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Calprotectin stool test results??

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/23/2018 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hi group,

Its been awhile since I've been on here. 1 year ago I finally had a colonoscopy and Upper GI testing and was diagnosed with UC Proctitis. I have been on 4 mesalamine daily, and have seen great improvement, from 7 - 10 liquid BMs a day with urgency when I was first diagnosed, now is once every day or every other day, well formed stool with no urgency. I thought I was doing well as long as I stayed away from dairy, caffeine and nuts (ya know the good stuff in life). I had my blood work and stool tests done last week, and blood tests came back normal, but the Calprotectin results came back higher than they were when I was diagnosed at 195 (normal marker is 15 - 50)? Could it be something else causing the high inflammation markers, or is this normal?

Thanks for any insight you can provide. I hope to hear from my doc on Monday, but maybe a heads up to what to expect?

Shannon
Posted 9/23/2018 12:22 AM (GMT 0)
When you say blood tests were normal, does that include CRP being normal?

Are you on any other medications (Rx or OTC)? Some other meds can cause elevated fecal calprotectin.

If you just have proctitis, a flex sigmoidoscopy might be in order to take a look and see if there is still inflammation.
Posted 9/23/2018 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
Do you have UC, UP or proctitis? They are different.

I would get the pathology report and see what it says. Regardless, If you're taking oral tablets, i'd request enemas or suppositories to use in addition. Those will reach the area that proctitis effects.

On the positive side, 195 is not a terrible result. Some of us have had results in the thousands...

Did they check for pathogens with stool tests as well? If your symptoms are clear, and your blood looks good, I wouldn't worry too much about the FCP result. You could recheck. It may be normal.
Posted 9/23/2018 1:27 AM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with UC through out the entire rectum. (maybe I had the wrong term above?)

Thank you that simi comforting to hear that isnt that high (although scary thought of results in the thousands). My 1st gastro doctor seemed to think 135 - 150 was the end of the world, and Biologics were my only choice after 2 weeks of mesalamine / pred and he didnt see a change. I have since found a new Gastro who at least was willing to talk about options, but since the stool test had drooped to around 50, he was happy to keep me on mesalamine. I was just concerned that my levels were elevated again.

They did not check for pathogens with this stool test. I didnt see CRP on my blood work either. I have happily been off Pred since March. The only OTC meds I take are melatonin, probiotics and tylonol for headaches ( I stopped taking IB Prophin and Excedrine when I was diagnosed)
Posted 9/23/2018 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
Find out if they measured CRP in your blood work and what the result was if they did.

If CRP and fecal calpro are both elevated, it's highly likely there's still inflammation going on. If just one is elevated, there's a moderate chance. If neither is elevated, it's likely you're in remission.

Rectal meds (suppositories and/or enemas) should probably be added to your oral mesalamine if you still have lingering inflammation.
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