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SO embarrassing and frustrating...couldn't swallow the PillCam Patency capsule.

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 1/17/2012 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
Ok, so my worst nightmare came true. I went through the ENTIRE prep for the patency capsule like a good girl (even though I couldn't find any info ANYWHERE backing up the decision to go through a whole prep for the practice one). Sick all evening and through the night. Up at 4:45 AM to get to the city in time for the test AND...

I couldn't swallow that sucker. Tried for 30 minutes. Nope. Not happening.

The technician was so nice. He readlily admitted that 50% of the people that come in for it can't do it either. Apparently, according to him, he said that real one is easier because of the material it's made of AND can be placed with an endoscope if need be; however, they can't place the patency one.

I am an idiot. I'm sure my insurance company will LOVE to hear about this one. Anyone have any ideas at this point besides psychiatric care for my craziness about this pill??? blush
Posted 1/17/2012 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, 1000 lashes w/a wet noodle for the idiotic gastro who insisted on a full scope prep for the patency capsule!!!! Whatta ignorant jerk. Its not craziness on your part. If the capsule is too big to get down it is too big to get down. Fact. There is no reason the patency capsule can't be "placed" just as they can do w/the PCE - except insurances aren't going to pay for it.
Posted 1/17/2012 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
And if that's the case, then maybe I'll just need to pay out of pocket for that one. Not swallowing that thing. I am worried about what will happen, though with my insurance because it's not like they can just "reuse" the capsule I put in my mouth. I think this will end badly...
Posted 1/17/2012 10:22 PM (GMT 0)
I always wondered how easy those suckers would be to swallow. I'm good at swallowing pills, but I can imagine those are pretty big! That alone would freak me out! Those things better give some great pictures, like with singing and dancing for all the crap you've been going through!
Posted 1/17/2012 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
dont beat yourself I had the worst time trying to swollow that thing it was huge. Ask them if you can try again. My trick I put it in my mouth take a big slug of water and swallow followed by more water. It is worth the trouble, It took 5 days to get threw me I was scared it would stay in me. But that is how I finally found out my diagnoses. The nurse told me it is coated with some kind of jell. thaey dont get paid if you dont get the test. Just dont get scared, Take your time and relax.
Posted 1/17/2012 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, everyone. Talked to my doctor and she said they are going to place it during an endoscopy which is good and bad news: good that they can see if this thing will actually go through, bad beause it means another prep in a week, followed by, well another prep if it works. We'll see how it all turns out. Dusty1999, I tried EVERYTHING to get that thing down, but it just wouldn't work. Water and lots of it didn't help. Very bad scene. I can usually take pills just fine, and I've had some big ones, but this was just not happening.
Posted 1/17/2012 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
Actually, my friend had to do the practic pill(I never did) & she also had to do the full prep for it. She had to do it back to back for several days because as soon as the pill passed she had to do the real one so she was on a liquid diet for days(At 5'6/5'7 and 90 pounds that was the last thing she needed!) So your GI isn't 'stupid' for the prep :)

I never did the practice pillcam but I did do the real thing and I swallowed it on my first try! I imagine it probably is easier than the dummy pill because it's slick. I hope your insurance doesn't give you heck :/

Sorry you went through all that for nothing :(!! I would be pretty aggravated myself! Plenty of people can't swallow it so don't feel embarassed!
Posted 1/18/2012 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry you went through all of that! I think some people have a harder time with their gag reflex. It isn't you being difficult! I hope you work things out with your insurance!
Posted 1/18/2012 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
I would be scared to take a practice cam pill if the real thing gets stuck they can just look at the pics and see where it got stuck what do they do if this one gets stuck.

I had no troubles swallowing the real thing
Posted 1/18/2012 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
The Agile Patency Capsule will dissolve in 3-4 days if it can't pass thru and out. That is the entire reason for it. If it passes then the pill camera should also pass. It it doesn't pass and stays until it is dissolved then obviously one is NOT a candidate for the PCE.

I don't care how many doctors you hear of insisting on a complete scope prep before the APC and/or PCE, unless one has extremely slow gut motility a 24 hour liquid diet and NPO past midnight for an early swallow is way sufficient. You can go to the manufacturer's website and read the manufacturer's instructions. Or even read clinical trial results.

I've been following the PCE for years prior to its approval and prior to the development of the APC. I very badly wanted to "do" the PCE long before it was approved but knew I would not be a candidate due to a partial obstruction at my anastomosis. But when they finally came out w/the APC they found that there were those w/partial obstructions that were open enough to pass the APC and the PCE so I jumped at the opportunity when the APC became available in our area. Unfortunately, as we suspected, it wouldn't pass and had to set there and dissolve, but I just had to try in the hopes .......

Any way, a full prep is NOT needed for the APC or the PCE.

Posted 1/21/2012 4:23 AM (GMT 0)
It took me about 20 min to swallow the pill and then the stupid thing got stuck in my small intestine. It's a good thing it did though because that's how they found out how bad my crohns was. I ended up spending 3 weeks in the hospital & had my resection. As it turns out I had 5 seperate strictures but I have been in remission for 4 years now & couldn't be happier. So all the trouble you go through to swallow the pill may very well be worth it.
Posted 1/23/2012 2:15 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, all. Well, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to cheer for: Do I want this thing to get stuck so we know that Yep, there's a blockage there? or Do I want it to roll right through so we can do it all again (yay) with the real thing, and then see nothing, even though I feel poopy (no pun intended?)?

This is all just fabulous. At least I'll be asleep after I get to swallow that lovely Movi-Prep.
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