Camera pill
 

Well today I saw the rheumie because I'm feeling a pop in the bone in the groin. He ordered a new xray and guess what.....? three weeks after the camera pill test, the %#$F@ thing is still there. Just spoke with the GI doc's office and they are putting me on laxatives for the weekend and then a new xray on Monday and they will then determine what they will do. I saw the xray. The tech had no idea what it was. Thought she'd done something wrong. It was immediately identifiable to me. Looks like a little sputnick.

So what else will happen.

Oh yeah, forgot to tell you. The main bone in the sitting area inside the sitbone is broken. The rheumie is sending me to an ortho but advises against surgery. Says the pins will pull out of my bone. He says bones will heal. Wants me to spend the next 6 months in bed.

Not in my vocabulary. Oh yeah..forgot to tell you again. My neuropathy is killlinng me!! Seems worse. But the worse part is in my sit area.

Billye

Billye
 

ouch,ouch, I'm so sorry it hurts I know every time i move i'm afriad...
I don't know why but my PN is really hurting as well,weather,time
change,pain!!!Now youngest son has Shingles,now he's wishes us all well..
:( Hugs to all feel better Billye and all :grouphug: Sue

Billye, that sounds unbelievably painful. Your attitude is so good given the exteme problems you have. You are one in a million! I'm pulling for you!

I just can't help it....
 

I have to ask, is IT still working? Has it told anyone anything useful?
Oh my! Where is Cheryl, Crytears? I believe she had that experience....I guess, I just want to know that it was all worthwhile or something.
HUGS :hug:'s - j
Also, ummm? any idea if it will ever leave? If not, sure sounds like an unwanted houseguest?

results of conversation
 

Dahlek,
the camera pill found no problems in the middle intestinal area but apparently made the curve to drop in the colon and then got stuck. If it doesn't pass this weekend, I'm looking at either a colonoscopy or surgery to retrieve the thing. It just depends where the capsule is stuck. They said the battery has run down by now and isn't sending anything. But if they don't get it out, the battery will eventually corrode and hurt me. This was a possible problem and I had to sign papers acknowledging that. It seems that if it can happen,...it will to me.

Thanks for all the good wishes.
Billye

I thought I understood this stuff...
 

but obviously I've swallowed some sort of Propaganda Pill? [Sorry, couldn't help it?]
Wouldn't one 'think', that taking something like another 'colonoscopy' prep would get it out? Now, if that glop doesn't work [I mean when you do a 'prep' well, far more happens than you'd ever imagine?]...then worry? In the meantime, I guess, you can always tease the docs that you got 'stuck' with them? And now they are 'stuck' with you or something. Tho I suspect 99.99% of gastros have absolutely NO sense of humor about all they do.
I just hope it gets outta the way! Hugs and good thoughts.

Also, a couple of big SIGHS! Somehow they seem appropriate for this situation. HUGS again - j

Billye:

Oh my god, you poor thing. You go and get a camera job, and it's still there. A little sputnik in your tummy.

It will pass. Just be like the little Engine that could, keep thinking: "I think I can, I think I can".......

:hug:

Holy, um, garbage. Maybe with the Sjogren's you didn't have enough moisture in your digestive system to propel that camera properly? I'm shocked that they make you ingest something that can CORRODE in your body if it doesn't go all the way through. :eek:

Not surprised your neuropathy is worse, not with yet another break in your body giving you a pain concerto. And they can't do anything about it??? Wish I had some helpful suggestions, but this is way out of my league. :(

Giving you a VERY gentle cyber hug. :hug:

fanfaire
:cool:

Good Grief!!
 

Billye,
I'm so sorry that your camera pill is stuck and can give you more grief and pain on top of your fractures. I hope the colonoscopy prep will get rid of the fool thing for you so you have one less aggravation to delal with. I'm sure your PN is in high gear w/ all that you have to deal w/ but maybe the collective prayers and good wishes from the forum will give you a liitle relief.
Hopw all goes better for you. As Fanfaire did I'll send you a very gentle :hug: too.

