Hi all, after my current flare (maybe even caused by my anxiety), my health anxiety is once again out of control with worries about IBD's, cancers and other things.
I had a flexible sigmoidoscopy 3 years ago which I found very painful so don't know if I can manage a colonoscopy.
Despite normal bloods and stool tests 6 weeks ago I'm thinking of asking for a gastro referral because of my anxiety about my bowels. But could I request a capsule endoscopy to be done, or is that reserved for further explorations if needed?
I'm in the UK btw.
Thanks all
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Tokai335
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I would certainly ask for a capsule endoscopy. I really don't know what the situation is with that and the NHS, but talk to your doctor or consultant, and tell them why you want one. No harm to ask and to give your reasons.
I remember a long time ago now I went for a womb check-up, biopsy and smear test. No one could do it and it was beginning to be very painful and traumatising me. Three failed attempts at people digging away at my insides. On the last one I was literally in tears when I came home.
They were going to give me full anesthetic, and I had a date booked. But no one to drive me home and a dog to look after. It was a nightmare. I requested to see a different consultant to do the procedure with no anesthetic. When I went to this specialist, she was amazing and did the job painlessly in 10 minutes! Nice lady.
So I discovered that sometimes we are the master of our fate! We can ask for things and sometimes get them.
But of course, you'd still have to do the prep. with a capsule endoscopy, but I don't suppose that part was the worst of it for you?
I didn't have any prep for the capsule endoscopy just nothing to eat from 1pm the day before. Took it in the morning and by 4pm was violently sick most of the night and the day after. Thankfully it did move into my large bowl eventually and didn't need digging out. Took a while to get the results though. It's a time consuming process that they don't particularly like doing but it is great at visualising the small bowel. Just can't take any biopsies
You should be able to have it done under propofol which is very heavy sedation. You will either be out completely or only slightly aware of what is happening. I have had two gastroscopies done this way and there were people there having colonoscopies.
Thanks Sandra. Well when I had my sigmoidoscopy 3 years ago, I wrote on my form that I wanted sedation, however when it came to performing the procedure the doctor doing the sig told me they recommend younger patients try it without sedation. Needles to say, I had a horrifying experience.
If you have propofol it will all be arranged in advance and it won’t be withdrawn on the day. Our local hospital has a day once a month when it does procedures under it and it is treated like a minor operation, I have to go for a pre op but you might not need to as you are younger. Good luck x
Having a kind understanding medic is key whatever aspect we are facing. I have recently lost my amazing pain management consultant who has emigrated to Australia. She saved my sanity with her treatment and kindness and effectively gave me my life back. Now she has gone and her replacement is harsh, disinterested and no where near as qualified. He has discharged me with no care.
Finding the right person who really does care about their patient as a whole not just the body part they are treating is crucial. Hope you can find someone caring and understanding to take your concerns seriously and treat you with empathy.
Thanks meadfoot. Every time I make a doctors appointment, it's a different doctor. Over the past 3 months, I've spoken to 4 different GP's about my symptoms. My follow up since my last normal bloods and stools was with a different GP to the one that ordered the tests! It's so frustrating not being able to have a personal relationship with your GP, and one that understands your fears and worries.
Exactly. The lack of continuity just makes things worse. Oh for the days of having a “family doctor” remember them, as rare as hens teeth now. It really is counter productive. No one appears to take any notice of how all this stress affects us and exacerbates our health problems.
I keep copious notes on all interactions with medics which I take with me as a reminder when I have to repeat things again and again. It has to be done sadly. Hope you can get some continuity and some answers plus treatment. Best wishes.
To be honest, I just want to sit down with a doctor I can trust to discuss everything thats going on. And if he or she says to me, youve had some tests, all seems well, this is IBS you're dealing with.......then I could come away and be a bit more settled and reassured. Over the course of two years for various health issues I've seen 8 different GP's in all. It's just not fair on people. My mum says I should specify which GP I'd like to see, but it's not that easy, and I feel like i'm offending the offer doctors then.
Your mum is correct. If you find someone you can speak with who you feel listens and cares stick with them. I would rather wait a few days to see a preferred GP then keep repeating myself again and again to various medics and getting nowhere.
No, you should specify which doctor you'd like to see. It really is no big deal to them and no one takes it personally at all. That's what I always do if I have previously seen a certain doctor about something.
Depends which part of your GI tract is being investigated: Video capsule endoscopy goes in & down at the top of the upper GI tract, & looks primarily @ small intestine, so not examining the same part of your GI tract as colonoscopy. Colonoscopy goes in & up from the bottom & looks primarily at the lower end of your GI tract: everything up to the ileocecal valve where large bowel & small bowel connect. I’ve had both of these investigations. Also I’ve had MRI Endoscopy which specifically looks at the small intestine.
Am glad you’ve got good advice in the replies above…hope you’ll let us know how you get on 🍀🤞💞
Ok, thanks for the help. Well I wanted the capsule endoscopy because I was hoping that would cover all of the GI tract because I have a fear of getting a colonoscopy done.
Yes, am feeling for you…and am very glad you’ve got these kind helpful replies.
Over the decades I’ve had several types of endoscopy & every type has been hard on me in one way or another (eg I ‘retained’ the video capsule pill for 20+ days & nearly had to have it surgically removed…this only happens to approx 2.5% of patients). So I never feel calm when endoscopies are coming up, but I have learned to damp down my anxiety & make sure my doctors know why I’m feeling anxious about which ever type of endoscopy they are asking me to undergo…in my experience, sometimes talking these things over with medics can result in choosing an alternative investigation eg CT scan of colon with contrast, or barium enema’s etc
I've only been to a GP recently. I was referred as an outpatient 3 years ago for a sigmoidoscopy. But I have never had a consultation with an actual gastro for my symptoms and test results.
They won't do a capsule endoscopy on the NHS unless they strongly suspect an IBD. If your samples are coming back normal and you have no red flags then they may offer a Colonoscopy at a push which your GP can arrange. Normally they'll do an ultrasound first
Fair enough, thank you. I'll have a chat with my GP to see what my options are and if he thinks my case merits further exploration. Unfortunately I am down on the system as having long term IBS, but also severe anxiety over health issues, so not sure how serious I'll be taken. I'm having a worse flare up at the moment than what prompted my tests 6 weeks ago, so I dunno if the bloods and stools missed anything serious last time, or I could have developed something bad or an IBD since then. I don't know anymore, my heads a mess.
Hi there. I went through a time of pain after I ate. I could hardly eat anything at all in the end. I had an endoscopy done and was found to have an erosion in my esophagus at the bottom that leads to the stomach. Anyway it took months to get any improvement and I lost so much weight. Meanwhile I also had an ultrasound on my kidneys because my left side was painful and they found a problem there. To me everything seemed a mess and out of control. Covid had just started and that was scary and I turned into a nervous wreck. At the time I was offered an antidepressant that was also good for pain. It was called Amitriptyline. I was too scared to take it. I thought I had enough problems without getting addicted to them. Eventually over a year I slowly improved but decided I needed to move house. That came with all sorts of stresses and I started having a constant headache. Once again I was offered Amitriptyline at a very low dose. I decided to try it and it really helped. I felt calmer that I had in so long. I so wish now I had taken it all that time ago. Anyway I only took it for a few months and came off it easy as I was on a low dose. The point to this msg is anxiety can take you over until you see and feel nothing but fear and the body reacts to this. So could you ask your GP for a months trial. Wishing you all the best.
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