that your husband is too, since revised average is now 1.0 to 3.0.  I think a combination of things lowered my  CRP:  1)  the Lescol (statin), 2) losing 25 to 30 pounds, and 3) following my doctor's suggestions on diet to reduce inflammation (avoid red meat, peanuts, and anything made from white flour or trans fats  (partially hydrogenated oils).  I exercise only moderately  (gardening and yardwork) , eat small servings of food (about 250 to 300 calories) every three hours or so, and am not hungry. The weight has been coming off at the rate of about a pound a week.  I think this is a diet I can live with for the rest of my life, if necessary.  I've discovered the world of wonderful, whole grain breads.  ( I only mention all this because this could work for  your husband too.) Hope your husband's CRP levels are okay now.

There are TONS of things that reduce inflammation, but doctors never know about them because they only know poison (drugs). Turmeric (found in curry or the supplement) has been show to reduce inflammation significantly (Inflammation also is believed to play a big role in Alzheimers, and people in India who eat curry on everything have really low rates of Alz). Ginger is a good one, also. These are things we EAT, not even necessarily supplements. Lots of our spices and cooking herbs are anti-inflammatory. There are so many things we can do for ourselves in this regard. I'm sure doctors mean well, but they'd be out of business if we weren't sick, plus the drug company reps tell them that the natural cures are "dangerous," and to stick with their safe poisons that kill more than 100,000 people a year (and not by taking the wrong dose, either, just as natural consequences of drugs).

That is incorrect. Normal range is NOT 0-.5, it is 0 - 4.9. So the husband with 2.6 is perfectly normal. That doctor must not be very well informed about the normal lab ranges. Mine was 1.8, which my doctor said was "good." Anyway, I always get copies of my lab results and just now pulled it out and it says: C-Reactive Protein, Quant Limits: 0.0 - 4.9 mg/L As far as I've heard, the range was not revised, either.

I went to the cardiologist and had the C Reactive Protein (CRP) test. Mine was 0.92 and the cardiologist said that was a little high and he wanted to get it below 0.5. He has me exercising (brisk walking) for 30 minutes, 5 times a week, on a low fat diet to drop 15 pounds and I go back in January to see if the CRP is lowered. If not then he will put me on Lipitor for a couple of months to get it down. I had always heard the below 1.0 was considered low risk but he says that the new guidelines are below 0.5 is low risk and over 0.5 is moderate.

I see the last post on this string was 11/04, however I am going to see if anyone will talk with me about my C-Reactive Protein test results that I just received. I went to my GYN last week for my yearly visit and the topic led to HRT. I said I was not sure if I wanted HRT so she said for me to think about it. She said she would go ahead and check my Cholesterol and also do a C-Reactive protein test because she would not put me on HRT if either was high. Well, my Cholesterol was pretty good at 197, my Triglycerides were 99, still good, but my LDL was high at 122, and my CRP test was extremly high at 10!

Now I am very worried about this. I am not sure what this could mean. My GYN is sending the results to my primary care physician and she said that she (Primary Care) would probably run me through a battery of tests to further evaluate. I now feel like I am going to stroke-out or have a heart attack at any minute because the results were so extremly high. Has anyone had a CRP this high? If yes, what did they find?

My GNY said she had a patient once that had a CRP over 20 and they ended-up finding out that she had a rare form of Lupus. She was telling me this becasue she wanted me to understand that it was a good thing that we did the test otherwise, whatever is causing the CRP to be so high might not have been found in time to fix it. She said it may also be a Zebra, i.e. normal for me. Pleaes share any stories or thoughts you may have about this because I am more than a little scared at this point. Thanks.

Happ1......That seems very high so I would definitely have it evaluated. A little over a year ago I went to the cardiologist for my yearly check up and lab work and my CRP was elevated to 2.5. It was quite an increase from the previous year and my cholestrol was down in the 160 range and the LDL was good as was the HDL and my triglycerides were in the 70s. He asked me if I had been sick recently. I told him I had had a really bad bout with shingles and he said that will do it. My sister has mastocytosis which is an autoimmune disease and her CRP is very high. It is definitely a test that they use in conjunction with a full lipid panel to see how you are doing but because it is so sensitive and shows an inflammation that can be anywhere in the body, most doctors see it as just one piece of the puzzle. I just had everything tested again this year when we changed primary care doctors and they did a whole battery of tests. Everything is back to normal.

Your LDL was pretty high though so it is good that your getting further test and being evaluated. Keep us posted on how your doing.

