sed rate at 73. what does this mean?

Question

i saw that in the results, the normal values are 0-22 for females. and mine came out as 73!! does this mean i'm really sick? oh and when i took the blood test, i had my period. does that affect the results? and if it does, will it go way up high to 73?

Answer 1

If you are talking about the Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) test then your period will not affect it.

What does the test result mean?

Doctor’s do not base their decisions solely on ESR results. You can have a normal result and still have a problem.
Moderately elevated ESR occurs with inflammation, but also with anemia, infection, pregnancy, and old age.

A very high ESR usually has an obvious cause, such as a marked increase in globulins that can be due to a severe infection. The doctor will use other follow-up tests, such as cultures, depending on the patient’s symptoms. Persons with multiple myeloma or Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia (tumors that make large amounts of immunoglobulins) typically have very high ESRs even if they don't have inflammation. As noted before, polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis may also have very high ESRs.

A rising ESR can mean an increase in inflammation or a poor response to a therapy; a decreasing ESR can mean a good response;