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FAILED patency test/capsule endoscopy

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Posted 10/16/2008 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
UGH! so after not eating solid food for 54 hours, preparing for my patency test for the capsule endoscopy, driving to the hospital twice (it's 45 minutes away) and having more x-rays it was all for nothing! and the scary part? they can't FIND it on the x-ray after 22 hours (it starts to dissolve at 30 hours) and have no idea where it is and my gi doesn't seem concerned. !!!! i mean, it's possible i passed it but i checked the bowl pretty thoroughly after the minimal bowel movements i have had. but, my gi said, since i still have visible inflammation and the strictures don't seem to been wide enough for the pill cam he called it off.

so my question to anyone that has had the patency pill long enough in their body to dissolve, could you see what was left when it passed? do i need to be concerned? or am i freaking out again for nothing? :/
Posted 10/17/2008 4:31 AM (GMT 0)
I had that test.

They never found mine either. I found myself asking the surgeon (it was before cut #3) to remove it. They never seemed worried about the blasted thing at all. It was really scary thinking they were just going to leave this piece of medical equipment in. I think it may that given long enough, it'd just dissolve? Maybe that's just the hope.
Posted 10/17/2008 8:09 AM (GMT 0)
The patency capsule is dissolvable, so you don't need to be worried. If it was the actual capsule endoscopy, meaning the real pill camera, then there would be some cause for concern. The patency is done first usually to see whether or not you will be able to pass real one. So usually you go back within or around 24 hours to see if you can see it. If not, then it's likely already passed out of your system. If it is in you, then they know they might not want to do the real one. But regardless, since it's the patency one there is no concern. They are meant to be that first go around. So if you've just had the patency capsule you're good to go. No need to be concerned. :)
Posted 10/17/2008 11:05 AM (GMT 0)
This test is a no-can-do for me... diverticulum throughout the same area of CD.
Posted 10/17/2008 11:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Steph Where did he say your strictures were sorry you cain't get the real one done. lol gail
Posted 10/17/2008 12:01 PM (GMT 0)
I did the Agile Patency Capsule bit and 26 hours later the little darling was still in my intestine so no PCE for me. *sigh*

It depends on how "prissy" and diligent you are whether you find the remnants of the APC. There is a tiny "rod" in it. MAYBE 1/4 inch long and 1/6 inch round or wide.

I swalloed the APC on a Tuesday, it was stuck about the proximal end of the terminal ileum 26 hours later on Wednesday.

Friday I passed the little rod that was all that was left of the APC. I can't swear on the Bible that that little rod would appear on xray but I'm sure that is what its purpose is. The APC itself showed up VERY CLEAR and stark white on xray. At least the entire middle section did, the two rounded ends of the capsule had already started dissolving 26 hours after ingesting the APC.

More than likely that little "rod" is why you aren't a candidate for even the APC, Gachrons. It is small enough to slip into one of those diverticula whereas the APC or the PCE are not. I'm sure the concern is that if the APC didn't pass w/in 26 hours and dissolved in the intestine the "rod" would then be a potential risk for those diverticula as it continued the journey thru.

Posted 10/17/2008 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
C2, yes that little rod would appear on an X ray. I never had the APC. but thanks to some other circumstance beyond my control I just happen to have a few tiny shards of metal in my body that cannot be removed. They show up in Xrays like little neon lights. Now thanks to heart surgery I also have a nice coil of wire tying my chest back together. It not only shows up like a slinky in x rays but also makes travel much more interesting for the poor guy with the wand at the air port . I also have to tell the people before I have an MRI. I dont know what they do but there must be a diff. setting on the machine or the metal would become hot, or so I am told. I am pretty sure if the little pill left the rod, the doc would know it.
Posted 10/17/2008 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
Sniper, I was told with the real capsule to write NO MRI on my hand in black marker. By the time it washed off the pill would be out. But if I had a car wreck and had an MRI w/ the pill in me I was told it would be like a magnet and rip right through my intestines and maybe even through my skin.
Posted 10/17/2008 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
That sounds plausible Fitzy. I know they make sure you dont have any metal on you when you have an MRI and I know the magnetism is very powerful ,but I have never been refused because of the metal I carry inside me. Next time I have one done, I will throw myself up against the fridge and see if I stick.
Posted 10/17/2008 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
thanks everyone! i am still so confused. if i did pass the thing, why is he not doing the actual pill cam?! why put me through all this then turn around and say "oh yeah, btw, i don't think you are a good candidate". i even called the emergency # they gave me to talk to another gi about it. because also today i passed so much black mucus it scared the crap out of me! (ba dum dum) i always pass mucus but not once have i ever seen black or that much. they said i should have passed the patency pill no problem and that my other symptoms sounded just like typical crohn's business.

*SHRUG*
Posted 10/17/2008 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
oh btw gail, strictures are in my ti, about 8 inches or so.
Posted 10/17/2008 10:04 PM (GMT 0)
Darn I don't know anything about the pill cam thing but what did emerg. say about black mucus wish I was more helpful and hope someone else knows more did you eat any chocolate? That makes my BM's dark. I'am not even going to try to sugest why they put you threw all that ahen you got strictures ,I didn't know they even gave the pill cam to people with strictures. Are you having any pain or has it got worse since you went or the test? lol gail
Posted 10/18/2008 5:18 AM (GMT 0)
hi gail, no chocolate snacks for me. the gi on call didny seem so overly concerned but understood why i got scared!! you know, i thought the same things. and i dont understand, if this cleared my body then why is the pill cam not a good idea???

i am so confused!!

i haven't been on in so long ... how are you feeling? any new news on your front??
Posted 10/19/2008 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
I am good since surgery having some issues with a abcess thingie around anal opening but is getting smaller with the table salt baths and have some weakened area above the scar but am hoping in time it might strengthen itself. New ideas now that's how I spend the day thinking .I can only think that maybe it is because you have strictures that they will not do the cam perhaps they think it will get stuck. No not much news fall is here now and the cold weather will soon be taking over heavy frost last night. Did the Dr. say anythhing about you needing to have that area removed that is strictured? I had alot of problems in the TI area too .lol gail
Posted 10/21/2008 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
hey gail, i hope your healing continues progressing for the better. it's seems there is always something, doesn't it?!

we too had some heavy frost. trying to figure out what to do with my basil plants. we are at peak color now on the trees but darn this cold already!!

yes, we have talked surgery but he is prolonging that as much as possible. right now he would like for me to increase my 6mp to 100 mgs. which means weekly blood work again and quite possibly more fatigue and hair loss but also the possibility of full remission. such a double edged sword i tell ya :/
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