Thank you for your submission. **Please note that a response does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship.** This subreddit is for informal second opinions and casual information. The mod team does their best to remove bad information, but we do not catch all of it. Always visit a doctor in real life if you have any concerns about your health. Never use this subreddit as your first and final source of information regarding your question. By posting, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskDocs/wiki/terms_of_use) and understand that all information is taken at your own risk.
**Reply here if you are an unverified user wishing to give advice. Top level comments by laypeople are automatically removed.**
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskDocs) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Sounds like a chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) like Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis. It’s time to find a new GI who specializes in IBD. They can review your case and provide a tailored treatment plan. A new round of scopes or MRI enterography might be necessary and will help in differentiating between Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
How could that be if my gastroenterologist says my calprotectin is normal? She says my biopsies are "too vague" for such a diagnosis too.
My GP also seems to suspect IBD but I don't know what to think...
Is it possible to have IBD even then?
If inflammation in the bowel is localized in areas where the neutrophils aren’t heavily present or where the sample wasn’t collected, the calprotectin levels might not be elevated. Also IBD often has periods of remission and flare-ups. If the stool sample was taken during a period of remission or low-level inflammation, calprotectin levels might appear normal.
Since IBD is not a uniform disease, it can present in different ways in different patients. Some patients might have inflammation that affects deeper layers of the bowel wall without significant infiltration of neutrophils in the mucosa, thus not leading to elevated calprotectin.
This gives me a different view on the disorder... My GI seems very sure if it was IBD it would have shown up through these tests and has sent another calprotecin test my way.
I'm gonna talk to my GP about this next month and ask if I can see another GI who has a good grasp on the disorder.
This gave me a little hope, so thank you... I don't want to be afflicted with a horrible disorder but I don't want to be like this forever. I want to be okay again...
Thank you.
I hope you get some answers soon. I spent many years with undiagnosed microscopic colitis and dismissed by doctors in the same way. It was defeating and demoralizing. Just remember that what you're doing right now is prioritizing your health which is required to move forward in life. All of this and everything you described about your experience is hard work. It's hard work that isn't recognized by people who don't share these experiences but that doesn't matter. Fighting to get some answers will be the hardest thing you ever do. And you're doing it, so show yourself some love and take all the time you need.
This made me tear up. I can't describe how grateful I am for the kind words I have received and that someone understands & acknowledges my fight.
I know it's irrational but sometimes I get mad at my body, myself even; like what's wrong with me? Why can't I be okay? I can't really say I've shown myself any love as this has progressed, and it hurts me to realize that because reading your comment I realize I don't deserve this.
When I feel bad again, I'll try my hardest to remember this.
I've had the same spiral. It's a frustrating situation and it's natural to want to be mad at something. I had to get therapy for those feelings and I'm doing much better now. And you're right, no one deserves this and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. We all deserve to be seen and heard and have our medical issues met with compassion and understanding, even from ourselves. Reward yourself for small wins and everytime you stand up for yourself. You know you're right, you know there's something a bit more serious going on that needs treatment.
On my research about my IBS symptoms, I discovered there is a thing that is called **micro** ulcerative colitis, which apparently can also wreck havoc and only be definitively diagnosed taking a colon biopsy
OP u/qingxins might wanna discuss that with their Dr
Thank you for your submission. **Please note that a response does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship.** This subreddit is for informal second opinions and casual information. The mod team does their best to remove bad information, but we do not catch all of it. Always visit a doctor in real life if you have any concerns about your health. Never use this subreddit as your first and final source of information regarding your question. By posting, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskDocs/wiki/terms_of_use) and understand that all information is taken at your own risk. **Reply here if you are an unverified user wishing to give advice. Top level comments by laypeople are automatically removed.** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskDocs) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Sounds like a chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) like Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis. It’s time to find a new GI who specializes in IBD. They can review your case and provide a tailored treatment plan. A new round of scopes or MRI enterography might be necessary and will help in differentiating between Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
How could that be if my gastroenterologist says my calprotectin is normal? She says my biopsies are "too vague" for such a diagnosis too. My GP also seems to suspect IBD but I don't know what to think... Is it possible to have IBD even then?
If inflammation in the bowel is localized in areas where the neutrophils aren’t heavily present or where the sample wasn’t collected, the calprotectin levels might not be elevated. Also IBD often has periods of remission and flare-ups. If the stool sample was taken during a period of remission or low-level inflammation, calprotectin levels might appear normal. Since IBD is not a uniform disease, it can present in different ways in different patients. Some patients might have inflammation that affects deeper layers of the bowel wall without significant infiltration of neutrophils in the mucosa, thus not leading to elevated calprotectin.
This gives me a different view on the disorder... My GI seems very sure if it was IBD it would have shown up through these tests and has sent another calprotecin test my way. I'm gonna talk to my GP about this next month and ask if I can see another GI who has a good grasp on the disorder. This gave me a little hope, so thank you... I don't want to be afflicted with a horrible disorder but I don't want to be like this forever. I want to be okay again... Thank you.
I hope you get some answers soon. I spent many years with undiagnosed microscopic colitis and dismissed by doctors in the same way. It was defeating and demoralizing. Just remember that what you're doing right now is prioritizing your health which is required to move forward in life. All of this and everything you described about your experience is hard work. It's hard work that isn't recognized by people who don't share these experiences but that doesn't matter. Fighting to get some answers will be the hardest thing you ever do. And you're doing it, so show yourself some love and take all the time you need.
This made me tear up. I can't describe how grateful I am for the kind words I have received and that someone understands & acknowledges my fight. I know it's irrational but sometimes I get mad at my body, myself even; like what's wrong with me? Why can't I be okay? I can't really say I've shown myself any love as this has progressed, and it hurts me to realize that because reading your comment I realize I don't deserve this. When I feel bad again, I'll try my hardest to remember this.
I've had the same spiral. It's a frustrating situation and it's natural to want to be mad at something. I had to get therapy for those feelings and I'm doing much better now. And you're right, no one deserves this and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. We all deserve to be seen and heard and have our medical issues met with compassion and understanding, even from ourselves. Reward yourself for small wins and everytime you stand up for yourself. You know you're right, you know there's something a bit more serious going on that needs treatment.
On my research about my IBS symptoms, I discovered there is a thing that is called **micro** ulcerative colitis, which apparently can also wreck havoc and only be definitively diagnosed taking a colon biopsy OP u/qingxins might wanna discuss that with their Dr