I have an insanely high ESR. I ve been following it for a month because I quit eating wheat to see if it made a difference. It started at 69 - then went down to 57 2 weeks later, but today it s up to 72 (I do have a minor cold at the moment). My CRP was 22. I ve been seen by a rheumatologist in the past (this isn t new to me - it was 50 a few years ago), but no diagnosis for the elevated sed rate was ever established, though I was evaluated for lupus and RA (and others I can t remember). I am concerned about the effects of long term inflammation on my body, as I ve read that it can lead to cancer, heart disease, etc. My relevant medical history includes controlled hypothyroidism, spondylolisthesis, and obesity. we are trying to conceive and having some problems with that, and I m being 1. How concerned should I be? 2. Any suggestions for decreasing chronic inflammation? (i m aware the losing weight may help some, but from my research, obesity itself should not make a sed rate THAT high) 3. Can chronic inflammation affect fertility? I ve looked into the literature, and haven t found much research on it.