Alkymst

billye, i asked our dr...who is also a friend about this. he said he had never heard of a person not being checked after they downloaded the pictures from the pill. that within a certain time, i think he said 48 hours, they should have given you laxitives. and knowing that you have Sjogren's it probably should have been to begin with.

you might want to check into this more. for legal reasons. yes they tell you can get stuck. but them not checking that it had passed......wrong...totally wrong.

mega hugs love and prayers.

Oh my goodness! You sure don't need another situation to complicate matters. Here's hoping this is resolved SOON along, with everything else. http://bestsmileys.com/signs13/1.gif

Thanks guys,
 

Thanks for all the support. I truly think it should be part of the camera pill procedure that you have a follow up xray to see if this thing is out of your system. I wonder how many people have had to have procedures to remove the camera pill. I suspect it has been a good procedure except for this one gotcha. :o

Billye

Billye?
 

That's one huge GOTCHA?

I far more like it when docs do say...80% this, 18% that, then the 'other
2%'? And then further take [Dang it why don't they?] into consideration all those other minor [to them] issues? Isn't that what 'informed consent' is supposed to be about? But then, 'mostly' they DO tell you, but you just can't take it in.....I surely wish you could just 'loose' that little devil naturally tho! Gentle :hug:'s as well. This is soo well, SOO! - j

Oh. . .my . . .God.
 

And various other expressions.

Considering your history with reactions to foreign substances . . .I'm with Curious on this one--no one thought, when they didn't recover the little widget after a few days, to go looking for it?

And, as has been mentioned, given your medical history, and the probability of slowed gatric transit and insufficient intestinal moisture, nobody thought to make double damn sure?

I think you've got a case here, no matter what the release form said.

I just hope you can get the thingee out without any more invasive procedures than strong laxatives, and that you can feel somewhat better overall.

We're looking into this situation
 

Glenn,
No, no one even asked for a follow up. I got a telephone call saying the camera did not find anything in the middle GI tract (small bowel). But they don't even look after 8 hours of test. I was assured that it would be no problem to pass this thing. Remember I'm the one that didn't pass the 48 hour nuclear test either. Came all the way home with the nuclear material in me. Who knows, it may still be lurking. They don't even check. I asked how would I know if the camera pill was still in there. I was told that I'd probably be sick at my stomach first. It seems to me that it would be too late then. I probably will be making a case out of this one.

I've gotten to where I just don't know what to think any more. It seems as if there is any kink to a medical procedure, it will happen to me.

We are wAiting to see what Monday brings. Thanks for all your good wishes.
Billye

Oh my God, Billye... This is unbelievable... I sure hope you can pass this and don't end up having to have any surgery. I wonder if this could have anything to do with your PN firing up so badly...

Broken bones, stuck camera, PN flaring up... What next???

Cathie

Hmmm...
 

Billye,
I'm sorry that I haven't kept up here as much as I should have so do not know the history behind the ordering of the Capsule Endoscopy [camera pill].

What I do know stems from having a CE in 2004 and from moderating a Crohn's forum where many of our members have this test. As was probably explained to you, the CE is one of the best tests to look at the intestinal mucosa of the small bowel. People being worked up for Crohn's disease that cannot be seen using a colonoscopy often have a CE.

The problem that some of these people run into is that the inflammation in their small bowel has caused strictures or partial obstructions and the pill becomes "stuck." Also some people with Crohn's do not have the typical Crohn's symptom of diarrhea but have constipation instead. Slow transit time and/or colonic enertia can cause the CE to not pass.

If it is suspected or known that the capsule is not passing because of stricture or obstruction, laxatives are not given. The capsule must be surgically removed. If no stricture is seen or suspected from other tests, then laxatives might be used.

If you did not sign a consent that specified the risk that the capsule might become lodged in the intestinal tract, then you might have a case. However, I have never heard of anyone that did not know this was the largest risk that the CE imposed. Then again, because we "Crohnies" deal with bowel issues all the time, greater emphasis might be placed on this possible risk.

I am sorry that you are having to deal with this along with all of your other problems. My CE was a BUST - it passed so quickly that the $1500 it cost was a total waste. Mouth to **** was 6 hours and 52 minutes so the desired number of small bowel photos was not reached. I saw the little lights on the capsule flashing away in the bottom of the toilet bowel...LOL.

