Faecal calprotectin

[Shelby1990x]

Has anyone had a positive Faecal Calprotectin test? My results were 170 I’m really worried

I don't remember a number as such but mine was positive at 29 weeks. I didn't go into labour but I'm now 35 weeks and have lost some of my waters so who knows if we'll quite make it to term.

How many weeks are you? Hope everything is ok.

I'm so sorry I read this as fetal fibronectin

Sorry !! I did have a baby 3 months ago :) hope all goes well for you

I have IBD and when in a flare my levels were over 1000. My Ulcerative Colitis was diagnosed shortly after giving birth apparently it is seen quite commonly after giving birth.

I wouldn’t say I’ve had many of the symptoms. I do have slight postpartum anemia and raised platelets. My stools are fairly normal and have had some bleeding before but normally due to a pile or fissure. I did have a bad case of norovirus 2 days after my stool sample was taken. If anything I’m normally more constipated than anything. Been very worried about the C word 😞 as awful as IBD would be I would much rather it than the other.

170 is high but not massively. Over 500 is severe. I've seen up to 2000. How is CRP? If that is also high, I'm sure you'll get a colonoscopy to check it out. I'm not sure if they'll do it at 170 or just retest later. Not a doctor.

She has referred me for one as I’m extremely anxious only 28 so I don’t fit the fast track but I am paying private. CRP was fine just slight anemia which I had while pregnant and raised platelets (428)

I have UC and my levels during a flare up are around 1500+. My highest was about 1700.

I wouldn't be overly worried with 170 at all.

Mesalazine changed my life - I have been in remission for over a year now.

Given you got norovirus just days after the sample was taken, try not to worry too much. That could account for inflammation, I'd think. If you do have a colonoscopy, the good thing is you get the results straight away (or we do anyway). If you have a bit of a wait, maybe it's worth repeating the calprotectin test when things have had a chance to settle down? I hope you don't have to wait too long for the initial appointment.

I am not a medical professional however I would say if you feel well in yourself, you have minimal symptoms and your levels aren't extremely high I would try not to worry too much although easier said than done.
A colonoscopy should definitely give a better idea of what's going on and hopefully give you some reassurance. As a side note I'm not sure age alone is a determining factor for urgent colonoscopy-I had an urgent referral and had a colonoscopy within 2 weeks aged 29.
I know this can be a worrying time and is completely understandable, fingers crossed you get some answers soon.

Good words from PP. In my experience IBD (with calprotectin levels close to 2000) also came with extreme fatigue, muscle aches, stomach pain.

Thank you very much. Can I ask what your symptoms were to get the urgent referral? Hope your well now !

@Shelby1990x I had a calprotectin level of 157 at one point, GP thought I might have IBD (I’ve had IBS-D for years and all it’s associated symptoms). The symptoms he was going off were persistent pain under both my ribs and rectal pain, plus the IBS symptoms. Had a colonoscopy and they found… nothing! All completely normal, I was so relieved 😮‍💨 No idea what caused my raised calprotectin levels to this day but the last one I had done was 67 so it had dropped quite significantly (my CRP was 3, which is normal apparently). Still got no answers to the pain though 🤷🏻‍♀️ Hopefully you’ll get the same outcome as me.

Hey, I would say as other have watch for other signs.

My CP levels have fluctuated from 500 to them just writing >2000 on letters and it translated as having IBD. It was only after testing several times though as levels change. I would monitor and if you feel lethargic, spot blood, lots of mucus, unusual swelling/ bloating, pain bleeding gums, waking up in the night for the toilet, unexplained weight loss or massive changes in bowel functions it may well be something. Most providers will have you retest anyway as infections, viruses etc can cause a slight rise in levels. They will like do test again, then colonoscopy and take some samples then go from there. The number seems scary but try not to panic as like others said you may test again and that may well have dropped massively!

@Shelby1990x I had actually spoken to the GP several times who actually didn't refer to gastro and simply dismissed my symptoms as post pregnancy piles without actually examining me in person due to covid. Eventually a 111 doctor told me to go to the surgical assessment unit in the hospital over a weekend, the doctor then put through the referral for the urgent colonoscopy. At that point my main symptoms were increased frequency, significant amount of blood in stool, mucus and fatigue.

Thank you everyone for the advice. I suffer with health anixety so all these tests are driving me a bit mad. Got my app for the 19th 🙏. @MrsH51 What was your diagnosis if you don’t mind me asking ?

My husbands was 1100, he had salmonella

I’ve had 3 calprotectin tests in the past 6 months
first one was around 300, they retested 6 weeks later - over 2000. Referred for colonoscopy and other tests. Nothing found.
They repeated it again a few weeks after that and it was 7 - yes, seven.

i had horrible post covid digestive issues so I (and the medics) can only put it down to that.

good you had it for piece of mind! I will be glad when mine is done and I can hopefully relax. I’ve also just realised I’ve been on iron tablets for a few weeks… could also be irritating my stomach

@Shelby1990x I'm glad you haven't got too long to wait now until your colonoscopy! I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, they gave me the results straight away on the day on the colonoscopy.

I had faecal calprotectin come back as 'very high', I'm not sure how high but it was enough for my GP to give me an urgent referral for a colonoscopy, although it looks like it's going to be months until I'm seen because of the waiting lists

@Shelby1990x how did you get on today? Hope all went ok and you got some answers.

@Shelby1990x Hope you got on Ok today

Hi thank you for both asking. I ended up with my colonoscopy today. So I have a bit of inflammation in small bowel and one polyp removed. Follow up on the 8th as been sent away for biopsies. He suspects mild crohns. I asked “so not cancer” and he said no. So a good result in my eyes.

@Shelby1990x
Hi just wondering how you getting on? Any updates?