I have blood tests on Monday including CRP. Is it worth eating starch now so I will be flaring by then? I know my CRP was normal last time I had it checked when I was as inflamed as hell, but I guess it would increase the chances of getting a result?

I am seeing a musculoskeletal specialist after that, with the suggestion I have fibro. Which I know I don't.

If you are going in to test for the HLA-B27, that will show up regardless of eating starch. To avoid being in pain, I would not eat starch. Keep in mind that if they are doing that test and you do not have the HLA-B27, you CAN still have AS.

I don't have any good advice for eating or not eating starch if they are doing other tests such as CRP. I have heard that sometimes CRP or ESR does not always correlate with painful inflammation. For example I read somewhere on this forum that you can still have a high CRP or ESR and not have pain at the time. Now don't quote me on that, but do a search on those two acronyms and you should find the correct quote on that issue.

I know when I got my first blood test, my ESR was on the pretty normal end but I was flaring. I don't think I ever got the CRP tested though.

I'm one of those whose CRP remains level, even during bad flares. Are you wanting a high CRP to help get a defined diagnosis?

Yep it is CRP and ESR (and the other usuals like Rheumatoid and ANA etc). I know they are unreliable, and in fact had a neg CRP 4 years ago when I was still eating gluten and was inflamed as hell.

The situation is that the doctor is leaning towards a diagnosis of fibro, so if I did get a dodgy CRP or ESR that would help my cause (trying to get SI xray and HLA-B27).

I decided to do it. I know it'll probably come back neg anyway but at least I'll know I tried my best.

Do what you feel is best. Best of luck on getting a good diagnosis!

Thanks . I just need to know I did everything I could.