u/Extension_Towel9654

Hello everyone

I am still trying to figure out my GI issues and I have compiled a lot of information, but am having a tough time sifting through it. Overall, I'd like to see if it all is truly pointing toward IBS or something different.

I have gone through it all- bloodwork, stool tests, breath tests, and even colonoscopy/endoscopy with biopsies. Everything has come back clear/normal. But, I did have a calprotectin of 200. Is it normal to have that high calprotectin with IBS? I have also recently had a pelvic/abdominal CT scan. Would capsule endoscopy uncover anything else that any of these tests didn't see/cover or is this kind of the end of the line?

I am logging my BMs, mood, and food as well. I find it hard to believe it's mood/stress related simply because I have been under intense stress since I was a child. It may contribute to my overall GI health, but it doesn't explain the timing of flares currently to me.

Also, with IBS are you able to accurately predict flares or is it just low FODMAP and pray to god my insides don't kill me?

I am doing my best to not be the person to jump to any conclusions without proper info and help.

Thank you all in advance

So, I have been on 1% topical gel since 4/23/26 and my care team ordered my routine bloodwork panels to see if everything was within normal levels. I got results back 7/2/26 saying my testosterone levels were very high (627 ng/dL).

I waited and went to my normal check in on 7/15/26 and my doctor was very suprised and said my levels are already at what he would expect to be mid transition. He didn't frame this as a bad thing and said it might just be that I won the genetic lottery. But, he did reorder bloodwork to check T levels again just in case there was site contamination at the time of my last blood draw.

On 7/15/26 I got the 2nd blood test result back and my levels were even higher (983 ng/dL).

I have looked at a few things online that say it potentially could be that my skin just absorbs things really well. My running theory is I have thinner skin but I don't really know. It also could be my body adjusting to a new hormone too?

Does anyone know what could be causing this? Do you think my levels will even out eventually?

Thank you in advance!

Hey everyone,

I have been on a topical 1% T gel for a bit over 3 months now and I honestly feel like everything has been going well!

I'm struggling with one thing though...

Ass acne.

I have done the typical change your underwear, change your clothes regularly, hygiene, etc. I have also purchased a cleansing body wash from Neutrogena that works pretty well for me.

It was only recently I have been breaking out more.

I understand this is likely just part of my body adjusting to new hormones and a second puberty, but I figured I'd ask for some other tips outside of what I've mentioned.

I know it isn't that embarrassing but I have been taught to believe consistently in my life that imperfections on myself are a bad thing but I digress. Thank you in advance.

I am not sure where else to go, so I am cross posting in a couple places.

Hello,

I started my look into my GI issues in March this year. My symptoms appeared very suddenly and out of the blue at the end of '24.

Issue I went in for:

- Lower abdominal pain that appears when needing to make a BM, subsides after BM is over

- Pain causes *vasovagal* response of me feeling extremely faint, shaking, dizzy, and puking

I have utilized dicyclomine and I think it *might* help, but I'm not totally sure. I take it when I *think* an episode will happen and pray to God it works in time. It eventually does help but I'm not sure that it does *in the moment*, which is what I'm looking for. But, I digress.

**PSA: I have been in therapy/mental health management for my entire life and consistently since '22. I have well exhausted my avenues there. I also have a panic disorder which means my system = always stressed. I have medication for panic symptoms that I cannot use every time to go to the bathroom.**

Now, bear with me here...

I got a bunch of the normal, across the board testing and even an **endoscopy and colonoscopy with biopsies**. Bloodwork, breath tests, and stool tests all ordered. All came back fine except for my **calprotectin** in my stool sample which was **4x the inflammation levels** that are considered normal. This can be linked to *so many* things, thus the endoscopy and colonoscopy- both of which were clear and the biopsies taken were clear.

With my research, outside of IBS *(which is NOT an inflammatory disease/illness to my understanding. Low levels can be found with IBS sometimes but it isnt typical)*, **200 calprotecin** is very low for anything IBD related. However, a lot of information pointed me toward looking into my **lower small intestine.** What I read is you can even have **small intestine IBD** when your other, typical scopes came back clear. The calprotecin of 200 being very low for IBD would be explained by it slowly seaping into my system essentially.

My next step with my gastroenterologist is to get a **pelvic/abdominal CT scan.**

With all of this being said- am I on the right track here or is it kind of a reach? Please be kind, I am trying to legitimately learn here.

