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Just need some reassurance about ongoing issue

Posted , 5 users are following.

matt38065
matt38065

Hi guys, fairly new to this forum, here’s my story, about 5 months ago literally overnight I started to get abdominal pains cramp ect, it got to the point of feeling bloated waking up feeling sick every morning, couldn’t eat lost weight because of this, no real change of bm but the odd bit of the runs now and again, no blood seen in stool and I’ve check every time, doctor ran blood tests all good but stool sample shows high Calprotectin.

Each month that passed it got better and started to eat and gain weight again, pains are minimal now but still hanging round me which is driving me mad, I’m seeing G.I. doctor next week, Ive just turned 35 and no colon cancer in direct family, Mums half sister had it in her 60s, but being a bit of a hypercondriac I’m convinced i have cancer which is getting me down.

I have had morning rudh self diagnosed ibs for years but like I said never bad pains or blood with it, always felt great and eaten well.

So can anyone put my mind at rest a bit, would my symptoms get better if it was very serious illness, please help lol

0 likes, 21 replies

21 Replies

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  • val40792
    val40792 matt38065

    Posted

    I wouldn't worry if I was you. If that was cancer you wouldn't be getting better and that's important for your mindset. A huge amount of people are having gastric, abdomen and stomach related issues these days. Go to the right professionals, insist from your Dr to refer you and make your health a priority. Too many people today are enjoying themselves too much in the wrong way and complain then when the money isn't there for paying for their health. It's No 1, no one else cares. Remember that.

  • CTh
    CTh matt38065

    Posted

    As long as the docs say there is no cancer I think you are on the safe side. But since you said you self-diagnosed with IBS it sounds like you need to eat food that calms your gut. (No sugar, no alcohol, no caffeine) Remember - health starts in the gut. Eat clean and in the beginning I would try to help heal your gut with aloe vera and probiotics. 

  • matt38065
    matt38065

    Posted

    Thanks guys for your reply’s, yeah I have a gi dr appointment next Wednesday and thinking he might do a top and bottom scope as I have had upper abdomen symptoms too, I cut out coffee  chocolate and spicy fatty foods for the last couple weeks and noticed the slight discomfort I had did go down a bit but still can’t shake it off completely which is very frustrating and scary for me tbh. I think if I knew it was something not terminal or life threatening it might help me move forward, I’m stuck in limbo at the moment and thinking the worse all the time, even though things have improved?
    • CTh
      CTh matt38065

      Posted

      Good luck for your appointment. Please keep us posted : )
    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 matt38065

      Posted

      If things have improved then you should not be thinking the worst.  Any improvement is good news for you.
  • matt38065
    matt38065

    Posted

    Thanks yes I will update, hopefully it’s not what I think it is, sorry if I’m coming across mad but I do suffer with health anxiety and it’s been a bad few months
    • matt38065
      matt38065

      Posted

      Just an update, saw gi doctor and we done a repeat calprotectin test, i first did one in June this year when symptoms started it was 350 thats why i was referred, the recent repeated test has come back normal levels? which is good news and they wont scope me now, so was it an ibd thats gone in to remission unaided or a temporary illness?

      I was on omeprazole and im sure i took some ibuprofen the week of the test in june that was high but im not 100% sure.

      I still get the odd bit of discomfort and watery stool, starting to think its ibs thats changed symptoms for me, can that happen?,

      Oh well change of diet and hopefully whatever happened to me doesnt return.

    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 matt38065

      Posted

      Sometimes a slightly high calprotectin level can go back down itself.  That’s why they repeat this test after a short period to see if this happens. IBS can change either for the better or get worse. Mine has got better with time.

      Ibuprofen can be harsh on the stomach so if you do need to take it, only use it sparingly and swallow it with food or milk.  I occasionally use it for IBS or other aches.

    • matt38065
      matt38065 pippa58442

      Posted

      What could have caused the high Calprotectin though? And if it’s an ibd can it go in to remission unaided? I have my doubts, also I’m still having slight discomfort still, like a stinging around ribs and centre or abdomen, but it’s more annoying then painful,
    • matt38065
      matt38065 pippa58442

      Posted

      What could have caused the raised Calprotectin though, and if it was an ibd can it go unaided like that, also I’m still getting slight discomfort now and again even though no active inflammation?
    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 matt38065

      Posted

      High calprotectin suggests inflammation. You will need to discuss this with your doctor about your next course of action. If you had IBD, it would have to be treated promptly to bring it into remission.  IBD doesn’t go away of its own.
    • matt38065
      matt38065 pippa58442

      Posted

      That’s the thing, my calprotectin levels are now normal range as of my last sample 2 weeks ago, which means no active inflammation and if I have an ibd I have put it in to remission without meds. Is that possible?
    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 matt38065

      Posted

      Have you been given a firm diagnosis of IBD? If you have not been given a diagnosis, I would keep going back to your doctor until you get one.  Most people will IBD stay on medication to remain in remission which a doctor would advise you to do if you have this condition.  Some rely on diet only without medication and say the natural approach keeps them symptom free.  However, your best bet is to ask your doctor.
    • matt38065
      matt38065 pippa58442

      Posted

      No not been scoped, G.I. dr said if calprotectin test comes back normal then no further tests required right now , but said if I have a recurrence then he will see me straight away, seems to think it’s not ibd, will try and alter diet and hopefully it won’t come back, thanks for your reply’s though smile
    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 matt38065

      Posted

      In that case, just go with what your specialist has advised. Since the calprotectin test was normal, it would suggest you don’t have IBD.  So you have nothing to worry about.
    • matt38065
      matt38065 pippa58442

      Posted

      Yeah but I’m still not sure why it was at levels of 350 back in June when I had discomfort and couldn’t eat, if it was an ibd it’s gone in to remission without any meds, could it have been an infection or the meds I was on that raised it? It’s very much a mystery, but if I do have an underlying ibd it will return, let’s hope not
    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 matt38065

      Posted

      It may have been an infection or medication.  If your symptoms began after you stopped taking your medication, maybe the drugs caused it.  Sometimes meds can be harsh on your stomach.  Inflammation can be your body’s response  to infection. You may never get an exact answer to this.

      However, I think it would be better not to worry about why your calprotectin level was high in June.  Worry will only upset your stomach more.  Concentrate on the positives.  Your levels are now normal and your specialist thinks you do not have IBD.

    • matt38065
      matt38065 pippa58442

      Posted

      Thanks so much for replying to me, yeah just need to get on now, maybe change my eating habits and hopefully the last bit of discomfort I still get will eventually leave, at least I have the insurance of knowing the G.I. dr will see me again if anything flares up again
    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 matt38065

      Posted

      You can also see your specialist again if you need to. Diet and relaxation will help.
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