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High SED Rate And CRP, Have Hiatal Hernia And Gall Stones, Vaginal Itching. Could Inflammation Be Connected To Vagina?

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Posted on Sun, 10 Jun 2012
Question: Very High SED rate and CRP for a couple of years.
Age 61 160lbs 5'4"tall

Recently, have had Gallium Scan and abdominal CT scan along with the RA full blood work. All point to nothing - cannot find source of inflammation.

1990 - complete hysterectomy
1987 - L4 L5 Lumbar Laminectomy
1975 - C Section
2010 - right ankle muscle repair

some vaginal itching - when vulva exposed to air - not constant, just occasional. with a few pimples occasionally.

have hiatal hernia - and just found out that there are some small gall stones.

any ideas? could the inflammation be connected to the vagina / vulva?
doctor
Answered by Dr. CS Narayan (12 hours later)
Hello and thanks for your query,

I shall make an effort to provide you with good professional recommendations specific to your questions.

I understand that your high SED and CRP rates have got you concerned.

Yes, you are right that inflammation does cause this.
And looking at your history, I cannot really make a diagnosis if that is what you are asking me to say. Although few other reasons exist that may be meaningful to rule out apart from infections, lupus, pneumococcal pneumonia, tuberculosis. The scan should have ruled out any cancer certainly.

It is possible that you might have had a latent infection that would have caused the same. Have you undergone any blood tests for infections (culture)

Hiatal hernia - if long standing might have some inflammations of the peritoneum sometimes. May not be clinically relevant but good enough to cause rise of levels. Discuss this aspect too with your doctor.

Gall stones, though recently diagnosed, might be another possibility. Smaller stones again subclinically might have caused a certain amount of inflammation due to stasis of bile in the gall bladder. It is a valid reason sometimes.

All said, it would take many tests and a real examination to even come near a clinical reason just by one ESR reading. As the whole body is a possibility. I just enumerated the most likely ones in here.

Yet again, I duly appreciate your query to me, I do hope that you have found something useful to help you and I shall be glad to answer any further apprehensions.

Sincerely,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. CS Narayan (9 hours later)
Thank you for your reply.

Sed rate in the 40's
CRP 17 L

have had complete blood work ups - extensive
but not sure if Dr ran blood cultures - I will have to ask, but it seemed he ran every thing.

we even tried a course of steroids to see if the counts would come down even a little.

my internist said that the hernia and gall stones weren't enough to cause the high numbers I have.

could vaginitis of any sort cause such high counts?
tho I am fairly asymptonatic - I do have the occasional itching around the vulva - mostly when I get up in the morning or undress.
I do watch my yeast intake.

thank you
doctor
Answered by Dr. CS Narayan (8 minutes later)
Thanks for the reply.

Well, the SED level is not that high - 40s is a moderate rise.

I do not think vaginitis would cause this, unless there is a long standing infection.
And that infection should have been causing a fair amount of local vaginal inflammation.

Then, in that case the search has to go on till a focus is found somewhere.
I understand this may not be easy for you, but some cases do take time for a diagnosis/ some patients do have such SED levels without a major cause.

I can only suggest you, but cannot speculate without seeing you.
At this moment, your internist is the best for you.

Wish you good health. You can write for further queries.

Sincerely,
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Answered by
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Dr. CS Narayan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 546 Questions

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High SED Rate And CRP, Have Hiatal Hernia And Gall Stones, Vaginal Itching. Could Inflammation Be Connected To Vagina?

Hello and thanks for your query,

I shall make an effort to provide you with good professional recommendations specific to your questions.

I understand that your high SED and CRP rates have got you concerned.

Yes, you are right that inflammation does cause this.
And looking at your history, I cannot really make a diagnosis if that is what you are asking me to say. Although few other reasons exist that may be meaningful to rule out apart from infections, lupus, pneumococcal pneumonia, tuberculosis. The scan should have ruled out any cancer certainly.

It is possible that you might have had a latent infection that would have caused the same. Have you undergone any blood tests for infections (culture)

Hiatal hernia - if long standing might have some inflammations of the peritoneum sometimes. May not be clinically relevant but good enough to cause rise of levels. Discuss this aspect too with your doctor.

Gall stones, though recently diagnosed, might be another possibility. Smaller stones again subclinically might have caused a certain amount of inflammation due to stasis of bile in the gall bladder. It is a valid reason sometimes.

All said, it would take many tests and a real examination to even come near a clinical reason just by one ESR reading. As the whole body is a possibility. I just enumerated the most likely ones in here.

Yet again, I duly appreciate your query to me, I do hope that you have found something useful to help you and I shall be glad to answer any further apprehensions.

Sincerely,