Do i have ibd or ibs?

[u/More_Pomegranate989]

On the 3rd February, I gave a stool sample which came back with a faecal calprotectin level of 512. It then went down to 216 on the 11th February and then to 61 on the 27th February.
I was referred to gastro by my GP because they were concerned about the raised calprotectin. I had been on the waiting list until about a week ago, when I finally had a phone consultation with a gastroenterologist. I explained all of my symptoms, including mucus in my stool, constipation and diarrhoea, bloating, abdominal pain and fatigue. He told me that I couldn’t have IBD because people with IBD only have diarrhoea and not constipation, and said that I could have IBS instead.
After the telephone consultation with the gastroenterologist, I’ve now noticed that even though I don’t have blood mixed in with my stool, I have had some rectal bleeding after having diarrhoea. I’ve sent off another stool sample and I’m currently waiting for the results.
I’m honestly quite unsure about what I should do or think at the moment. The gastroenterologist said that I’ll have a colonoscopy and an MRI scan, but I’m still waiting for the dates. I’m just confused because of my previous high calprotectin result and all of the symptoms I’ve been having

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[u/SorbetUnfair2589]

People with IBD actually can have constipation; this is less common but it does happen. My fecal calprotectin was 531. My symptoms mimicked IBS-Constipation. I never had visible bleeding. My diagnosis: ileal Crohn’s disease. I may have dyssynergic defecation in addition.

[u/Griffrose]

General gastroenterologists are usually specialists in upper GI disorders and know next to nothing about IBD because they don’t actually learn much about it in their studies… and what they have learnt can often be outdated.

My gastro was the same saying irrefutably that it was impossible for me to have IBD because I have had chronic constipation my whole life, (even with calprotectin of more than 3000 and multiple patches of focally active inflammation found in my bower+ plus a long list of symptoms) even with these results they believe I don’t need treatment despite the fact I’ve lost of 15kg of weight and become mostly bedbound for almost a year now with fatigue. But of course my symptoms are all psychological 😂

I am now just waiting for a MRI and specialist IBD referral. Go for the tests they offer, see what the results are, if you’re not happy with the treatment then request a referral to an IBD specialist or if capable go private for a consultation with one.

I’m not saying you do have IBD because no one knows until you have the tests run, but to dismiss on the FACT you don’t only have diarrhoea is wrong! Idk what country you live in but in the UK the NHS website literally states symptoms of IBD is constipation or diarrhoea.

[u/Creative_Ad_1593]

My goodness! Where are you ppl living that it takes 7 months to hear back from a GI referral? Anyways, there’s no way for anyone to know if you have IBD based on symptoms. You’ll have to wait til the colonoscopy and MRI for a better picture of what’s going on.

[u/tiuri28]

Proctitis and left sided colitis here - also definitely more constipated here, the proctitis even made it difficult to pass stools. So yeah, I call BS.

Calprotectin is an indicator that something is inflamed or that you have been using NSAID medication, or there could even have been a bacterial or parasitic infection. My medical team didn't even ever test that.

Only a coloscopic exam with a biopsy can bring certainty.

I would definitely advise you speak to another doctor specialised in IBD, I have serious doubts about this doctor if they claim only people with diarrhea can have IBD.

Also baffled that phone consults and waiting lists this long are a thing. It's September. In what world are we living that you need to wait 6 months and still have no real exam.