I appreciate any advice outside of "manage your stress" or "fiber". I understand these things can help but I am **not looking for those answers as I have already been down both avenues.**

Hello,

I started my look into my GI issues in March this year. My symptoms appeared very suddenly and out of the blue at the end of '24.

Issue I went in for:

- Lower abdominal pain that appears when needing to make a BM, subsides after BM is over

- Pain causes vasovagal response of me feeling extremely faint, shaking, dizzy, and puking

I have utilized dicyclomine and I think it might help, but I'm not totally sure. I take it when I think an episode will happen and pray to God it works in time. It eventually does help but I'm not sure that it does in the moment, which is what I'm looking for. But, I digress.

PSA: I have been in therapy/mental health management for my entire life and consistently since '22. I have well exhausted my avenues there. I also have a panic disorder which means my system = always stressed. I have medication for panic symptoms that I cannot use every time to go to the bathroom.

Now, bear with me here...

I got a bunch of the normal, across the board testing and even an endoscopy and colonoscopy with biopsies. Bloodwork, breath tests, and stool tests all ordered. All came back fine except for my calprotectin in my stool sample which was 4x the inflammation levels that are considered normal. This can be linked to so many things, thus the endoscopy and colonoscopy- both of which were clear and the biopsies taken were clear.

With my research, outside of IBS (which is NOT an inflammatory disease/illness to my understanding. Low levels can be found with IBS sometimes but it isnt typical), 200 calprotecin is very low for anything IBD related. However, a lot of information pointed me toward looking into my lower small intestine. What I read is you can even have small intestine IBD when your other, typical scopes came back clear. The calprotecin of 200 being very low for IBD would be explained by it slowly seaping into my system essentially.

My next step with my gastroenterologist is to get a pelvic/abdominal CT scan.

With all of this being said- am I on the right track here or is it kind of a reach? Please be kind, I am trying to legitimately learn here.

I appreciate any advice outside of "manage your stress" or "fiber". I understand these things can help but I am not looking for those answers as I have already been down both avenues.

Hello all,

I don't really know what else to do, as all the information I have been given and keep commonly coming across has been unhelpful. I'm looking for **serious** answers and advice.

Buckle in, this might be a lot. I'll try to be as concise as possible.

In about mid March ('26) I went to my GP with chronic GI issues. I noticed the symptoms show up abruptly in around November of '24. I originally thought it was lactose intolerance and treated it as such.

That being said, these are the **symptoms** I went in for:

- Intense lower abdominal pain that subsides after making a BM

- BM is diarrhea consistency

- Pain causes me to throw up, shake, and feel extremely faint (doctor presumes this is a *vasovagal respons*e)

So, when I brought this to my GP she really didn't understand what I was trying to say and ordered a **celiac panel.** Essentially, all that came back was I have the *gene* for celiac. Which is **NOT** an indicator of actually having celiac. Many people with the gene do not have celiac.

Within this, she ordered bloodwork to see my **CRP (C-reactive protein)** levels. The normal range is <5.0 mg/L and mine was 6.2 mg/L. She then reccomended me to gastroenterology.

I meet with the gastroenterologist and she orders a bunch of tests, including **stool tests**. My *calprotecin* levels were high at 199 mcg/g when the normal range is <50.0 mcg/g. They also ordered a bunch of breath tests for the standard *lactose, laculose, fructose, SIBO, etc.* All of them came back **negative.**

So, this completely rules out my initial assumption of lactose intolerance. All I know right now is there is a mass amount of inflammation in my lower gut and they can't tell why. Now, they order an endoscopy and colonoscopy for me.

I go in for the procedures and everything looks good and I am only diagnosed with **mild chronic gastritis,** which does not address my lower abdominal pain and BM issues. No IBD, no microscopic colitis, no polyps, no blockages, no cancer. Nothing. The only thing they have now told me is to "eat more fiber".

I am all for listening to my doctor's but they seem to be missing something here. All I know is my symptoms are still there. It has only eased since my colonoscopy for a while here, but I guarentee my symptoms will come back. They are random. Seemingly no reason why. No medications I am on cause this either.

I utilize dicyclomine for pain and it helps eventually. The episodes last 20-40 minutes but unpredictable in timing.

Can anyone help me? Guide me on a path they're maybe not seeing?

Please be kind. I am only trying to better my health