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[Rabbit1977]

Hi all - I had a colonoscopy yesterday and they found a clear colon. Phew! But the consultant is insistent on me now having a capsule endoscopy done. Does anyone have any experience of one of these procedures please? I'm a bit worried by the risk that it can get stuck in the small intestine, albeit this is a risk of 1 in 1000. I have a fear of having to have any type of surgery done and the last thing I want is someone having to dig out a stuck capsule.

[CLKD]

Did U attend the appt as a private patient 'cos I've found that 'they' will suggest future procedures.

Did the Consultant suggest a particular reason?

[Rabbit1977]

This was the NHS.

On the paperwork for the colonoscopy of which I was given a copy, it says that this is the endoscopist's suggestion to the referring clinician as this colonoscopy was clear and so was my last colonoscopy in 2016. But they are convinced I have a bleed somewhere due to my FIT result of 14 and another case of anemia (my last case of anemia being picked up in 2016 when my ferritin levels had dropped to 7).

I know I should stay off Doctor Google but I can't help googling what the risks of procedures are and don't like the idea that the capsule can get stuck inside.

[Taz2]

Hi Rabbit. Although it's worrying the risk of it getting stuck seems to be only if you have an obstruction in the intestine which I think you would have symptoms of beforehand? I feel that it's better to have the procedure done and any problem treated rather than risk a sudden bleed from a dodgy blood vessel. Easy for me to say I know. 

Taz x

[Rabbit1977]

Well Taz, I've had a sharp pain on and off under the ribs on my left side for a year or so, but who knows where it is coming from and what the cause is, whether it is a twisted intestine somewhere or something else. I have managed in the past to reason that the pain is from gas trapped in the splenic flexure since it comes and goes and they did a normal colonoscopy yesterday.

I do know what you are saying, I just have a fear of medical procedures going bad and having to have an operation.

[fiftyplus]

Hi Rabbit

Sorry I have no advice for you but I hear you, I am exactly the same when it come to anything medical x

I have a colonoscopy soon and dreading it - how did you find it? x

[Rabbit1977]

Hi Fiftyplus

I was dreading it - not just the possible outcome but also the procedure. Turns out, the prep beforehand really was the worst part of it....and by that I mean the taste of the Plenvu I had to drink. I sat quite happily on the toilet afterwards for hours playing scrabble on my laptop and just let nature take its course. The consultant that did my colonoscopy was great and I had two super nurses with me supporting as well. I had the sedation (felt woozy and relaxed but still able to think clearly) and they also let me have the Entenox as well. The only bit I really felt was when the scope was shoved in where the sun don't shine but after that it was just a case of feeling as if I had butterflies in my stomach. Once he got the scope round to my appendix without any hesitation or noises to indicate suspicious findings I did actually find I could relax enough to open my eyes and watch my colon on the screen. It was actually quite interesting.

Good luck for your colonoscopy. It's hard until you have been through it once and come out of it the other side with a better understanding - the unknown is always scary.

Hi Rabbit

Sorry I have no advice for you but I hear you, I am exactly the same when it come to anything medical x

I have a colonoscopy soon and dreading it - how did you find it? x

[fiftyplus]

Many thanks for taking the time to explain that  - yes, it is the fear of the unknown absolutely - and I have a fear and phobia of hospitals as it is, and I am over anxious that than the average person when it comes to these things but hey it needs done - other people have said they didn'f feels the scope going in but I am thinking you must it going in - I am sure I will     It's the plenvu once I have also - did you have some sieved soup and apple juice the day before btw?

Take good care of and look after yourself x

[Rabbit1977]

I think it might depend on how much lubricant the consultant uses. It felt like I was wiping away masses once mine was done. Think of it this way, the size of the scope going in is soooooo much smaller than what we expel coming out on a normal day 

My colonoscopy was a morning appointment (9.30am) so I was allowed to eat a light breakfast and a light lunch the day before (nothing solid after 12.00). The first dose of Plenvu was to start at 5.00pm and the 2nd was supposed to start at 7.00pm, however, it was sickly so I started mine an hour later when I could manage it. It meant that the morning of my colonoscopy I was due to leave and drive to the friend who was taking me at 8.00am and I still had a little bit of diarrhea but nothing that stopped me doing a 30min drive.

My instructions allowed me to drink clear liquids up to 2hrs before my appointment so I had sieved some chicken broth and drank all night (mainly because just drinking water was making me feel weak and I needed something to boost my energy levels!). I also drank my Plenvu a mouthful at a time with a mouthful of strained soup or flavoured lemonade inbetween to take away the taste! I did quite a bit of research into the Plenvu instructions that various hospitals in the UK give and they vary dramatically so I guess you have to go with what you are sent. Mine for example did not state that you could drink even water whilst drinking the Plenvu but I didn't read this restriction on other hospital info sheets so I went with drinking soup inbetween mouthfuls to get me through. My hospital also sent me a leaflet that stated only 8 items I was allowed to eat on the low fibre diet for the two days before.....and other hospital Plenvu leaflets gave more foods than that (many more in some cases). I ended up living on instant mash, oven baked cod and rich tea biscuits for two days 

I also didn't manage to drink the whole of the second dose, in fact I only managed half. But, they say that you are good to go once what you are expelling is yellow with no bits in and I luckily had achieved this after the first dose. I tried really hard with the second dose regardless but didn't beat myself up for not managing all the second dose.

Good luck! I hope it all goes well for you!

Many thanks for taking the time to explain that  - yes, it is the fear of the unknown absolutely - and I have a fear and phobia of hospitals as it is, and I am over anxious that than the average person when it comes to these things but hey it needs done - other people have said they didn'f feels the scope going in but I am thinking you must it going in - I am sure I will     It's the plenvu once I have also - did you have some sieved soup and apple juice the day before btw?

Take good care of and look after yourself x