Gramz

I have been to a few doctors with a single symptom and got a "few" diagnosis, none of which matched. Can you not understand the turmoil that they can put us through. Each person's body is different and yet, doctors want us to fit into a text book mold. It won't work. Most countries don't even raise an eyebrow with cholesterol below 300. They are now realizing that low LDL can be a precursor to Alzheimer's. A friend of mine has MS and her Mexican doctor wants her to stay between 225 to 250, optimum. We need cholesterol to protect us. Does anyone listen to the side effects of the statin drugs advertised on TV - Granted, they say they are rare, but if one develops those side effects, the word "rare" becomes a mute point. I have encouraged my husband to take red yeast rice and try to keep his cholesterol around 200. Elevated triglycerides could be due to the amount of carbohydrates we eat (sugar) and if reduced may affect that reading. I whole heartedly agree with AmieeDecorates on the natural approach (spices) as a way to address a health issue. I have since learned that cinnamon is helpful with balancing sugars (prediabetic) as is ginger. My fasting blood sugar for the past two years has been 134. Today and hopefully for years, the readings have been in the low 90's. I have been diagnosed Syndrome X - and lowering my sugars has also affected my blood pressure, cholesterol (206 from 269). HDL can be raised with moderate exercise and LDL is where I will keep it.

Most doctors are very honest in their dealings as they perceive the patients' symptoms, but I am a bit unnerved that there is no uniform diagnosis with merely one symptom. And so...I pretty much have adopted the "if it ain't broken, don't borrow trouble." That attitude could also be my undoing, but for now - it works.

I had it done many times, it pick any inflamation even pulled muscle. Some soruces say it is a predictor, others- it is not, Mine always on a low side. But heart desease is multifactoral, so it is hard to tell what is predictor. What diet did you use? if it was low fat, don;t expect better CHO profile, our body makes most of the CHO, and you need your HDL up, not down. Some with high CHO have no heart desease, and many with low- die from heart attack. Too many variables in one equation.
HTH

I agree that cholesterol is our friend and we need good fats in our diet, rather than lots of strches, sugars and grains.
I put my bet into low carb diet, I think cholesterol is only part of the euqation, and inflamation is bigger deal.
if you FBG was 134, were not you dx as diabetic? I have the same problem, my FBG is 120-130 even I watch my carbs closely and eat very healthy.
Red yeast BTW works as statin drug, so make sure he takes CQ10 with it, and monitor his liver function.
I can;t agree more than blood glucose dictates our body to make cholesterol, and weight loss alone will make cholesterol drop. eating good quality fats and oils raises HDL, and exercise and also some wine, works too.

Well, I went to the doctor on Monday, and she seems to be taking quite a conservative approach. I don't think she knows a lot about the C-Reactive test because when she came into the examining room she said she had been reading about it. She wants me fininsh the antibiotics that I am currently taking for a female infection , then wait 2 weeks, then get my blood panel tests. She does not want to purse any heart tests as yet. However, I had already scheduled myself for a "64 Slice Heart Scan" in early May. It is something that insurance does not pay for, but is a good test to have. My sister and I made the appointment long before my C-Reactive Protein test was taken. So, everything should comme together by approximately May 8th. I certianly hope the C-Reactive test was just a fluke and nothing is wrong with me. Thanks for your comments.

Well, I doubt anyone is following this chain, but just in case you are, and just in case you may be going through a similar situation, I will add a final note. I went to a follow-up appointment with my doctor just 3 weeks after my last visit. During those 3 weeks I had follow-up blood work and the heart scan. My calcium score on the heart scan was zero, which is perfect! I was happy about that, but it still does not explain my very high C Reactive Protein level. My second blood test showed the CRP at 7.8; down from the previous 10. I also tested negative for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus (2 diseases that can elevate the C Reactive test). At this point, my doctor wants to continue the conservative approach and just follow-up with me in 4 months. I guess she is just waiting for a symptom to appear so she can diagnosis me with something. Her approach did not make me feel comfortable. So, I sought out a 2nd opinion. This doctor said it is not likely it is anything to do with my heart since my Calcium is zero. She thinks I should visit a Rheumatologist since I do get joint pain. She feels it could still be Rheumatoid or Osteo Arthritis even though the test was negative. She took yet another blood test called a "Homosistine". I am not sure what it is, but I think it measures the blood clotting factor??? Anyway, they called to say it was normal. At this point, I am a good news/bad news case. The good news is I know I don't have a few bad things, and the bad news is I don't know what I do have, if anything. I have semi-officially stopped worrying about it. I figure if I feel okay; that is good enough for me. The rest will have to remain a medical mystery. In conclusion, I have decided the CRP test is completely useless because doctors just don't know what to do with the results! My advise is don't get one. If you doctor is not looking for something VERY specific don't let him or her take the test. And, if they do, make sure they know what they will do with low, medium, or very high results. Good Luck!

