High calprotectin level 545

[foreverchangingnappies]

So a bit of back story! I went to doctors about a month ago due to have regular diahrea for about 2 months. They did blood tests and found I had low folate levels. Everything else normal. Put me on folic acid for a month and then I repeat blood test. Also told to do stool samples which I returned the day after.

Fast forward 2 weeks (now) - been taking folic acid and feeling really good! Less tired, no diahrea, etc. Had a FIT test result which was less than 4. Got my calprotectin result today which is 545 and says urgently get a doctors appointment and referral as very high.

I'm confused though as I have not had diahrea since I started taking the folic acid so I thought I was on the mend! But the stool sample was done 1 day after starting the tablets so before any improvement would start.

Anyone had similar by any chance? I will of course be phoning the doctor tomorrow to make an appointment... but I'm wondering if the calprotectin level would maybe go down if my folate level is increasing from the tablets!

I had a FCP level of over 2000 last year - it's an indicator of inflammation somewhere in the colon. I had a colonoscopy and diagnosed with mild ulcerative colitis

Faecal calprotectin usually means inflammation somewhere in bowel. Can be artificially elevated if you're taking aspirin or regular anti-inflammatories such as naproxen/ibuprofen but that would be more likely if borderline or slightly high, yours sounds quite high. FIT tests are very sensitive for blood in stool and bowel cancer so if it's normal that's really reassuring. I suspect your doc will want to refer you for a camera test into the bowel to see if any signs of inflammation but in the meantime if your symptoms have settled that's great so I would try not to worry too much about it!