Anyone been diagnosed with Crohns or other IBD at 50? Abdominal pain?

[HerbsandSpices]

Every now and then I get a flare up of indigestion that is pretty severe and lasts up to three weeks (at worst). I've just been having a rough time with it but it's improving. I know the pattern, so I'm not too concerned about that. I've had a gastroscopy a year ago. That was fine.

Sometimes I get abdominal pain and the doctor has diagnosed IBS. No colonoscopy though. I've had one specific pain area (though it still moves around a bit) on the right of my belly button for the last 18 months. Nothing shown on ultrasound (which didn't include intestinal imaging). I did a calprotectin test which was ok.

Currently having a bout of indigestion and that right sided specific pain. Second time this year. No weight loss, or I'd really be concerned, but I have a child with Crohns, so I'm concerned that could have started.

Has anyone been diagnosed later in life? I've ordered another calprotectin test and am a bit scared of the results, to be honest.

Indigestion isn't a symptom of IBD, as far as I'm aware... Reflux and heartburn can be though.

If your calprotectin levels were fine and there's no mucus or blood then it's probably not IBD.

Is the indigestion pain on right and high up in the chest/shoulder? If so, that may be gallstones.

I'm repeating the calprotectin and I guess the results of that might settle it.

I actually feel it's more likely muscular post injury, but don't want to just presume that when it's gone on so long, on and off. It's a bit like a tightness that sometimes goes into the hip and sometimes goes into the back a little.

My son gets indigestion when he has a flare up of Crohns. I know it's unlikely but it's not impossible.

I occasionally get blood, but that is thought to be because I have a skin condition that makes the area more fragile and I get tears.

There was no sign of gallstones on the u/s I had but I guess that can change in 18 months.

I'll wait on the calprotectin results and go from there.

I have IBD and my calprotectin levels are very high, even when not in a flare.
You'd know the difference between blood from your bowel and from a fissure/tear.

Will see what the result is. I'm well informed about calprotectin levels, so am confident I can tell the difference. I'm more likely to have IBS but you just never know, so I want to check. If it doesn't settle soon I guess I'll be seeing the doctor.

If I had to guess, I'd go more for something like diverticulitis, just because the area is so specific. But this has come and gone for many months.

Just to give all the info - last time I checked a year and a bit ago the calprotectin was 47. High end of normal but more like IBS if anything. Not worried about that level. I've seen over 2000 in others.

A level of 47 is completely normal. Actually it's low. Anything below 100 is considered quiescent. If it's around the 250 mark they will explore IBD with a colonoscopy.
Mine is usually around the 1,500-2000 mark, even when not flaring.

The range our lab uses is 0-50 for normal, but I know it's controversial whether that should be higher. I'll be happy with under 100. Yes, your levels are high. I hope you can get them down. Thanks for commenting on my thread to help me.

Calprotection was 40. So I guess it's not that! Thank goodness. I know IBD is a horrible thing to live with.

Hi @HerbsandSpices Just wanted to ask if you found out the cause of your pain. Hope you are feeling better.

Me too - wanted to know what the cause was.

Lost my login but it's OP here. Just confirming, it was mild IBD.

Lost my login but it's OP here. Just confirming, it was mild IBD.

Which type of IBD?

Thanks for the update @HerbsandSpices2 , how are you feeling?

@artfuldodgerjack It's Crohn's Disease.

@OneSmallPieceOfCheese I'm feeling pretty good and glad to finally know. I got diagnosed just before Christmas. Still working out meds but I seem to be tolerating them quite well.

Good that you are feeling upbeat! Interesting that your calprotectin was quite low if it was Crohn's, did they give you any info on why that might be?

I had similar symptoms and turned out to be lactose intolerant.

It's not a perfect test is the only real reason. I think this is a lesson in follow your instincts. I was a little bit emotional about it at first but I think I can manage this and just hope it doesn't get worse. It's just a relief to know.

Have you considered diverticulitis?

Also, if you have a caesarean or appendix scar could be adhesions

Just to point out that you can’t compare any blood test results across labs. They use different scales.
My son has Coeliac disease and in our lab a normal range is <20, in other labs it’s less than <100. His consultant said it’s like comparing heights using centimetres, meters, inches or feet - very different numbers but all the same height.
My cousin has Crohn’s and for years was treated for indigestion as that was how her symptoms presented… until she perforated and nearly died.

For the lab I used, under 50 was normal. They don't really worry till over 100, and even that's not that high. So my 40 wasn't of concern and wouldn't have got me further investigated. Diagnosed now, so all good.

I did consider that but that's usually on the other side. Diagnosed now, so all sorted.

Was it diagnosed via colonoscopy? Also does anyone on here have coeliac disease that is entirely responsible for their high calprotectin levels? Or diverticulitis that is responsible? I have confirmed severe diverticular disease all over my colon - both small and large intestine- with redundant loops 😳 but am also wheat intolerant likely coeliac, just can’t bear to eat the amount of wheat needed to confirm diagnosis in a blood/biopsy as if I eat even the tiniest amount of wheat it has bad consequences on my stomach. My calprotectin was 153 in dec, find out latest results this week. Doc was hoping it might have been raised cos of diverticulitis flare up, and be on way down, but IBD is a possible.

Yes, diagnosed by colonoscopy. Sorry to see you're dealing with gut stuff as well. I hope your test results this week trend in the right direction.