Terrified - slightly elevated Calprotectin results

[HA1989]

Hi all

Ever since I had a stomach virus about 6 weeks ago I’ve not felt right “down there”. Kind of a sore/irritated feeling inside, almost like I need to go for a number 2 but not quite.

it does wax and wane and for a few days it does go away completely, but then comes back and sends me into a tailspin.

anyway, I went to the doctors and had a blood test and I’m not anaemic.
my toilet habits have been back to normal for at least the past month (I try to not spend too long inspecting after going as I can get obsessed, but after a quick glance everything looks normal).

I pushed my doctor for the Calprotectin test which he said he really wasn’t happy about doing, but I guess I thought it would give me piece of mind that it’s not cancer/IBD HOWEVER low and behold the results have come back as 52mg/g so in the “possible IBD” bracket. (Normal is <50)

i found out when I took the phone call at work and went into a complete melt down. I don’t remember much just the look of terror on my boss’s face. !. She was very kind but wasn’t happy about my driving home but i went to the doctors who gave me an emergency appointment and some 5mg diazepam and another tube to do the stool test again which I did this morning,

What the hell am I going to do when the results come back elevated again or even higher?? I cannot cope with this it’s like the best case is UC and the worst case is cancer. Both I cannot comprehend 😔

I feel in shock because I have so many blood tests/scans/appointments with specialists which always come back fine and now there’s something wrong I just don’t know what to do.

i have a 10k race coming up and I’m so depressed and anxious I don’t think I’ll be able to do it now because the results took over a week last time and I really don’t see them being better as I still have symptoms.

the only hope I’m clinging onto is that I had been taking a couple of aspirin a day before the test which I hope so much caused the high result. I thought my inflammation would be low because I take turmeric tablets :(.

please someone help me

[nomorepanic]

Some people have a high reading and it goes back to normal and yours is only just over the norm so not that high.

See what happens with the next test and don't just sump straight to cancer etc.

[HA1989]

Some people have a high reading and it goes back to normal and yours is only just over the norm so not that high.

See what happens with the next test and don't just sump straight to cancer etc.

Thank you for your reply.

it is very sensible advice and something I wish so much I could do but after years of trying I just cannot stop a thought in my head. It is like OCD.

I have read threads before where you have helpfully replied and I am sorry for panicking so much about IBD. I have a few family members (not close and one not by blood) who have IBD and they do cope very well (they seem much happier than me) though they must have their struggles like anyone with a chronic illness.

I think maybe deep down it is the rectal cancer I am most scared of ;( this all started 6 weeks ago and they have been the worse of my life and I just so needed those results to be good!! I’d been ringing twice a day for a week because I NEEDED them to tell me I was ok and no cancer. I’m tired and fed up, I really have had enough now of this life it is just a living nightmare I just want to go to sleep forever :( the doctor knows i feel this way so I am getting help

[Fishmanpa]

it is very sensible advice and something I wish so much I could do but after years of trying I just cannot stop a thought in my head. It is like OCD.

Not only sensible but accurate. A point or two above normal is of no concern. I don't know what else can be said. Are you getting help for your anxiety?

Positive thoughts

[KK77]

At this point in time you cannot speculate. "Abnormalities" in tests always scare the crap out of HA sufferers but usually the cause is unknown or benign.

You do sound depressed though and I think it would be appropriate for your GP to prescribe a med for this. Please make another appointment to discuss how you feel.

[HA1989]

Not only sensible but accurate. A point or two above normal is of no concern. I don't know what else can be said. Are you getting help for your anxiety?

Positive thoughts

I have had the following;
Psychiatrist
Home visit councillor
Numorous therapists
Hypnotherapy
Regular acupuncture
I run every other day and weight train others
Stopped drinking months ago
Eat relatively healthy and take vitamin d supplements
I see doctors regularly
Tried many SSRIs
ONLY thing that gives me temporary relief is diazepam and typical - it’s not good for me as it’s addictive, how cruel is that??

