so i’ve been tracking my ESR, CRP, and anti-dsDNA pretty carefully for like 6 months now. wanted to see if there was actually a pattern between my lab values and when i’d flare up. here’s what i found: absolutely nothing consistent. my ESR stayed mostly between 18-22, which is ‘good’ apparently.
CRP bounced around but nothing dramatic. anti-dsDNA was elevated the whole time though. then last month my rheumatologist adjusted my methotrexate and suddenly everything shifted. ESR dropped to 12.
but my joints still hurt the same way they did the month before. i don’t know if i’m tracking the wrong markers, or if the markers just don’t track the stuff that actually matters to me, like when i’m gonna crash or when my hands are gonna stop working. has anyone else spent months tracking their labs only to realize they still can’t predict how they’re gonna feel day to day?