IBS diagnosed 25 years ago - but had blood tests recently....
Posted , 6 users are following.
Diagnosed with IBS over 20 years ago. Well, GP didnt really do any tests but I kept going back and in the end they basically told me to go away!
To be honest, I've never been right but past year or so its been worse.
Diarrhoea is the problem. Some days I'm ok some days not. I seem to be taking much more imodium than I used to.
I rarely get stomach pain, never constipation, but its a real inconvenience to say the least.
Im the first to admit my diet is terrible, I'm well overweight (so deffo no weight loss here!) but apart from that, I dont feel unwell or tired or anything like that. I do have a very stressful job and am a very stressy person (depression/anxiety problems in the past).
Not sure if its related but I've had problems with piles a few months ago (needed hospital treatment). Apart from when I get that - no problems with blood generally.
But, I went back to GP recently - my wife made me. Reluctantly they did blood tests (dont think it was full) inc inflamatory thingy. Got home today (3 days after tests) to find a letter asking me to go back for repeat blood testsin 3-4 weeks - bone profile and full blood count.
My wife (whos a nurse) is thinking colitis or crohns or something. And I think the worst?
But like I said I've not really got other symptoms.....
Is it possible my bloods have shown up inflamatory markers?
Also, why blood tests in 3-4week why not now?
0 likes, 27 replies
margaret22116 paulfoel
Posted
lizzie67 paulfoel
Posted
CRP is a blood test that shows inflammation, but it is a very general test. It tells the doctor you have inflammation in your body but not where. The inflammation can come from having a cold or bumping your leg.
The GP probably wants to recheck to see if your inflammation marker has come back to normal.
Have you had the Calprotectin stool test?
Anything under 50 is classed as IBS and anything over 50 is usually crohns or IBD.
leeniepie paulfoel
Posted
You have to wait a few weeks to see if anything has changed. As has been said the inflammatory marker test is very general so they have to see if it's raised in the long run. Blood tests won't show crohns/uc, you need stool test and colonoscopy for that.
paulfoel
Posted
Thanks all. To be honest, I could see the GPs attitude was a case of IBS for 20+ years so it must be this and nothing else because its gone on for so long (but like I think I said, its worse last year or so). Also, the fact that it was obvious I had no weight loss and had never been ill or tired or anything like that.
So the blood tests were more of a "ok then if you insist" sort of thing.
But no - no stool test. This is the NHS in the uk - thing happen slowly and they dont tend to do tests unless they have to. Great eh?
lizzie67 paulfoel
Posted
Hi Paul
You are correct, I find the NHS very slow too!
Why not ask the GP about the Calprotectin? It's the new way to decify whether someone has IBS or IBD and it's cheap!
Good luck x
paulfoel lizzie67
Posted
Hi Lizzie,
Yes saw the test. To be honest, its a nightmare even getting an appointment at my GP. Test results will be thurdsay I think but GP hasnt said anything about making an appt just sent me a letter saying go for more in 3-4 weeks.
Seen you can pay for test yourself. £70 or so which seems ok to me.
Don't want to upset the GP though by going off on my own. Although, if test showed anythign I'd plan to go to see the GP then.
How do you think they'd react? Be a bit off that I did this on my own or be grateful I saved them and an appointment and a test cost?
lizzie67 paulfoel
Posted
Personally I think you should ask your GP for the Calprotectin, just to give you peace of mind. Maybe you could ask for a telephone consultation to get it arranged?
I was only diagnosed after getting loose bowels after Christmas. It did set my mind at ease.
Do you take any medication for your IBS?
x
looloo43 paulfoel
Posted
I echo what Margaret says - you should ring and ask for explanation of blood results & what/why they want to do more.
astrozombie paulfoel
Posted
I have similar issues but Crohn's will show up in your tests.
paulfoel
Posted
Yes I think I'd like the calprotectin test if only to rule it out.
paulfoel
Posted
See the test costs £70 and you can order online.
Anyone ever done this? It might be quicker.
Not sure how GP would feel about this? Would they be a bit off that I was impatient or glad that its saved them the time/cost?
looloo43 paulfoel
Posted
Paul, personally I would ring your gp & ask them to leave a form for calprotectin stool test on their reception & you can go in & pick up a specimen bottle at the same time as the form. you then do the poo sample at home & take it back to docs or path lab at your local hospital the same day. my test came back within a couple of weeks. I wouldnt waste £70 when you can get it done on nhs in a reasonable amount of time, & I'm sure your doc would be willing to do it in view of your chronic problems.
paulfoel looloo43
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looloo43 paulfoel
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did you ask for explanation about the bloods what they are doing & why? once you know the reasons it might give you more "ammo" to ask for the calprotectin test, it's a simple test that is accurate, if it's below a certain level it stongly indicate ibs, if its over a certain level it strongly indicates ibd (inflammatory bowel disease - which is a different ball game to ibs). i would push your doctor on this - its a good elimination/indication test.
paulfoel looloo43
Posted
Results due today so Im going to phone later. Yes I've heard its a good test and seems simple enough.
paulfoel
Posted
Well, no joy. Spoke to treatment room at GP who just said no need to make appt to see doctor just come back in 3 weeks for repeat blood tests.
Jeez- it makes my blood boil. They moan at my GPs that there is such a wait for appointments and they're under-resourced yet they're forcing me down the route of wasting time to make an appt to just ask whats going on.
Could be easily sorted by just speaking to sometone who would be willing to explain my results and explain what and why the next step is happening.
lizzie67 paulfoel
Posted
Sorry to hear this - how frustrating for you.
x
looloo43 paulfoel
Posted
if i was in your position Paul, like you have said, i would be forced to make an appointment, as you want this explaining & have every right to!!! its not your fault they weren't helpful on the phone & you were trying to avoid an appointment. when you go to your appointment you should definately mention that you tried to deal with this on the phone. don't be made to feel your wasting their time either - you are absolutely right in wanting to know, & it should've been explained what they are doing & why in the first place.
paulfoel looloo43
Posted
I sometimes wish I didnt live in the UK and have to put up with the crap that is the nhs sometimes.
Just logged in to check appts available. First one - 13th September I kid you not. Only option now is to ring (and retry when it engaged) for about an hour at 8am in the mornings. Sometimes then when you get through they say sorry gone for the day.
Trouble is I work 50 miles away and Im work at 8am. No good me ringing at 8am and them saying appt 900Am
Also, I cant really take a day off. Im an it contractor - I dont get paid if Im not there.
£70 for the test myself seems worthwhile at the moment :-(
astrozombie paulfoel
Posted
margaret22116 astrozombie
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astrozombie margaret22116
Posted
looloo43 paulfoel
Posted
i dont know if it's worth asking your surgery, but ours here, my husband works out of the area too - if you ring up at 8am & explain you work out of area, they give him an appointment in the afternoon or end of day so he can get back in time. might be worth asking yours??