Just to let you know that the procedure went fine. Although the camera was a little larger than an Omega 3 high strength capsule, I found that with the right mindset I swallowed it easily. The staff were a little disconcerted about my long term steroid use and the possibility of an adrenal crisis and treated me as an unusual patient. I was given hydrocortisone for two days via a drip alongside saline. My un-educated guess is that this was overkill, and the doctor whom I never saw was being ultra cautious.
There is a lot of fluid to be drunk ( some not very nice) with various laxative effects ( to get a good picture). Frequent visits to the toilet with an IV wires tubes and a heavy square monitoring device round my neck were a nuisance . Spare underwear and lounge trousers are a good idea. I was an in patient for 2 long days.
If anyone is facing this procedure I am happy to discuss it in more detail via private message.
The results may take 3-4 weeks. My guess is collateral damage from Prednisalone and Actemra that may heal when I am off the drugs.
Your well wishes were my strength and stay. X
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SheffieldJane
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I was on 15mg of Prednisolone last year for PMR and felt much better after the treatment finally dropped in mg's. However it has now come back but now I am 15mg of Prednisolone again I am feeling absolutely fine. This will last until I finally get down to 1mg per day.
HOORAY it is over. Now hope it was all for nothing and you are fit as a fiddle soon. Thank you for the update. laughed at the extra underwear and trousers. Ill bet!!! Glad you are home again. xo
I’ve had many colonoscopies and I dreaded the pre drinking. However, I found that mixing the foul stuff with lemon barley or orange juice made it perfectly palatable. Probably best not to add Ribena…
I’ve been looking for your update and glad to hear that it’s all done. Sounds like it was quite specific and a lengthy procedure overall. Now that you’ve endured the “worst” hoping for some answers for you moving forward. You are a trooper SJ!
I forgot to mention the sweet kindness of the staff from domestics to ward sisters, working in very difficult conditions with old equipment and a crumbling infrastructure, staff shortages and poor pay. They are the people who really do hold things together. Nothing short of heroic. 🌹
Well done you! I’m sure your experience will be a great help to others as you’re always up for sharing. Do hope the results are unspectacular. Best wishes 💐
Glad over for you. I often find the build up worse than the procedure - overactive imagination especially at 3am. Fingers crossed for good outcome and look forward to spring x
Wow, you were inpatient for 2 days? (rhetorical question)
Is this a standard procedure to be inpatient for a pill endoscopy in the UK?
I'm in the US and had the pill capsule endoscopy test as an outpatient. At the doctors office I swallowed my pill capsule at around 8 am after they hooked me up with the belt monitor and then I went home all hooked up. After 8 hours I had to go back to the doctors office to return the belt monitor. Test results were given within a few days.
SheffieldJane, I hope more answers are given to you than you having more questions, but I'm sure you are glad that this test is behind you (no pun intended). 🙂
I argued a bit about staying in but on reflection they seemed to be doing something with me quite often. This is a relatively new procedure that is being rolled out in this Yorkshire hospital, perhaps it will become more relaxed as everyone becomes more competent.
So pleased that it's over and they took good care of you. I've had many colonoscopies in the past but having to swallow a camera really would be difficult for me. Well done.
Hi Jane, thanks for the update and I'm glad you've got it over and done with and that they were 'adrenal aware'. I'm still trying to get an appointment to deal with the upper problem (lower problem being dealt with, 3rd colonoscopy on 19th)..when I get appointment it may mean an endoscopy or maybe the camera pill treatment so I may PM you when I know more if that's ok?..im really hoping your results are good and sending best wishes and healing 💐
I think the upper camera capsule endoscopy will be easier because the worst aspect was drinking the laxative, much more than for my colonoscopy . I have got an upper GI one in May.
I suppose there will be something to take to expel the camera, but it seems preferable. My symptoms involved oesophageal spasms and occasional vomiting and coughing, all of which has settled as I lower my Pred dose. Good luck to you too!
Good to hear it's settling on lowering the pred! Yes I too vomit especially I attempt a 'proper' meal and my appetite is the same as a budgies! I'm easily full which is very unusual ...thanks for the luck wishes and hope you continue to improve
So glad it is 'behind' you in more ways than one. Who knew it was such a treat to simply shuffle to the loo? Seriously, Jane, I wish you the best and am anxious to hear the results...I can only imagine how you feel. 💞
Good to hear that the procedure, although not that pleasant, went well. Hopefully you will get results that will be reassuring. Thinking of you. Take care.
I’ve had my hip replacement surgery last Wednesday. Was only discharged very late on Sunday evening. A taxi was organised for me to be driven to the care home for respite care for 6 weeks. My daughter who lives in Suffolk was planning to come up on Saturday to drive me to the care home post discharge but not allowed to be discharged on that day due to feeling rather dizzy and low blood pressure. The operation went well now it’s recovery time with exercises and rest. Am totally wiped out. The pain is bearable (knees are much worse to recover from) but my RA has flared up (had to stop treatment before the surgery and can’t restart for another 2 weeks and it will take a few weeks to start working again) and I can hardly do anything, difficult using my arms, hands… painful shoulders and wrists. So it’s difficult and I feel somewhat low.
Your operation sounds much more challenging. Thank goodness it’s over! Not surprised you feel low. The helplessness - lack of control got to me. The RA treatment outlook is a bit dismal - what is the drug?
I hope the care home is nice with caring respectful staff. Did you get to see your daughter?
The first thing I did when I got home was burst into tears. It helped.
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