Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone had experienced fluctuating claprotectin levels.

The background is that for forever I have always thought I have suffered with IBS, however a few months ago I experienced change to my bowel habits in so far as every time I ate anything I needed to go to the loo stright away. I was bloated and had lower back pain. Sometimes I would go up to 9 times a day so I went to the GP.

They asked me to carry out a stool test which came back as having a calprotectin level of 180. I was asked to repeat the test and also do a FIT tet. The FIT test came back normal, they also did a load of bloods which indicated I had high inflammatory markers in in my blood and an Iron deficiency which I am now on suplements for. My repeat calprotectin has today come back as abnormal at 97 still. Obviously this has come down but still absnormal. I know that the really high markers of calprotectin usually indicate an IBD but mine are raised but not in the thousands so I am really worried.

In the meantine I have been referred to a Gastroenterologist who wants to do a Gastroscopy and a Colonoscopy (on the 7th June)

I am really worried about the calprotectin levels and wondered if it was anything sinister would they be at this level and continue to fluctuate? I have also now started to experience some bleeding when I go to the loo but the blood is bright red and looks very similar to when you cut yourself but I don't have piles but assume it may be a cut somewhere. 

Any advice or shared experience is very welcome.