- Joined
- May 21, 2014
- Messages
- 250
Hi guys,
I wasn't sure where to put this, but there is sometimes a procedure required for people being recommended for doing the pill cam endoscope (where you swallow a camera pill). For people like me where a CT (with contrast) has shown thickening in the small bowel, it was recommended I have first have the agile capsule to confirm whether the object a size of the pill cam can fit through safely. For reference, while I didn't specifically measure the agile capsule, it was white, and about an inch long (give or take) and basically like a huge vitamin pill and round.
Because the lab tech at the GI's office had never come across this or administered it before, I thought maybe it might be worth sharing this info on here.
What I specifically took was the PillCam Patency Capsule. Patency is not referring to a patent, but checking for your own patency (openness) in the bowel - without obstruction or thickening that might cause issues with the real camera.
The following is straight from the leaflet from the packet the pill came in:
"A patency test with the PillCam patency capsule safely determines whether an object the size of the PillCam patency capsule can pass through your intestine. For this procedure, you will swallow a capsule made of dissolvable material surrounding a tiny Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag that can be detected by X-ray or the PillCam patency scanner. If the capsule leaves your body before it dissolves, this confirms that your intestine is passable or "patent" for an object the size of the capsule. If, as often happens, the capsule is still inside your body after 30 hours, it will dissolve into small pieces that can pass naturally through your intestine. A return visit to your doctor will be scheduled for the day after you swallow the capsule to test whether it is still inside your body."
For the purpose of this test, I was required to have only clear fluids and no solids the day before the capsule test. From midnight on, I was required to abstain from liquids entirely. So in other terms "Nil By Mouth".
I was told I could not drink any fluids until 2 hours after ingesting the capsule. Four hours later I was permitted to have a light lunch. And after 8 hours, I was still completely famished, but was permitted to eat. I practically inhaled my pizza.
The leaflet also states that "if you suffer from any abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting during the patency test with the PillCam patency capsule, contact your physician immediately.
After ingesting the PillCam patency capsule and until it leaves your body, avoid being near any source of powerful electromagnetic fields such as one created near an MRI device." (Not sure if a Walmart type electronic deterrent thing at the doors is safe or not - but avoid it just to be safe).
I have been instructed to record my bowel movements until the x-ray, which will take place tomorrow. My diary will be empty - I'm in a different class to a lot of people on this forum.
I was also given the information on my bowel prep for the actual pill cam at the time I went to get the dummy cam / agile pill capsule / PillCam patency capsule. That was kind of helpful because it saves another trip in case you find out you can get it done soon and can prep for it over the weekend if need be.
Please also note that I had to get prior approval for this through my insurer. I thought I needed approval for the PillCam itself, but it was the agile capsule / PillCam Patency Capsule that I needed approval for. The PillCam under my insurer does not require prior authorization. Perhaps they deem it an unnecessary step, but it's better than needing surgery to remove a stuck pill cam!
Anyway, while this is more an account of my initial experience with this alternative first step and 'results' and experiences may vary, it might be of some useful knowledge to someone else.
I wasn't sure where to put this, but there is sometimes a procedure required for people being recommended for doing the pill cam endoscope (where you swallow a camera pill). For people like me where a CT (with contrast) has shown thickening in the small bowel, it was recommended I have first have the agile capsule to confirm whether the object a size of the pill cam can fit through safely. For reference, while I didn't specifically measure the agile capsule, it was white, and about an inch long (give or take) and basically like a huge vitamin pill and round.
Because the lab tech at the GI's office had never come across this or administered it before, I thought maybe it might be worth sharing this info on here.
What I specifically took was the PillCam Patency Capsule. Patency is not referring to a patent, but checking for your own patency (openness) in the bowel - without obstruction or thickening that might cause issues with the real camera.
The following is straight from the leaflet from the packet the pill came in:
"A patency test with the PillCam patency capsule safely determines whether an object the size of the PillCam patency capsule can pass through your intestine. For this procedure, you will swallow a capsule made of dissolvable material surrounding a tiny Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag that can be detected by X-ray or the PillCam patency scanner. If the capsule leaves your body before it dissolves, this confirms that your intestine is passable or "patent" for an object the size of the capsule. If, as often happens, the capsule is still inside your body after 30 hours, it will dissolve into small pieces that can pass naturally through your intestine. A return visit to your doctor will be scheduled for the day after you swallow the capsule to test whether it is still inside your body."
For the purpose of this test, I was required to have only clear fluids and no solids the day before the capsule test. From midnight on, I was required to abstain from liquids entirely. So in other terms "Nil By Mouth".
I was told I could not drink any fluids until 2 hours after ingesting the capsule. Four hours later I was permitted to have a light lunch. And after 8 hours, I was still completely famished, but was permitted to eat. I practically inhaled my pizza.
The leaflet also states that "if you suffer from any abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting during the patency test with the PillCam patency capsule, contact your physician immediately.
After ingesting the PillCam patency capsule and until it leaves your body, avoid being near any source of powerful electromagnetic fields such as one created near an MRI device." (Not sure if a Walmart type electronic deterrent thing at the doors is safe or not - but avoid it just to be safe).
I have been instructed to record my bowel movements until the x-ray, which will take place tomorrow. My diary will be empty - I'm in a different class to a lot of people on this forum.
I was also given the information on my bowel prep for the actual pill cam at the time I went to get the dummy cam / agile pill capsule / PillCam patency capsule. That was kind of helpful because it saves another trip in case you find out you can get it done soon and can prep for it over the weekend if need be.
Please also note that I had to get prior approval for this through my insurer. I thought I needed approval for the PillCam itself, but it was the agile capsule / PillCam Patency Capsule that I needed approval for. The PillCam under my insurer does not require prior authorization. Perhaps they deem it an unnecessary step, but it's better than needing surgery to remove a stuck pill cam!
Anyway, while this is more an account of my initial experience with this alternative first step and 'results' and experiences may vary, it might be of some useful knowledge to someone else.
