Hello,
My hs-CRP level is high and has been for at least 18 months. High (7.8 mg.L) and increasing, I should add. There is no obvious explanation for the elevation (no acute infection or inflammatory disease that I know of) but it is being monitored. My cholesterol levels are not awful but they are not good, either. My doc is very concerned and feels the combo of my high LDL and this hs-CRP elevation is a recipe for disaster.
I don't tolerate meds very well and we've gone through nearly every option for lowering my cholesterol. It's been a nightmare of side-effects great and small. My doc has made her concern clear. I'm just not sure whether I agree that the risks are that high?
Anyone else out there with this situation? Do you continue to monitor your hs-CRP? Does it ever come down? I'm 45 and I've had high cholesterol my entire adult life. I've no idea how long my CRP has been elevated since we only started testing it in the last 18 months. Doc wants me to try 'sub-therapeutic dosing' of Crestor. I agreed but I've already tried 3 statins and got mighty sick each time. But what else can you do? I've not read anything about what can be done to lower hs-CRP. Anyway, I'm looking for some perspective, thanks and take good care - Suzy-Q

Suzy..are you on any other type of drug, vitamin or herb therapy??? I had a similar situation a little over a year ago (my hs-crp was 13), my doctors were concerned and did not seem to think that my other meds were playing a part in the condition. At the time I was on birth control. When I went off of the birth control, my hs-crp dropped well below the normal range. My cholesteral also went down a bit as well. Just a thought...sometimes the doctors don't like to admit that our other drugs could be causing a problem.
Best of luck to you!!!
Here's to your health!!!
Crazy;)

Hi Crazy,
Good thought. We went through my meds and I've checked them all out myself. None seem to be suspect in raising my c-Reactive Protein. It's especially troubling because I already take aspirin and Motrin which ought to be reducing inflammation. Just in case anyone here knows differently, I'll list my meds: Omacor 4000 mg/day, Plant Stanols 3000 mg/day, prilosec 40 mg/day, multi-vit (2/day), B-12, aspirin 650 mg, Motrin 2400 mg, and I'm going to start Crestor at 2.5 mg/WEEK tonight. Like I say, none of these seem to have any red flags associated with them. Thanks for the reply. Suzy-Q

Hi Crazy,
Good thought. We went through my meds and I've checked them all out myself. None seem to be suspect in raising my c-Reactive Protein. It's especially troubling because I already take aspirin and Motrin which ought to be reducing inflammation. Just in case anyone here knows differently, I'll list my meds: Omacor 4000 mg/day, Plant Stanols 3000 mg/day, prilosec 40 mg/day, multi-vit (2/day), B-12, aspirin 650 mg, Motrin 2400 mg, and I'm going to start Crestor at 2.5 mg/WEEK tonight. Like I say, none of these seem to have any red flags associated with them. Thanks for the reply. Suzy-Q

Hi Suzy,

CRESTOR at that dose should be OK, as CRESTOR is very strong. Try and include VITAMIN C in you regimen... at rather high doses...approx 1,500 to 2,000 mg a day. VITAMIN C has a reputation for repairing blood cells and heart disease prevention. If you can include a very small dose of NIACIN that would help even me more. These 2 vitamins along with the CRESTOR would reverse this inflammatory trend. I once had dental work done and my CRP had also increased. Any slight inflammation will cause an increase..