Hi All,Hope your all having a great Saturday evening.
I’m not new on here,but my story goes way back,so I’m going to try and keep it short. I’ve suffered from what I’ve been told by numerous consultants IBS/ Perineal nerve/ now the start of divercular . So I’m not that sure what’s wrong with me. Years ago I had a colonoscopy and they put me through hell,so I’ve refused another one,which put my consultant in a bit of a strop.so he more or less said there was no help for me. As the months,years,gone by my pain has gradually got worse,I’m struggling to cope now,none of the usual IBS meds work for me. So I was thinking about one of those tiny cameras you swallow,I don’t know what you would call it. What I do know is I’m coming to the end of my tether,and the last few days have been hell. I can’t sit still and watch TV,I can do a bit of housework which I love and gardening,but I have Emphysema so that’s limited,and to sit at night and just watch TV,I can’t remember when I last done that. I only go out for blood tests or appointments. So folks I’m asking this community if they can tell me anything about this little camera. To say I would be grateful wouldn’t be enough.😥
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Breathless1943
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I don't know what you mean by 'hell' - colonoscopies are awful, I know. I had one years ago and from prep to recovery, it was awful. I left UK in 2014 so I don't know how difficult or even if it's possible to get, easily, anything beyond the first line plan of treatment on the NHS. I am very much guessing but I imagine it would be like here, in the Netherlands, doctors take the first line approach. If that doesn't show results but they still think there's a problem, then they take the next line of investigation or treatment. My suggestion would be to ask your GP about the possible other routes of examination, this camera being one of them.
When I had my colonoscopy, I was pretty much knocked out so I didn't experience any of the pain or trauma of the actual procedure - just the awful preparation and feeling rubbish afterwards. I am not sure if the dose of sedation was too high or that it was normal but, because I am quite slim, it was just too much for me. In any case, no memory of the actual procedure.
I just looked up sedation options and if you have emphysema, they might not give you general anaesthetic to get you through another colonoscopy but you could ask for moderate sedation which will probably mean you have no memory of the procedure (a plus!) and prevent you from feeling pain etc
Go prepared to your doctor with you case, look up sedation types for colonoscopies. You do need to find out the cause of this pain etc Take it from someone who feels about 5% of who I was 6 years ago (different issues), I am still trying to gather up the energy to keep trying to find the solutions, get some of my previous state back. You do have to present your case, sometimes, to the medical world but often they will listen if you go with facts to discuss.
Firstly thank you for your reply. What I mean I went through hell,when I last had a colonoscopy is,I did have the sedative but it had no affect at all on me,so I felt everything that was going on,I told him it was hurting me but he just ignored me and carried on,the nurse then came round to me to chat,and he suddenly hurt me so bad I screamed out and grabbed the nurses stomach and hurt her,now that’s what I call hell . I’ve been suffering this on a daily basis for over 12yrs,I’ve had most the test available,including the ones in the answers below. I think I’ve seen every specialist from one side of the U.K. to the other,I’ve also payed private in some cases. This all started for me with just a discomfort,but gradually got worse,like I’ve said by the evening it’s unbearable. I have a good hubby who would take me anywhere for help,oh I’ve also been to A&E a few times. I try to not worry him but the pain sometimes gets the better of me,then I get anxious and cry like a baby.
Like I say I just don’t know what to do now,I’m at my witts end.
Your fear is understandable. It sounds very traumatic. Perhaps then ask if you can have a general anaesthetic. I am not medically qualified so perhaps, in your case, they could put you under GA and monitor you. Or, if they won't put you under, ask to see how much sedative they dosed before - it's your right to see your medical notes/record and find out if they will increase the dose. This is dreadful for you. This is about your physical and mental quality of life and they need to be open to finding a way of working with your current issue and what has happened in the past.
When I lived in the UK, I had a true phobia of blood tests - not needles, just bloods - from a traumatic experience as a child during a blood test. It was really clear I was chronically anaemic and my GP said I had to have a blood test. I begged him to sedate me and give me anaesthetic cream. It was the only way to get me to have this important test. I was prescribed diazepam for the blood test and given anaesthetic cream for my arm. The result showed that I was borderline needing a transfusion, I was so anaemic. They were amazed I was still upright. My point is this: I want to think that your GP and specialists can think of a way to allow you to have this test, taking into account your health and your traumatic experience and the importance of having this test.
Actually back 2-3months ago I had one of those,at the time I was thinking to myself,a colonoscopy is the only way they can trace anything. I had been told that. But I just googled how you wrote it and I think you’ve put my mind at rest. I believe that is just as good.
So thank you for at least stopping me stressing so much.
there is a faecal calprotectin test which is just a stool sample where they test if there is any internal inflammation ie to test for IBD but what you are referring to is a capsule endoscopy nuffieldhealth.com/tests-sc...
This test is mainly used for the small intestine as it doesn’t look at the colon like a colonoscopy.
Thank you to for your reply. I’ve had a faecal calprotectin test a few times.The last test I had was a blood test from my GP to find out if there was any inflammation much to my surprise it came back fine. I’ve just looked through the Nuffield web site and like you say it’s for the small intestines,but I don’t really know what’s going on inside me apart from it’s painful.
Hi Breathless1943. Sorry to hear you feel so ill, I cant help as regards the small camera but I can feel for you with the colonoscopy situation. Was offered one myself a month ago and I refused it too I felt quite ill after the last one I had..like you I am 80 will be 81 in august. I have lung cancer, Copd, and high blood pressure besides my IBSD, I told my GP I had enough to contend with so not having anymore cameras. Good luck I hope you can get rid of your pain soon. xx
Oh my god,you sound just like me. I have multiple health problems,but this continuous pain just gets me down. I so emphasise with you,but empathy isn’t going to help,so just sending you a hug.🤗
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