Help!

[Neb93]

Hellooo!

For almost ten years I have experienced upper right quadrant stomach pain and heart burn but after investigations the Dr always put it down to a fatty liver. I got referred back again in October and they found a hiatus hernia during the endoscopy and again a fatty liver. This time he tested my 💩 which showed a calprotectin level of 623 this is almost two months after I handed in the sample I get told this and he says he's removed me from the 2 week rapid pathway but awaiting further investigation... enter the colonoscopy. I've always suffered with issues that end but they said it was always IBS or piles and then it does calm down. But cause I have absolutely beside myself all week I have been checking every time I have a bowel movement nothing alarming found no blood and stools are soft and normal in colour apart from last night I had a episode of "fluffy" stool and this morning I passed on that's yellow "fluffy stool" with a string of what looks like to be stooly mucus that's a hit solid.

I've been going through my symptoms over the past year particularly. I have had two occasions where I had sudden onset urge to go 💩 which got messy one in December 2020 and one in May 2021 but before I took place I'd eaten chicken on the bone which I know can be funny for some people and it never happend again. One episode of 🩸 after iv been which was quite significant and was all down the side of the toilet bowl because of that I put it down to straining too much because its happend before and iv been to the Dr's over the years and that's what it come down too they said. It hasn't happend again either.

I suffer from intermittent constipation and hard 💩 but put this down to not eating enough fibre or drinking a lot because when I do I'm regular every day 🙈. I've always been gassy too and this increases depending on what I've eaten. Sometimes my 💩 can be a different colour like a dark brown but again I put this down to green tea (I was drinking about 3-4 cups a day at one point) and since iv stopped drinking so much of thats it back to normal.

Just after Christmas my stomach blew up like a balloon and it did it again this weekend but again my 💩 where pretty normal but everything hurts. My c-restive protein levels where up to 15 on my bloods. No signs of anaemia either. My liver enzymes (ALT and Gamma GT) are elevated but these fluctuate and he said this is the fatty liver.

I'm just paranoid that the Dr is suspecting crohns but I've got it into my head something more sinister I'm 28. Because he's put "benign" symptoms on the letter to my GP yet he didn't discuss that end with me he was quite rude initially because he said "oh you've been here before and what do we keep telling you, we will have to do the investigation".

Sorry for the essay but iv just had this sprung up on me and I am terrified.

(I'm in the UK)

[GCCA-Survivor Administrator]

Hi Neb93,

Thank you for posting in Colon Cancer Connected. I'm sorry to hear you have these things going on and it's been on and off over the past 10 years.

Have other family members had these same conditions?

A calprotectin level of 623 indicates an inflammatory condition that the doctor says is "quite significant." You mentioned a c-restive protein level of 15. This is all good knowledge which would help your GP layout a path of action for you.

I would highly suggest you work closely with your healthcare team as there are certainly more tests that they should be looking into in order to give you more solid information about what's going on. It looks like that is being done.

The abdominal ultrasound indicates "evidence of fatty liver disease." Your doctor said your "abdominal pain may be due to Crohn's disease." The doctor did some other liver screenings that turned out to be "negative." It looks like you are waiting on getting the colonoscopy. I would only assume taking you off the 2-week wait tracking means your colonoscopy will happen earlier? I would also ask for some clarity about the reference to "she is for further investigations of benign symptoms." Make sure you know what the means.

To make sure you have the whole picture, I'd wait for the results of your colonoscopy. Results of this procedure should open up a more concise path of treatment. Your GP should have clearer information on what the next steps should be.

Know this. You sound like a very persistent person who just wants answers. You deserve that. Wait for that colonoscopy and next steps. Then evaluate your position.

Please try not to focus on "paranoid", "sinister" and "terrified". I know that's better said than done. Put energy into what "investigation" needs to be going on. Get that knowledge.

Good luck and please keep us posted. Your information can help others who may find themselves in similar situation. We'll be thinking of you and hoping for good information comes from the colonoscopy.👍

~Tom, GCCA Survivor - Colon Cancer Connected Site Administrator.

Just a reminder - this group is here to offer support, share experiences, and offer our thoughts - but this is not medical advice, and you should always consult your medical professional(s). Additionally, for all emergencies, seek urgent medical care, never delay.