Bowel issues- what could dr think it could be?

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Hubby is 52 and has had diarrhoea since Christmas. Bowel screen clear but made him go to the Dr and he’s had bloods done, FIT test and another sample.

Fit test came back clear. The other sample has been done twice. Dr said the first sample had a level of 53. Second sample was 157. He said they normally refer to specialist for colonoscopy over 250 so been asked to do another sample. But then the surgery rang to say they want him to be referred anyway.

He mentioned the wheat test was negative, no blood found but he mentioned IBD. He did say they can rule out cancer with the tests he has had done but is that right??

What potentially could they be looking for?
He’s changed his diet (less bread) and he’s been solid for 2 weeks.

Have they tested him for coeliac disease? It’s a simple blood test that the GP can run. Just with you saying he’s cut down on bread and been solid, diarrhoea is a symptom of coeliac disease.

Yes the bloods came back fine

No, you can't rule out cancer with a negative fit test. All it proves is that there was no blood in the stools at the time of the test.

That said, if less bread has made a big difference, he could try eating more to see if he reacts again. That would indicate that the issue is more like to be a reaction to a specific thing.

@ThaneOfGlamisthe dr said based on blood tests and FIT test that they were ruling out cancer

Sounds like they are testing him for coeliac, the issue with now cutting bread out is that the tests won’t reflect the issue as his level of whatever they test for that reacts to gluten will be low. I’d phone the doctor and ask, that surely the answer to all of your questions???

Having a clear cea blood test and fit test makes cancer unlikely, but still possible. The GP cannot rule it out without a colonoscopy.

But most people who need investigations due to changes in bowel do not have cancer, so it is highly likely that the cause is something different, particularly as there seems.to be a dietary element. I would be considering coeliac or wheat intolerance to be the most likely with the reaction to bread.

You’ve said the GP was thinking Ibd, that’s what they were testing for as well, faecal calprotectin and he had levels of 53 and 157. Ibd is usually Crohn’s disease or Ulcerative colitis, one of the main symptoms is diarrhoea.

You said the GP said the wheat test was negative this would have been for coeliac but he could be gluten intolerant rather than having coeliac.

Does your husband have the nhs app so he can see his tests and results and then you can find out more information on the specific tests.

That’s false information.

@Tourmalinesthats what the GP said so I am just going on that for the moment.
I think they have ruled out any intolerances wheat etc but not sure. I’ll try and check his NHS later

Intolerances can only be diagnosed by removing the food from the diet and then doing food trials. You cannot rule them out with blood tests. It's significant his issues resolved to a certain extent with removing bread, if you are considering intolerances.

@sparrownetsukehadnt considered this. Thanks. Yes we feel it is significant that his diet change has stopped the only symptom he had. Just worries me that I’m sure the GP said there are often no or few symptoms with IBD

Any weight loss?

Is he losing weight? Have they asked for a stool sample?
I’m in a similar position since I had a bug (I assumed covid) in March and GP has done a blood test and asked for a sample. No answers yet but will follow your thread.

No weightloss. Only symptom is diarrhoea but that’s now stopped after 8 months and him stopping eating bread