I am seeing a psycologist soon. But if I’m honest I just want to get to the bottom of why my GI tract is inflamed and whether it is rectal cancer. That’s all I want to know :(

I know I need to man (woman!) up. My beautiful mum was diagnosed with cancer 3.5 years ago and has a positive attitude. I just don’t want to miss seeing my little boy grow up. I would rather go now before I get old enough for him to realise I was gone ;(

[ankietyjoe]

It's not really a case of manning/womaning up, it's just a case of pulling yourself together.

Your results are barely (4%) above the normal range, and this test isn't considered positive until it reaches 200mg/g

One cause of these results are stomach infections, or anything that causes an inflammation response in the gut. Or past excessive alcohol consumption, or taking NSAID's etc etc etc. It's basically an inflammatory response, not an immediate cancer diagnosis.

This is an overreaction of massive proportions. Talk of dying now before your child knows you're there is doing you far more harm than anything else. This kind of self talk is dangerous.

[HA1989]

At this point in time you cannot speculate. "Abnormalities" in tests always scare the crap out of HA sufferers but usually the cause is unknown or benign.

You do sound depressed though and I think it would be appropriate for your GP to prescribe a med for this. Please make another appointment to discuss how you feel.

I know, I usually don’t ask for the actual results (I.e. my iron level figure) because if they are any extreme of normal it can trigger me.

That is why these results have shocked me so much! Maybe I deserve it because I deep down assumed I’d be fine. I won’t make that mistake again..!

Only meds that do anything are benzos and they just dampen the fear for a bit. They stopped me having them because they were worried I am addicted (I am not) but gave me another 21 tablets yesterday

[HA1989]

It's not really a case of manning/womaning up, it's just a case of pulling yourself together.

Your results are barely (4%) above the normal range, and this test isn't considered positive until it reaches 200mg/g

One cause of these results are stomach infections, or anything that causes an inflammation response in the gut. Or past excessive alcohol consumption, or taking NSAID's etc etc etc. It's basically an inflammatory response, not an immediate cancer diagnosis.

This is an overreaction of massive proportions. Talk of dying now before your child knows you're there is doing you far more harm than anything else. This kind of self talk is dangerous.

I agree with everything you’ve said ! It’s crazy, I can read other people’s irrational fears on here (not all posts, just some of the more extreme)and even though I am sympathetic I do find myself getting annoyed that they are doing it to themselves. Hypocrisy much.

What people (such as my husband) don’t understand is that I wish I didn’t care so much about my health/self! It seems very self centred of me but I don’t choose to be like it.

I get angry that my husband/parents/friends cant help me but if one of the top psychiatrists in the country don’t know what to do with me how would anyone else have a clue??

I just like this forum because I feel like I am surrounded by people similar to me. I’ve never met anyone in person who has severe HA and it’s very lonely.

[ankietyjoe]

What people (such as my husband) don’t understand is that I wish I didn’t care so much about my health/self! It seems very self centred of me but I don’t choose to be like it.

Actually, this is not true.

Health anxiety is almost exclusively self perpetuating. It's a bad habit that we fall into. I've been there myself, it's not a nice place.

But, we are choosing to be that way. It's not intentional, but the actions we take and the thought patterns we repeat are the problem. Researching symptoms, googling terminal illnesses, jumping to conclusions, assuming the worst, negative self talk etc etc etc.

How do I stop...I hear you cry?

By practising. Next time you convince yourself you're dying, look at your child and decide if you want to spend the next three days wallowing in unfounded fear, or do you want to take them to the park instead? Given the choice right now, what would you do?

"Yes but I read about one person who went misdiagnose and then died a week later" etc etc etc...I hear you reply...

This is health anxiety.

Ignore it and enjoy your life. Health anxiety is a paradoxical waste of life. It took three years of mine!

As long as your friends and family don't understand you, you have an excuse to continue your addiction.

I DO understand you, and I'm asking you to stop.