I’ve had a gastroscope and a colonoscopy now the gastroenterologist has suggested a capsule endoscopy just to check my small intestines.
I nervous about swallowing such a large looking pill especially as I normally crush pills if I can. I also hate the thought of taking any kind of prep again, I found the colonoscopy ok but the prep was a whole other story!!
Just had one but didn't take any prep with it, just fasted for 12 hours prior. They gave me a latency pill the week before then I had the real one. I had no issues swallowing either. Just waiting for results now
I believe it’s the best test you can have, it’s not given to often as it’s a very time consuming test because someone has to sit and watch all the pictures it takes on it passes through.
Yes that's quite true. At the hospital I go too they only do 3 a week and there isn't a long wait for it relatively speaking. Ours will only do it if they strongly suspect small bowel disease or diagnosed with one. Personally I don't think they like looking through hours of pictures of someone's insides.
I’ve thought about asking for one as I’m IBS - constipated & had a colonoscopy a year ago which showed nothing , but I doubt I’d get it on the NHS , are you having yours done privately or on the NHS ?
I saw the gastroenterologist last week but paid privately for the consultation. I can’t afford the procedure privately so she has referred me over to the NHS. She did say it will be a long wait though.
That’s good she’s referred you through the NHS , I’ve looked into it & it’s about £1500 , I know you’ve got a wait but at least it won’t cost you & it may not be too long 🤞
She did say it would be about a year unfortunately but I couldn’t afford it privately so I’ll have to wait lol!
At least you’re going to get it done eventually & that’s the most important thing x
Could you please tell me what are you symptoms? as I have done 4 endoscopy and 3 colonoscopy on 1 year and still suffering from a severe upper abdomen pain. Thank you
I get bloating, gas, acid, excessive burping, excessive gurgling and growling in my stomach and bowel area. I get pain from awful bloating and lots of gas. I am IBS mixed so am different day to day. I’ve had a colonoscopy, gastroscope and ct scan. I believe that only a gastroenterologist can refer you. The gastroenterologist who recommended the capsule endoscopy was one that I had to privately to see. No NHS gastroenterologist has ever mentioned it!
I told my consultant about that capsule , he said no I don't need as I don't have a bleeding. I can't pay unfortunately 2000 Pounds for it in a private hospital.
I paid £170 to see the gastroenterologist privately. She suggested the capsule endoscopy then said she will put me on the NHS waiting list. I couldn’t afford it privately but could just about afford the consultation. Could you do it that way maybe?
I should add that I won’t be skipping the NHS waiting list, she did say that it could be up to a year!
I have very similar symptoms to you but without the IBS diagnosis. I am finding gastro referrals - and I am in the private system because I was lucky enough to have insurance when all these problems began - take months and months even without waiting lists.
I can’t decide what the problem is - not enough kit / not enough GI specialists / too many who do both private and NHS work so you have to wait longer to see them / an unwillingness to ask for more than one test at a time.
If you have a possible breast (cancer) problem and are in the right place, you can have a mammogram, U/S and biopsy on the same day. Seems to be about 50 years in advance of GI diagnosis.
Isn’t just beyond frustrating. I personally think half the problem is getting the GPS to take the symptoms seriously and getting a referral. My mother in law was told for a whole year (by her GP) that she had IBS when it was something else, she literally had to beg to see a consultant! The gastroenterologist departments do seem overwhelmed though. I had to wait over a year to see an NHS gastro!
I wonder whether NHS managers / gastro doctors look at or are graded by diagnosis times. Are they even remotely aware of how long it takes to get from A to B?
My GI doctor never recommends blood tests, rarely recommends stool tests.
There should be a minimum package of bloods and stools done for every GI patient at the beginning of a referral.
Plus the 48 hour acid test. Plus a maximum time from referral to a serious (life threatening) diagnosis.
If a GI doctor is making a serious diagnosis a year after the initial referral we (the U.K.) are not running a health service, we are running a waiting room service.
It’s more than infuriating. What was your mother in law’s eventual diagnosis?
Sadly it was a Neuroendocrine small intestinal tumour but that’s really quite a rare condition.
If they’d got it sooner, am guessing the prognosis would have been better?
Watch and wait is no substitute for careful, proactive treatment.
I definitely believe she would be alive today, albeit living with cancer, if her GP had sent her for tests as soon as she presented with symptoms. It’s why I push at doctors now and if they don’t listen then I will go see consultants privately, even though I can’t really afford it tbh.
could you please tell me can my GP refer me to do that capsule endoscopy?
No as GP's aren't specialists to examine your bowels from a pill cam and the information goes back to the referring doctor. A GP may refer you for an endoscopy or Colonoscopy but usually refer you to a Gastroenterologist based on those or direct if bloods and stool samples show inflammation
Hopefully he will, especially if you find a private consultant who also practises at your local NHS hospital 🤞
Hi yes I’ve swallowed the capsule and was found to have small ulcers It’s no problem at all but I do find it easy to swallow pills. Don’t worry it’s a marvellous thing and painless good luck
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