BTW - the battery life on the capsule used to be 14 hours - I don't know if that is still true. No images are sent beyond that time or if the monitoring device is disconnected prior to that. Typically, the monitoring belt is only worn for about 8-9 hours.

OMG...How dumb am I? I had this test done ages ago (about 6 months) and I have no idea if I ever passed the camera :eek:
I remember checking the first day after I had the test done...didn't see anything. I remember wondering if I would "feel" it pass...never felt it. My doctor's office didn't tell me much about this! I guess I kind of forgot about it...until now!

I have no pain though (except for that imaginary pain that just started when I realized I might still have the camera inside me :p)

The part about corrosion...NEVER HEARD THAT FROM MY DOCTOR! YUK.

So...think there's any possibility the camera could still be there after all this time with no problems?

PS...I wish you easy camera removal-by whatever method fate determines! And, I thank you for jogging my lousy memory.

It boggles the mind, that people are told to swallow a camera pill and no one tells them that, "we should do a follow up to see if you pass it", no one phones you up the day after asking "did you pass it??".

And the part where the guy saw the blinking lights in the toilet bowl and he knew that it passed in 6 hours so no viable photos were taken, well, that just blows my mind.

The medical incompetency I am reading about REALLY makes me want to move to France.

Absolutely mind-boggling..

The medical incompetency I am reading about REALLY makes me want to move to France.

France? Why France, Mel?

Cathie

Cathie:

If you ever saw the movie Sicko by Michael Moore, you would (believe me), understand why I want to move to France.

Alan would move there tomorrow if we could.

Just better treatment all around, and none of the BS that people here have to go through. It should never be about what a person can afford. It should be about physicians wanting to heal, and not just pleasing insurance companies.

Melody

Sooo Billye?
 

Any news? This is getting well, un-nerving to say the least. Hugs and good things soon? - j

Billye-do you have a copy of the informed consent? Was it on it?

sorry so late
 

hey all,
Sorry I'm so late. We had the xray done today and the tech took the first one, came back and said he didn't see anything, then took a higher one and said well, it's not official but looks o.k. I'm to call the doctor and get results tomorrow, but it looks like it finally went on thru.

Liza Jane,
I don't have copies of the paperwork. But it is gone, so we are not going to have anything to pursue. If I had to have surgery, it would have been a different story.

When I talk to the doctor tomorrow I WILL suggest that next time he has someone with the slow transit problems I have, ...he should follow up 48 hours later to see if the pill has made it's way thru. Ridulous, it took almost 3 weeks to get thru my colon. And that's with Miralax every night plus Mrs. D's fizzy magnesium. I probably don't eat enough. But I get no exercise right now. And Sjogren's does this to us. Not enough mucus in that area to get things moving. And the mucus we have is thick.

We are seeing the ortho on Weds and the next saga begins......:p

Thanks for everyone's concern.:hug:

Billye

Billye
 

I just had that done at Barnes,honest they said it passed but,still
don't when,nobody said when and my tailbone hurt to bad to look.
And still no report,I e-mailed,they said no report usually good news,
they are being thorough,what ever..Still feel lousy,sorry Billye just
to much isn't it..:(:( Sue

Has the camera pill come out yet? Do they just x-ray to see if it is out? I haven't had the camera pill thing, so this is one area I am not familiar with.

Yes cyclops
 

I did call the doctor's office to check on the xrays they did on Monday. The doctor's nurse said it looks as if the camera is gone but the doctor will call me on Thursday. I took a lot of her time telling her that I thought it would be wise for the doctor to do a 48 hour xray in patients with slow transit digestion, Sjogren's or neuropathy. She said she would make a note for the doctor. I will also follow up with a letter to him telliing him how frightening it was to learn the thing was still there after 2 1/2 weeks. I told her that I'd been diagnosed with autonomic neuropathy in that area by Mayo.

I hope she listens to me.
Billye

Well I hope she did as well,but some ,well alot of nurses float so
much now,in one office one day,then another the next..Well
it's a different world.. Hugs to all Sue

silverlady
 

I am glad it is out! It is amazing how little a lot of docs know about autonomic neuropathy!