The change in weather is a big thing for me. I can tell if it’s going to rain, be humid or cold out. My neck starts to hurt and then my shoulders, my fingers become a little more stiff, pudgy little fingers. Lol. My elbows and back will start to ache, you see, most of the time I have elbow pain, but that’s about it.. I mean, I always have some pain and stiffness, but when the weather changes I hurt all over. Hope this helps. Hang in there. Better days are yet to come. 😃

William the ESR, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate is an indicator of how inflamed your blood cells are, it is the first to got to. I have actually performed this test it is interesting. Your blood is poured into a glass cylinder and the amount of time it takes for your red blood cells to settle to the bottom of the tube separating from the serum in your blood tells us how inflamed your cells are. Since diagnosis I have never had a normal ESR. So it is really up to you to start recognizing the signs. I kept a journal and I did notice several things, Overworking (I was a work alcoholic), infections, storms, stress, and what surprised me is when my father was dying I never flared. I kept expecting it to hit as stress is a trigger for me. So I ask my rheumatologist why, I really expected I would flare. Because my need to override my health to help my dad, and the day his suffering was released gave me some form of control that I helped the best I could. I told him to leave that his mom and dad are waiting, I called my sisters to say their final good byes holding the phone so close to his ear. That I did not stress I reacted and did what I could do and to not see him suffer anymore was a relief. So we live and learn. Try writing a journal I wrote a couple sentence every day, still have them on my 3rd book, how do I feel, what did I do, did I notice a sudden change in pain and why or when? The doctors began asking me questions I could easily look back and tell them. Now I keep journals of every doctor meeting, they love it, I write my questions in advance, and what meds need to be filled. Try not to waste their time with side talk,. try it. Sorry I'm late getting caught up on messages. My eyes were on vacation. LOL Never Waste 1 Minute of Life

You should have regular blood tests anyway and especially before your apt.xxxx

What particular number are most important to you? I look crp amd sed rate.

So what do you take now?