High calprotectin, negative FIT - what can this be?

[Healthscare]

I am a single working mother of 2 young children. Have had loose BMs often over the past nearly 2 years with occasional mild upper left abdominal pain (near what i think is the splenic flexure) - which persists for a few days and then subsides. Occasional urgency in the morning. No other significant symptoms. GP kept telling me it was IBS.

Finally got stool tests done a couple of months ago. Negative FIT but calprotectin was 220 mg/g. Repeated calprotectin and this time higher at 820ish mg/g.

I'm going to see someone privately since no idea how long the wait on NHS is. But so very worried thinking it could be bowel cancer, or even IBD - which can apparently raise the risk of cancer. I know not much can be said without a colonoscopy. But would be good to hear diagnoses for similar symptoms should anyone have had these. Thank you.

You could have polyps. Have u ever had a colonoscopy ?

Sounds ominous. No- never had a colonoscopy before. Just told IBS every time i asked GP about it (various GPs, not just one) and had stool tests for infection which were negative. I didnt give it thought since it wasnt persistent.

Sounds mad but have u ever have your feretin checked?

Also - dya mind saying how old approx you are ?

I recently had Polyps removed

I am 45. Ferritin has been on the lower side of normal for the NHS range for a few years. Once below normal about 3 years ago. Not anemic. No blood in stool i have ever noted.

Fecal calprotectin tests can indicate inflammation in your colon - your levels seem high. You'll unlikely have IBS but perhaps IBD - inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's or Ulcerative Colitis. Ask your GP for a referral to a gastroenterologist for further tests

Possibly ulcerative colitis or crohns.

Do you take ibuprofen or naproxen? Can both cause raised calprotectin

Thank you @SoulCaptain i am trying to see someone privately since my GP doesnt think this warrants an urgent referral so no idea how long the NHS pathway will take. I should have seen someone much earlier given how my symptoms came and went and i kept believing it was IBS and GPs also never suggsted any test for bowel inflammation before this (ESR and CRP were done but were normal).

The thought that it could be polyps worries me since definite chance of being cancerous or pre- cancerous. I had an endoscopy for other symptoms about 3 years ago but never a colonoscopy.

@Sausageman1 no - occasionally take Ibuprofen for hadaches or flu but definitely not regular.

Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis

Many people walk about with polyps in them in there 30s and 40s that they dont know are there
Always good to have a colonoscopy and get any removed

I dont like how this country doesnt routinely offer colonoscopy til older

From someone who had 3 polyps including one deemed medically large removed recently

Thankfully biopsies came back ok
But they want a repeat procedure ina bit and to keep a close eye

Just thought i would update this post. I had a colonoscopy a couple of days ago after an increasingly stressful couple of weeks where i was convinced i had some sort of cancer. The colonoscopy didnt find anything remarkable except a little inflammation, consistent with some form of IBD. Weirdly this wasnt even in the location i typically feel sore during a flare. There were no polyps seen.

It was weird to see my colon on the screen - i wish they had given me stronger sedation since i love the deep sleep this has induced in me previously. But the procedure itself wasnt painful.

I still have a ct scan and an abdominal ultrasound lined up in the week ahead.

Thanks for the update! Hopefully you have some reassurance now re cancer risk and (no pun intended..) get to the bottom of your issues soon!

I also recently had a normal fit test but calprotectin was 275. I had abdominal ultrasound which was fine, iron levels all normal etc
i have to do another fit test next week to see if my calprotectin has fallen but if not then I will have to have a colonoscopy.
I do t really get loose bowels unless I eat spicy food, I also get constipated but notice this is mostly when I eat a lot of wheat. I’m not celiac as have also been tested. I have had 3 children in less then 5 years and after most pregnancies suffered with piles which is the only time I’d notice a very small few dots of bright red blood.
i also travelled to Egypt recently and had bad tummy when back so I have no clue what to expect.
my symptoms do not sound that typical of IBD but could be wrong. Anyone had similar ?