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bowel issues but normal blood markers

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/24/2008 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
My bowel goes through periods of perfect BMs to periods of urgency and mucus. Blood is minimal. Yet at all times since I was diagnosed 2 years ago my blood inflammatory markers are normal.

I keep asking my doctor and GI why this is the case but get answers like "that's UC for you". But that doesn't make sense. Either the bowel is inflamed or its not. Why do I get symptoms if apparently I have no serious inflammation in my body.

Does anyone suffer UC type symptoms with normal blood markers?

This is frustrating me!!!

Thanks,

D

 

Posted 10/24/2008 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
None of my three GI's has tracked inflammatory markers because they considered them unreliable in UC. Remember, this DD seldom makes sense.
Posted 10/24/2008 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
I do not test positive for C-Reactive Protien levels and I have UC
Posted 10/24/2008 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
Except for my initial diagnosis, all my blood markers have been normal. I wonder though.....could that be because of the medications we are on such as the 5-ASA's which are anti-inflammatories??? Just a thought.
Posted 10/24/2008 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
I'm the opposite.  My blood work always comes back horrible when I feel great! 
Posted 10/24/2008 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
My blood work has always been negative for markiers indicative of Crohn's and UC, but I didn't get bloodwork done until I was on meds. The blood tests are unreliable, like Judy said.
Posted 10/24/2008 9:25 PM (GMT 0)
My inflammatory markers were perfectly normal this May when I was flaring (plenty of blood, mucus, and urgency), and in fact that led to a delay in me getting referred to a specialist and being diagnosed. My sed rate is always really, really low. My GI said that for some people it's not a reliable indicator, and I guess I'm one of them.

Prometheus panels also strongly suggested I don't have IBD, either Crohn's or UC, when sigmoidoscopy and biopsies (the gold standard) say UC.

As far as I know, "normal" just means within the usual statistical range of variability. That leaves a lot of wiggle room.
Posted 10/25/2008 1:21 AM (GMT 0)

I don't even know what "markers" are?  I know my doctor has not taken any blood so assume he has not looked - just does the scope.  Having my second one on Tuesday. 

I am now taking Reglan and had to start with 1/2 dose because of grogginess - every medication causes me problems so nothing new.  Seems to be ok at 1/2 dose but don't know if it will help or not with symptoms of nausea/sweating, etc.

ElaineNY

Posted 10/25/2008 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
I've never been able to have blood work determine whether or not I had UC, or if I was flaring. I had the Prometheus test done back in July, and it came back as negative for both UC and Crohn's, basically saying I was healthy. The c-scope a month later showed I was in full blown flare (which I could have told them). As Emory said, a scope is the gold standard. Bloodwork isn't reliable enough.
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