Good news for those needing colonoscopies (in the future).

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Dave7

Legendary Member
Location
Cheshire
I've just read about successful trials of a pill sized camera which is swallowed then travels through normal channels for approx 8 hours. It takes 2 photos per second which are transmitted to a gadget worn around the waist.
It tracks possible cancer and crones desease etc.
I have never needed a colonoscopy but read/heard that the whole thing is, to say the least, unpleasant.
 

Drago

Legendary Member
Location
The Urban Fringe
Its not the best of fun.
 
Probably the worst part is not the colonoscopy itself but the "bowel prep" which you would probably need to do even with a tiny camera pill.

A bland diet for a week beforehand then fasting and a course of something like Plenvu taken twice, within 24 hours of each other, depending what time your colonoscopy is on the day. I can confirm that that stuff really clears you out! I had to go back for a second colonoscopy 10 days or so later as they found a load of polyps which they couldn't shift in the timespan of one session, so they had to send the troops in again.

All viewed on a large screen TV while the team are at work on your fundament. The most disconcerting thing is having a grandstand view of what looks like the entrance to the Channel Tunnel as they line up the camera for insertion. For persons of a nervous disposition, best to avert your eyes at that stage lest you get recurrent nightmares of the Arse Monster coming for you.
Once inside, it's better than most things on TV as everything is explained as they go along.

Fortunately nothing suspicious was found. Maybe some consolation that I was complimented on having a nice clean bowel though I would have been disappointed if it hadn't been after all those hours of turning myself inside out on the loo.

I would hope that the camera pill doesn't turn out to be the size of a cannonball. I wonder if they'll want it back afterwards?
 
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