The date for my appointment with the gastroenterologist is getting close and I am becomming more and more nervous! My GP thinks I should go through the pill camera test -and probably some other tests- and has written to the consultant suggesting maybe he does this test for me to find out why I am experiencing D more than usual. Has anyone on this board ever had the pill camera test and how did it go? I am pretty anxious about it - is it easy to swallow? I really want to get this sorted out and will go through with the appointment, but hopefully someone out there has some advice for me? Will I have to do the pill test without any prep, do you think? Any advice would be much appreciated!
Pill Camera
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I have it scheduled. There is some prepthe day before. It's easy, why are you anxious?People all over the world have doneit and no deaths associated with it ever.Colonoscopy has had deaths from sedationand perforation. Virtual colonoscopy exposes people to excessradiation, which causes cancer.So the pill is a piece of cake.
Um... not quite.To be clear the virtual colonoscopy does NOT, in itself, cause cancer. Yes one is exposed to radiation during it as anyone is during a CAT scan..but it highly depends on how much radiation one had already had during one's lifetime as to whether it is a good choice or not. This is something one can decide after discussing one's prior radiation exposure amount with one's physician.
The instances of this .. to be clear and fair.. are extremely rare.
That's a quote from this site:http://ibdcrohns.about.com/od/colonoscopy/p/colonoscopy.htm
Gill Let's wait til you actually see the Gastro. You have no idea yet what he/she will want to do yet so.. my rule is I don't worry about something until a Dr tells me to worry.Get to the specialist first and then come on back & let us know what they said & what tests they would like to do.But yes...any examination of the colon will involve a prep.
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The pill camera is used mostly for looking at the small intestine, not the colon. So you don't usually need to be fully cleaned out.http://www.givenimaging.com/en-us/healthca...pages/FAQs.aspx has a 10 hour fast before swallowing the pill came.
Radiation causes cancer. That is an unequivocalfact. Everything is dose-response. Tobacco causescancer but obviously one cigarrette will not causecancer. The same goes for red meat, alcohol, hormone replacement therapy, and every otherknown cause of cancer. It is well known and well accepted by scientists, physicians,the radiology community that thyroid cancers and lymphomasare higher in x-ray techs and radiologists. It's estimated in a NEJM study (dec 15th, 2009) that excessCAT scans will cause 29,000 cancer deaths per year.This is more deaths than HIV! CT scan of the colon is 1,000 x-rays of the teethor 1,000 x-rays of the arm. Your logic is determing whether or not a CAT scan (CT SCAN)is harmful is flawed. You posit that one's exposure during a lifetimewill determine cancer risk. First, since one can not readthe future, one should use the precautionary principle. We may get heart disease in the future and may have to doCAT scans. Second, one CAT scan combined with other environmental factors(diet, red meat, lack of exercise, tobacco, alcohol, etc.) can actuallycause cancer. Cancer is not the result of one exposure, as I mentionedbefore. Different factors can work synergistically to cause cells toproliferate. The key is to minimize as much exposure to known carcinogens.While some people assume everything causes cancer, there are actuallyfew known causes and these causes make up the majority of cancers.Because of this, the pill cam is by far the wisest choice for visualization ofthe small bowel and yes the colon mucosa as well. The majority of the population views colonscopy as embarassing, invasiveand are not quick to undergo a procedure that requires sedation.We must not forget that many people on this board are scared or embarrassedto get a colonoscopy. We must embrace procedures that remove the fearand humility associated with other procedures.
.35 is not accurate, it's about half that.It is indeed rare one would die froma perforation undergoing colonoscopybut hundreds of people have died fromthis procedure in the last 10 years.Zero have died from wireless endoscopyin the U.S. or in the world since the FDAapproved it in 2001.Its been around longer in Europe and zerodeaths have occured in the world. Unless one has stricturing (from excessive NSAIDSuse or many years of living with Crohn's) there isno risk. Stricures may cause capsule retention butthen one can choose to undergo surgery to removeor do a wait and watch - in these people the capsuleusually passes within 3 months. They have alsoinvented a patency capsule for those with suspectedor known Crohn's. This capsule won't get stuck.
If your ok with swallowing pills in general then that shouldnt be much of a problem. i actually found it a rather interesting experience to swallow a small, blinking camera! be prepared to have wires stuck on at various parts of your stomach and abdomen though. its connected to a small computer that youll carry around on you with a shoulder harness (unless there are different variations of all this). mine took 8 hours during which time i couldnt go into any public places-i looked like i was prepared to bomb someplace and didnt want to get into disagreements of any sort!
BQ and Kathleen,Thank you so much, both of you, for your reassuring replies - I will stay calm and let you know how I get on! I try to tell my self "in the grand scheme of things, it is only 8 hours max out of the whole of my life" - but for some reason this time I am nervous!! I have had several colonoscopies, a hysterectomy for endometriosis, and even years ago I had to swallow a large capsule on a wire, so they could cut a piece out of my jejunum (sp) to prove I had lactose intollerance, etc. and managed all those, but this time for some reason I am a bit more nervous! Many thanks for your kindness!!
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