Advice on diagnosis

[nikkid1975]

Good morning. My name is Nikki and I’m new here.
For the last four or five months I have been experiencing ongoing symptoms like constant discomfort in the upper abdomen, alternating belts of diarrhoea and constipation but all the time my stools are mixed with a lot of mucus. (I have never taken so many pictures of my poo). All of my blood work has been normal and my FIT test was normal. I have been tested for bacterial infections and again all normal. My faecal calprotectin however was 4818! And I was sent for an urgent colonoscopy. This has come back as normal but my symptoms continue. A repeat calprotectin has come back at 178. I have a call with my consultant in two weeks for the results of the biopsies he took but I’m just after some advice as to the next steps. Should I be asking for further tests? He seemed reassured that the scope was normal and I feel like he might discharge me? I’ve read about a pill cam? And the possibility that my symptoms could be caused by the small bowel and that can’t be seen on the scope? Any advice from people who have been through similar would be really appreciated.

 

[Scipio]

I’ve read about a pill cam? And the possibility that my symptoms could be caused by the small bowel and that can’t be seen on the scope? Any advice from people who have been through similar would be really appreciated.

You are correct IMO to wonder whether your trouble is located in the small bowel. And capsule camera endoscopy ("pill cam") is probably the best way to assess that. That's how my Crohn's ulcers were found in the small bowel. I had a lot of abdominal pain and severe anemia, but my colonoscopy was clear. The doc could not make a firm diagnosis without seeing some inflamed bowel somewhere, and the capsule camera provided the needed images.

Another thing that can be considered is imaging studies: MRE or even traditional old x-rays - to look for thickening in the small bowel that would be suggestive of inflammation. I suggest you discuss the capsule camera and imaging options with your doctor.