Advise please + possible stricture

Hello

I am in the process of being diagnosed with IBD. I have had stomach problems since I was 14 and I am now 22. Because i suffer with chronic constipation (and a load more symotoms) chrons was never thought of.

However a few months ago I saw a new doctor who thought i have chrons so she suggested a fecal calprotectin test to see if I have inflammation in my bowel. She said its not very common but some people with IBD can have constipation.

The results are supposed to be under 50 in people without IBD and mine came back 600+. She also said that the computer only reads up to 600 so 600+ could mean anything over. Possibly in the thousands even.

She has told me that this 100% means that I have IBD and she's 99% sure its chrons and not UC.

Is this true?

I have my first consultation with a GI at the hospital on the 24th. I'm guessing to book a colonoscopy to find out where the inflammation is.

Also..
I have an area on my stomach where I can literally feel my intestine bulging out. Its been there for ages and never goes down. My doctor checks it every time I go there and up until recently we thought it was due to frequent impactions from the constipation.

But for the past 2 months I have been getting either runny or very loose mushy poops (sorry). This is strange for me as I usually go anywhere between 1-3 weeks without pooping but now around 4 times a day. Any way even tho I have been going to the toilet now the bulge is still in my stomach. It feels like a hard tube shape. Because of this and my symptoms my doctor thinks its a stricture. I geuss I will find out when I go for the colonoscopy. But until then I can't stop worrying.

My symptoms at the moment are extreme tiredness, loose poops (usually constipation) bloating and really bad belly pain from the belly button down on both left and right sides. My stomach pain always gets much worse after I eat and ranges from dull aches to sharp stabs.

Does this sound like a stricture?

Usually my stomach pain comes and goes throughout the day but it has been hurting now continuously since Wednesday its hurting so much its putting me off eating because it just gets even worse when I do.

Finally (sorry for going on) I have been struggling with back pain from the kidney area down to my hips it constantly has a dull achey feeling and I have been getting this for months. It worse when I wake up. Does any one else get this?

Would be thankful for any input!
Cheers

Well, my main advice is to make sure you get a colonoscopy this time. A flex sig has a very high chance of missing Crohn's; a colonoscopy is far more likely to spot it.

It *could* be a stricture but there's so many causes of abdominal pain I wouldn't really like to speculate. But on the other hand I had a hard 'lump' by my belly button when I had a stricture. It would become smaller when my stomach was empty, but never disappear entirely. I'm not sure if what you have is the same as what I had though.

If the pain has got worse try giving your stomach a break by going on a liquid only diet for a couple of days - if there is a partial obstruction going on, it will give it time to clear too. If the pain gets literally unbearable, then don't try to manage it by yourself anymore: go to ER.

That's about all I got until you get a diagnosis. Good luck... >.>

Hi thanks for your replies!

I guess I will have to just wait and see. My dad is in his 50's and he is currently waiting for his calprotectin test results to come back. He has had the same problems as me his whole life. I guess I'm lucky I have only waited 8 years and not 50+ like him. So I can't moan. 'm sure his results will come back very high like mine.

I am going to the same hospital that I went to for the sigmoidoscopy. It was much better than other hospitals around my area and the staff were kind and made me feel comfortable so that's good. Haven't thought about researching the GI though. That's a good point and will do that today!

I have waited 8 years so what's a few more weeks

Thanks again.