Happy1,

Interesting that you should mention getting the heart scan; I've scheduled the same test myself for July due to very high cholesterol and results show that I am at high risk for heart attack. Anyway, to make a long story short, I have tried many types of statins and even red yeast (which has a statin in it) but whenever I try to lower my cholesterol I feel bad... so my naturopath said that maybe my levels are normal for me and that this is how my body works. She mentioned that she has a patient with a 360 total cholesterol that took the heart scan and her calcium score was good...so I am hoping this is the case for me; as my total cholesterol is slightly lower than this.

As for my c- reactive protein and homocysteine levels they are both fine. I know when I started this peri journey, I had wacky blood test results ... by red blood cells were really high and had to monitor every 3 months because doctor was worried about blood cancer...

Thanks for sharing your experience and I am glad your heart scan was fine.

Plumeria

Plumeria,

Thank you for sharing your information. I don't feel like such weirdo now. I had never had any wacky blood work, or even felt sick before starting Peri. I hope everything goes back to normal when this is over; if I can remember what normal is.

When the LDL is unexpectedly high, look for subtle/hidden hypothyroidism. The elevated CRP may be due to antithyroid antibodies. Gingival disease can cause elevated crp as well.
DMS

Dr. Schultz, thank you for the advice regarding antithyroid antibodies. I have been thinking about the possibility of it being my thyroid. For some reason my Dr. did not check my thyroid this year with my blood work, and she has always checked it in past years. I think she was so caught off guard by my very high CRP level that she did not check some of the usual tests. I also had Valley Fever over 40 years ago when I was just a child and I know that the fungus can lie dormant in the system. Perhaps that is throwing the test off. I do know it is not Ginginval disease as I see my dentist regularly. Thanks again for your insight.

Hi Gran, c-reactive protein is not necessarily a predictor of heart attacks. It can also come up when you have any sort of inflammation in your body, even when you just got over a cold or flu. But yes, CRP can pinpoint to development of plaque build up if it keeps coming up constantly (not just through a blood test); and to further confirm this, you may want your doctor to check your homocysteine levels as these can be a predictor of plaque build up if they are up.

To lower homocystine levels it has been proven that the following vitamins can do the job: B6 (50 milligrams per day); Folic Acid (or Folate) 400 micrograms per day, and B12 (between 1000 to 2000 micrograms per day). As for lowering high cholesterol, have you tried lecithin? About 2 to 3 heaped tablespoons of granulated lecithin per day can help to bring down cholesterol. You can buy this from any health food store and can mix the lecithin with a drink, like hot chocolate or some milky drink or you can mix it with juice or simply sprinkle it over any food you like (just don't cook it). It has a nice, subtle nutty taste. Another good remedy for lowering cholesterol is a glass of red wine (but in moderation, of course. Don't go drinking the whole bottle :-)

Cholesterol lowering drugs are so bad and full of side effects. Anyway, my cholesterol readings have been very high 296 by US standards (7.7 in Australia), and this is how I am lowering my cholesterol. It's a well known fact that when menopause is around the corner estrogen levels drop and this raises the cholesterol, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you will get a heart attack or stroke. Besides, there has been such a lot of controversy over cholesterol, even my own doctor agrees that no one really knows whether a high cholesterol reading is necessarily indicative of heart disease, etc. I've been doing some research on the net about this. There is a website about cholesterol skeptics and some great articles in there written by doctors, nutritionists, etc. I don't have the website address right here, but if you google it and look for "cholesterol skeptics" it will probably come up.

Hope this helps. Cheers, RP

Please ask your husband to get blood tests for liver function even if he is taking red yeast rice. This has naturally occurring statins in it (that's why it's effective!) but they can have the same side effects as the chemical/drug-company statins. Folks taking the "natural" stuff may not think to get tested, but can run into the same problems including liver toxicity and the muscle complications.

I agree with you about the protective and necessary nature of cholesterol. It is the building blocks of our hormones. Does it make sense for us to artificially lower it when the hormones are in decline anyway?

For folks with high CRP readings, another thing that reduces inflammation is ground flaxseed. Two tablespoons a day (start with one and work up to two). Buy the seeds and grind up a small quantity in your coffee grinder -- refrigerate them. They are good on cereal, in yogurt, salads. Very effective; also raises your Omega 3s. The flaxseeds have natural fiber in them which also helps fight high cholesterol. And believe it or not, simply eating a bowl of oatmeal every morning really makes a difference in lowering cholesterol!