Having investigations with a small bowel pill cam endoscopy....

[diagnosed2013]

So I had raised faecal calprotectin 2nd result 309 so private gastroenterologist set up for me to have a pill cam. Only thing is, got it Wednesday 10am & by lunchtime the recorder had broken! So they got 3 hours filmed. So not only alot of wasted time off/travelling etc....but my problem is...my pill cam hasn't seen the light of day yet.... (test was Wednesday 10am) how long do they say it takes for the pill cam to pass through. I had hoped a few days. Also last question has anyone ever had one of these pill cam get stuck ? & how did they get it out? I've been told they leave it for 2 weeks until they check where it is located In the bowel with an X- ray....Thanks for any advice 🙏

[SoFedUp2023]

hi I’ve had 3 pill cams over the years and none got stuck, they usually do a dummy one first to be sure the real one will pass through, they usually do dummy one if it gets stuck it dissolves and passes through. Good luck with your procedure

[diagnosed2013 in reply to SoFedUp2023]

Thanks for your reply....they didn't do the dummy one. He just went straight for the pill cam. Hence why a bit worried I've not seen it yet. Using a commode in the bedroom to check so I know when I've passed it. Thanks again, & best wishes.

[casares8]

Gosh yes i wondered about asking for one, but was worried about it getting stuck, esp as i have a loopy bowel. Thought it might get caught round the bends! Is this available on the NHS does anyone know

[diagnosed2013 in reply to casares8]

Hi....yes just had mine on nhs. Although I saw the gastroenterologist privately first, he then put me through for this on nhs. On hindsight I wish I had asked for the dummy one first to check that it will pass through. I didn't research it very well.

[diagnosed2013 in reply to casares8]

Hi...if you do have one please definitely ask for the patency capsule. I didn't research very well & wish I had asked for that first...hindsight is a wonderful thing 🙄

[casares8 in reply to diagnosed2013]

Ok thanks, never heard of that.

[diagnosed2013 in reply to casares8]

It's a dummy capsule. So if they think it might not pass through your bowel then they advise to have that one first. So it dissolves if it does get stuck...where as the actual pill cam I had won't dissolve & is possibly stuck in a position where it won't naturally pass through. So I might need help getting it out if it remains stuck. Just something to be aware of if they do offer you a small bowel pill cam endoscopy test. Also no test is fail safe & like I said the recorder stopped working after 3 hours (battery fault we think) on my test so although they got some good footage, they haven't seen the whole picture & so will need more tests...the joys! They wanted to do another pill cam test but as this one hasn't come out yet...I'm stuck until it does....good luck & all the best for whichever test you have

[SoFedUp2023]

diagnosed2013

They probably think that it will pass through you without any problems or they wouldn’t just do it, think the reason they did the dummy pill cam with me because I don’t have any colon and only about 4ft of small bowel left I also have an Ileostomy the pill cam went through me within 4-6 hours and was still flashing when came out in my bag. I think you’ll be fine try not to worry about it. It’s a lot easier than having the scope less intrusive.

[diagnosed2013 in reply to SoFedUp2023]

Thanks...they've said I need a colonoscopy too. Just got to wait for the pill cam to come through first.

[SoFedUp2023]

That sucks, Hope all goes well for you and you get it sorted out soon 🤞🙏

[diagnosed2013 in reply to SoFedUp2023]

Thank you...that's very kind of you 🙏

[diagnosed2013 in reply to SoFedUp2023]

Hi...just a quick update. So they managed to get some details from the 3 hrs it recorded for...but still no pill cam passing through. I had an xray on Tuesday morning see where it is, & it seems it's stuck at one particular point will add screenshot of where they've said it is....How long should I wait for it to pass through? It's been 8 days now....

[diagnosed2013 in reply to SoFedUp2023]

That's where the consultant has said it is at mo 🙈🙄

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[SoFedUp2023]

wow 8 days it should have passed by now should pass through a full bowel in 16 to 24 hours

[diagnosed2013 in reply to SoFedUp2023]

I know & they can see where it is...consultant said it's currently 'sat' I think maybe he needs to re word that to say currently stuck! So he's found ulcers & says from the 3 hrs footage he's managed to gleam that it's crohns but wants to (when the pill cam sees the light of day again) do a colonoscopy to follow up...the joys! Not looking forward to the prep for that as I react badly to a lot of meds & e- numbers/preservatives & reacted badly to the antisickness meds they gave me before the pill cam endoscopy. Surely they should be looking now at how to retrieve this pill cam?

[diagnosed2013 in reply to SoFedUp2023]

That's where its currently 'sat' according to my gastroenterologist....Has anyone had one stuck before & how did they retrieve it?

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[SoFedUp2023]

I think their first option should be getting the pill can out not sure how they would do it, it might depend how far in it is if not far then maybe a scope could go in and retrieve it. Are you still passing poop as normal maybe it will come out of its own accord, maybe some stodgy food might push it through. I’m surprised they haven’t done something or advised you what to do. I can’t really say has I’ve not had one stuck. Hope it comes out soon.

[diagnosed2013 in reply to SoFedUp2023]

Hoping to get some response from the gastroenterologist tomorrow. They obviously have a protocol they have to follow. But not knowing the next steps makes it harder....hopefully it will pass through soon 🙏 thanks for your help & advice...👍 much appreciated

[diagnosed2013 in reply to SoFedUp2023]

Yes been passing stools, but took 2 days until started passing stools again...& 4 days ago they started to be flat, like squashed as though squeezing past something & now back to normal (or as normal for me)....we have a portable commode in the bedroom so checking them to see if the pill cam passes....will be a celebration when it does lol.

[SoFedUp2023]

glad to help if I can, fingers crossed 🤞 it passes soon, good luck with colonoscopy I know what you mean about the prep yuk! had a few in my time with Crohns one tip is keep it in fridge goes down easier chilled, years ago there was a prep called Picolax was much easier to swallow, not sure if they still have it.

[diagnosed2013 in reply to SoFedUp2023]

The thing I'm worried about is I have many food intolerances & medication intolerances so just hope I don't react badly to any of the pre prep....got to get this little pill cam out first though so fingers crossed 🙏

[diagnosed2013 in reply to SoFedUp2023]

Hi...just an update on the small bowel pill cam....it took 9 days to make an appearance!

[SoFedUp2023 in reply to diagnosed2013]

Wow 9 days, glad it’s out now.

[diagnosed2013 in reply to SoFedUp2023]

Thanks...me too.