Questions about fecal elastase?

M

Mistyjo

New member
My daughter's fecal elastase came back normal, greater than 500.   I don't know much about this.  To be honest I never thought I would need to know a lot about it.  How accurate how the results of this test?  For some reason she panicked about pooping in the bowel and jumped off the toilet so I had to scrape it off her leg.  She has to take 4.5 squares of ex-lax a day to have a bm but the cf doc said nothing she was on would affect the test results.
My questions are:
does anything affect the accuracy of the test, like consistancy?
IF fecal elastase is normal then cf can't be the cause of failure to thrive, right? 
The chronic constipation is from a very redundant colon that I'm assuming she was born with but don't know that for sure.  I have read you can develope a redundant colon from chronic constipation.  She's been constipated since infancy and prior to constipation she had several loose, watery stools a day and projectile vomitting.  She's been through two bowel management programs.  She now has a colorectal surgeon she has seen and may be facing surgery for the redundant colon. 
So really the only thing that points to possible CF is two borderline sweat test, 41 & 50.
Thanks so much for any replies and advice.  I really appreciate it. 
 
M

Mistyjo

New member
My daughter's fecal elastase came back normal, greater than 500. I don't know much about this. To be honest I never thought I would need to know a lot about it. How accurate how the results of this test? For some reason she panicked about pooping in the bowel and jumped off the toilet so I had to scrape it off her leg. She has to take 4.5 squares of ex-lax a day to have a bm but the cf doc said nothing she was on would affect the test results.
My questions are:
does anything affect the accuracy of the test, like consistancy?
IF fecal elastase is normal then cf can't be the cause of failure to thrive, right?
The chronic constipation is from a very redundant colon that I'm assuming she was born with but don't know that for sure. I have read you can develope a redundant colon from chronic constipation. She's been constipated since infancy and prior to constipation she had several loose, watery stools a day and projectile vomitting. She's been through two bowel management programs. She now has a colorectal surgeon she has seen and may be facing surgery for the redundant colon.
So really the only thing that points to possible CF is two borderline sweat test, 41 & 50.
Thanks so much for any replies and advice. I really appreciate it.
 
M

Mistyjo

New member
<p>My daughter's fecal elastase came back normal, greater than 500. I don't know much about this. To be honest I never thought I would need to know a lot about it. How accurate how the results of this test? For some reason she panicked about pooping in the bowel and jumped off the toilet so I had to scrape it off her leg. She has to take 4.5 squares of ex-lax a day to have a bm but the cf doc said nothing she was on would affect the test results.
<p>My questions are:
<p>does anything affect the accuracy of the test, like consistancy?
<p>IF fecal elastase is normal then cf can't be the cause of failure to thrive, right?
<p>The chronic constipation is from a very redundant colon that I'm assuming she was born with but don't know that for sure. I have read you can develope a redundant colon from chronic constipation. She's been constipated since infancy and prior to constipation she had several loose, watery stools a day and projectile vomitting. She's been through two bowel management programs. She now has a colorectal surgeon she has seen and may be facing surgery for the redundant colon.
<p>So really the only thing that points to possible CF is two borderline sweat test, 41 & 50.
<p>Thanks so much for any replies and advice. I really appreciate it.
 
M

Mistyjo

New member
I forgot to add there was urine mixed with it too. I don't know if this would change the results or not.
 
M

Mistyjo

New member
I forgot to add there was urine mixed with it too. I don't know if this would change the results or not.
 
M

Mistyjo

New member
I forgot to add there was urine mixed with it too. I don't know if this would change the results or not.
 
E

edan

Guest
Hi. It sounds like you already know this, but a normal fecal elastase doesn't rule out cf. My daughter has fecal elastase greater than 500 and again, her sweat was high borderline. Have they ever done a chest xray and had any findings?
Regarding scraping off the leg or urine mixed in, I don't think that would affect the results. It may if you were looking for specific bacteria, but that wasn't the test.

I hope you find your answers soon. So sorry you are going through this<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">
 
E

edan

Guest
Hi. It sounds like you already know this, but a normal fecal elastase doesn't rule out cf. My daughter has fecal elastase greater than 500 and again, her sweat was high borderline. Have they ever done a chest xray and had any findings?
Regarding scraping off the leg or urine mixed in, I don't think that would affect the results. It may if you were looking for specific bacteria, but that wasn't the test.

I hope you find your answers soon. So sorry you are going through this<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">
 
E

edan

Guest
Hi. It sounds like you already know this, but a normal fecal elastase doesn't rule out cf. My daughter has fecal elastase greater than 500 and again, her sweat was high borderline. Have they ever done a chest xray and had any findings?
<br />Regarding scraping off the leg or urine mixed in, I don't think that would affect the results. It may if you were looking for specific bacteria, but that wasn't the test.
<br />
<br />I hope you find your answers soon. So sorry you are going through this<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">
 
R

Ratatosk

Administrator
Staff member
I seem to recall DS' sample was scraped from his diaper by someone at the hospital. But we already KNEW he had pancreatic insufficiency as he was born with meconium illeus. I think there are a couple people here who are Pancreatic Sufficient, yet still have issues with gaining/keeping on weight.
 
R

Ratatosk

Administrator
Staff member
I seem to recall DS' sample was scraped from his diaper by someone at the hospital. But we already KNEW he had pancreatic insufficiency as he was born with meconium illeus. I think there are a couple people here who are Pancreatic Sufficient, yet still have issues with gaining/keeping on weight.
 
R

Ratatosk

Administrator
Staff member
I seem to recall DS' sample was scraped from his diaper by someone at the hospital. But we already KNEW he had pancreatic insufficiency as he was born with meconium illeus. I think there are a couple people here who are Pancreatic Sufficient, yet still have issues with gaining/keeping on weight.
 
Y

ymikhale

New member
does she have any respiratory symptoms? people w/cf have trouble keeping on weight during exacerbations (respiratory infections)
 
Y

ymikhale

New member
does she have any respiratory symptoms? people w/cf have trouble keeping on weight during exacerbations (respiratory infections)
 
Y

ymikhale

New member
does she have any respiratory symptoms? people w/cf have trouble keeping on weight during exacerbations (respiratory infections)
 
M

Mistyjo

New member
no respiratory symptoms. she had a lot of respiratory problems the first two years including rsv. now she gets colds the same as any other kid, although the cold she has now she's had for 3 weeks. she does have problems with croup. she's had it about 7x now. she's had problems with gaining weight from the beginning regardless of illness. I don't understand it.
 
M

Mistyjo

New member
no respiratory symptoms. she had a lot of respiratory problems the first two years including rsv. now she gets colds the same as any other kid, although the cold she has now she's had for 3 weeks. she does have problems with croup. she's had it about 7x now. she's had problems with gaining weight from the beginning regardless of illness. I don't understand it.
 
M

Mistyjo

New member
no respiratory symptoms. she had a lot of respiratory problems the first two years including rsv. now she gets colds the same as any other kid, although the cold she has now she's had for 3 weeks. she does have problems with croup. she's had it about 7x now. she's had problems with gaining weight from the beginning regardless of illness. I don't understand it.
 
A

auntcob

New member
My son had normal fecal elastase and was still dx with pancreatic insufficiency. He has gained 15 lbs since starting enzymes. His fecal fat was high.
 
A

auntcob

New member
My son had normal fecal elastase and was still dx with pancreatic insufficiency. He has gained 15 lbs since starting enzymes. His fecal fat was high.
 
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