If You Have Fibromyalgia, You NEED These Tests
If youโre still suffering from pain, fatigue, and inflammation, you may be missing key lab tests that could reveal the real cause of your symptoms.
Most doctors run basic testsโbut they donโt check the right markers for fibromyalgia. Here are six must-have lab tests that could change everything.
The 6 Critical Lab Tests for Fibromyalgia
1. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) โ Inflammation Marker
What is the CRP measure? C-Reactive Protein is a key marker of inflammation levels in your body. What do CRP levels mean?
โ Your CRP should be less than 1.
If itโs higher, your body is in chronic inflammation mode, making fibromyalgia symptoms worse. This is a symptom of something serious going on that needs to be addressed. Again, this is a sign, not the underlying answer.
2. Fasting Insulin โ Blood Sugar & Energy
What does fasting insulin mean? Insulin is the measure of your blood sugar, and fasting means that your labs were drawn at a time when you had not eaten for at least eigth hours.
โ Your fasting insulin should be around 6 or lower.
High insulin = blood sugar imbalances, weight gain, and fatigueโall of which make fibromyalgia symptoms worse. This could be a symptom of something serious like diabetes or pre-diabetes. However, your insulin levels are also higher after you have eaten. That is why it is important to follow fasting guidelines exactly before your labs.
3. Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) โ Hidden Inflammation
โ (also called Sed Rate) helps detect chronic inflammation in your body.
If itโs high, it means your body is in a constant state of stress and pain.
4. Homocysteine โ Muscle & Nerve Pain
Homocysteine is a byproduct in your body that is an amino acid.
โ Homocysteine should be in the optimal range.
If itโs too high, it causes muscle soreness, nerve pain, and inflammationโall major issues for fibromyalgia sufferers. More importantly, high homocysteine levels can damage the blood vessels, which increases the risk of developing blood clots in the future.
5. Ferritin โ Iron Storage Levels
Ferritin tells you how much iron is stored in your body. Because a certain level of iron is essential in our bodies, we experience real symptoms if our ferritin levels are too low.
โ Ideal ferritin range: 40-80.
If itโs too low, youโre not getting enough oxygen to your muscles, which leads to fatigue and chronic pain.
6. RBC Magnesium โ The REAL Magnesium Test
Most doctors test serum magnesium, but thatโs not accurate. The correct magnesium is a test that specifically measures the amount of magnesium inside your red blood cells, not just floating around in all of your blood serum.
โ You need RBC magnesium, and it should be above 5.
Low magnesium can cause a number of symptoms, including muscle pain, spasms, and exhaustion.
These 6 Tests Could Be the Missing Piece to Your Recovery
How much do all these six tests cost to dive deeper into a fibromyalgia diagnosis? Around $60. Your health is worth $60 to get real answers!
Schedule a call with Dr. Hugh now to start getting the care you deserve to feel better.