First pill cam approaching fast

[Crohnsmomof3]

I am scheduled for a pill cam next Friday and was wondering what to expect. I am ready for the prep, it doesn't sound that bad at all. I am just a bit nervous swallowing the camera. Has anyone had this before and is it bad going down?

 

[gracestrong]

Ok I don't know if this is allowed here, but I actually just wrote a blog post on what to expect for a pill cam.

http://gracestrong.com/pill-camera-aka-capsule-endoscopy/

 

[Crohnsmomof3]

Ok I don't know if this is allowed here, but I actually just wrote a blog post on what to expect for a pill cam.

http://gracestrong.com/pill-camera-aka-capsule-endoscopy/

Thanks for the information. It really helped to read through your experience with the pill cam. It puts my mind at ease. I am still not necessarily looking forward to the proceedure, but compared to some other procedures this seems a bit light. I think I will call insurance to double check it is covered though.

 

[mikep]

There are also a number of YouTube Videos on Pillcam. A quick search will bring them up quickly.

I presume by "prep" you have been asked to follow the colonoscopy prep rather than a simple clear diet?

You don't mention doing the patency pill test so I presume your specialist feels that pillcam will pass through you without any issues.

When I swallowed both the patency and the real pillcam I elected to stand-up, take a big mouth full of water and then swallow the pill in one big gulp.

I did not experience any discomfort during the passage of either pill. The recorder was comfortable to wear but somewhat awkward in as far as it had a tendency slip around my waist.

For me the time from entry to exit was 21 hours.

 

[gracestrong]

Thanks for the information. It really helped to read through your experience with the pill cam. It puts my mind at ease. I am still not necessarily looking forward to the proceedure, but compared to some other procedures this seems a bit light. I think I will call insurance to double check it is covered though.

I would also talk to your doctor's office as if they have scheduled it, they should have gotten a pre-authorization that cleared the test. The doctor's office will more than likely have to submit supporting documentation proving this pill cam test is necessary as apart of that pre-authorization.

If you have a good doctor's office they should keep you in the loop about this upfront or at least after you call and ask to be. You calling the insurance solo is always good, but I would ensure the doctor's office has crossed their t's and dotted their i's.

I'll add more about this into the article. Thank you as it let me know there was a weak spot in the article. Thanks to mike as well - as one of my scans; I believe the barium flouroscopy, let them know it would pass fine.

 

[Honey]

Hi there, Do not worry. It is the easiest test out. You swallow the pill with a drink they give you and fast for a recommended time. You are given a time when you can have a coffee and another when you can take a light lunch. I went out of the hospital for a while wearing the belt with wires attached to my body under my jacket. Wear a loose coat so you can close it and keep it from view! Good luck. Best wishes.

 

[Crohnsmomof3]

There are also a number of YouTube Videos on Pillcam. A quick search will bring them up quickly.

I presume by "prep" you have been asked to follow the colonoscopy prep rather than a simple clear diet?

You don't mention doing the patency pill test so I presume your specialist feels that pillcam will pass through you without any issues.

When I swallowed both the patency and the real pillcam I elected to stand-up, take a big mouth full of water and then swallow the pill in one big gulp.

I did not experience any discomfort during the passage of either pill. The recorder was comfortable to wear but somewhat awkward in as far as it had a tendency slip around my waist.

For me the time from entry to exit was 21 hours.

It is a light prep. I can have full liquids for breakfast and then clear liquids the rest of the day. I do not remember seeing anything about any cleansing like a scope. Thank goodness for that!

The reason he wants to do a pill cam is because I had a resection a year ago. (It was my surgiversary on December 6th). I had a colonoscopy this past August and all looked rather good, minus some mild ulcers in the terminal ileum. Then last month I had a CT Enterocylsis and it came back clear as well. However, he wants to see the area of the other resection site as two areas were removed. One being my terminal ileum and another further up in my small bowel. So, he wants to check on that area as well.

I should be clear to have the pill cam because the CT Enteroclysis showed no inflammation that would get in the way.

 

[Crohnsmomof3]

I would also talk to your doctor's office as if they have scheduled it, they should have gotten a pre-authorization that cleared the test. The doctor's office will more than likely have to submit supporting documentation proving this pill cam test is necessary as apart of that pre-authorization.

If you have a good doctor's office they should keep you in the loop about this upfront or at least after you call and ask to be. You calling the insurance solo is always good, but I would ensure the doctor's office has crossed their t's and dotted their i's.

I'll add more about this into the article. Thank you as it let me know there was a weak spot in the article. Thanks to mike as well - as one of my scans; I believe the barium flouroscopy, let them know it would pass fine.

I should hope they did everything correct. My worry is that the doctor ordering it is in Indy, but I am getting it done locally. I live about three hours north of Indy and didn't want to drive all the way down for this test. I go enough for doctor appointments and other tests. It is the University Hospital and they are good at doing things correctly. I just worry about things getting lost in the mix having it done at another location. And I used to go to this local doctor and sometimes things get messed up.

 

[Crohnsmomof3]

Hi there, Do not worry. It is the easiest test out. You swallow the pill with a drink they give you and fast for a recommended time. You are given a time when you can have a coffee and another when you can take a light lunch. I went out of the hospital for a while wearing the belt with wires attached to my body under my jacket. Wear a loose coat so you can close it and keep it from view! Good luck. Best wishes.

Yes. I will be looking forward to my coffee!

 

[lulu Belle]

Hi, I am doing my second pill cam test thursday. Doing the prep tomorrow. The test is super easy. Just pay attention to the info they give you about the sensor belt.

 

[Crohnsmomof3]

Test was nice and easy. Pill was also really easy to get down. Worst part was a nasty migraine due to no food/coffee. Finally went away after I could take my medication, but it happens for every colonoscopy or any clear liquid day. I need to find a preventative medicine for those days.

I will go in in about an hour to have the belt removed. I will also ask about the pill exiting and timing for that.

Thank you all for your comments. I appreciate it.

 

[Jennifer625]

Just had mine today. The prep (golitely) was the worst part - yuck!

 

[alybaly402]

I had one about 8 months ago. It wasn't bad at all!!! The pill slides down really easily and I didn't have to do a prep before. I just could eat. Please try not to worry too much about it. It's really a simple test. Best of luck!
-alex

 

[Flow]

I agree with other it's the easiest test. But at the same time it's not a very accurate test as it will miss a lot of things. In my case the pill cam showed nothing wrong but colonoscopy showed problems at the end of small intestine.

 

[brooklyn23]

It's the easiest test, though I found some abdominal discomfort in the hours after taking it.

Wear 100% cotton.