anybody with experience on capsule endoscopy? i've some questions below?

it's the easiest test. some people prep, but I just had to not eat for 8 hours. they have you swallow an easy capsule and then strap a cool, unibomber thing around your waste it is connected to several sensors stuck to your belly. I worked all day and then they take it off.

There have been many people on here that have had the pill camera done. It is just like swallowing a big pill and they strap a moniter that is about the size of a sardine can on you. Actually was a really good thing for me found alot of abnormalities that did not show up on the normal scope. I know one person on here that had to have it surgically removed but usually if your guts are that bad it is a good thing to get it done anyway.

I had the M2A capsule test in Feb 2007. GI "assumed" it came out. Didn't see anything to worry about on pics. In April 2007 I went for a CT enterography as I was still having tons of issues. Radiologist says "we see something metal in your stomach".. huh?!?! LOL! Capsule was stuck in there. Went to Colorectal surgeon who wanted to do a colonoscopy to see if they could remove it that way. If they couldn't get to it, they would do surgery. I said let's just do the surgery and see what's going on in there AND get the camera out. Ended up with open surgery and 14" of small bowel along with 4" of colon resected.

As for the actual test, it's simple. I didn't eat for 8 hours beforehand. Went in, got strapped into a monitor contraption that made me look like a bomber. Mine was much larger than a sardine can. More like a dvd box. Swallowed the pill which was about the size of an XXL vitamin. Came back in 8 hours and had it taken off. Results back in 2 weeks.

For most this test is a great indicator of what's going on. For me, it left me thinking nothing was wrong when the camera was stuck in there for 5 months by the time I had the surgery.

GOODLUCK!

I've had three of them done, and am quite possibly going for my fourth soon. They can be helpful to see parts of your body they typically can't scope via endoscopy or colonoscopy. Before I had the first one, they did a dissolvable pill camera to determine if it would pass. A lot of places will allow this to be done before getting the real thing. But don't necessarily count on that being 100% reliable. I ended up doing the dissolvable pill twice, and both times it hadn't passed before dissolving. Because of that, they were hesitant to do the test.. but I did so anyway. That was a personal choice because I felt if it got stuck it was getting stuck for a reason, and I'd probably have to do surgery regardless. That isn't really a normal reaction, but it was a decision I made with my doctor. But to place it safe, each time I've had one I do full on prep to try to reduce any chance of it slowing down inside me or getting stuck.

Let's see... what else? It really isn't hard to swallow at all, and the gear is kind of annoying to wear. I end up staying home for the day because you look so odd with it on. I had to have three because the second one, which was done over a year later from the first, ended up just hanging out in my stomach the whole 8 hours. So the third one they placed it via endoscopy so at least they would know it would be recording more than just the stomach. And typically, they will check 2-3 weeks later via an X-ray to determine if its passed. But if you've actually seen it pass.. then you're good to go.

In determining if you want to do it.. I'd say it depends on your own situation. Why are they wanting to do it? Have you been on medication at all? Are you having any other issues? Please let me know if you have any other questions I can help with. Good luck!

The capsule endoscopy is how I finally got a diagnosis (after 8 years).  The test was a breeze other than having to go twice...once to have them put the equipment on you and once to have them take it back off.  I never saw the pill come back out, but it must have!  =)

I really watched for my camera, but never saw it. I had fun with the equipment cuz I am a college prof and I made my students guess what it was. the best were first-generation I-Pod and change maker for a casino!

i'm supposed to have this done soon so this was helpful for me, but i'm left with 2 questions:

1) do i have to recover the camera? (i'm not planning to)

2) the camera better not be reusable cos if it is i aint doing it.

I was unable to use my credit card in a gas station pump when I had the box strapped to me...coincedence? perhaps, but it worked later in the day!
no, you don't need to retrieve the camera, Harry, and not reusable! :)

My GI told me about a young guy he was working to diagnose who went home with the monitor in place after swallowing the capsule. |He came back the next day to turn in the monitor and the G|I asked him of he had passed the capsule. He said "yes sir!" and opened his mouth and removed the capsule from under his tongue, explaining that he had kept it safe. The GI said he had to leave the examining room for a moment to laugh.