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

[Dave7]

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]

Its not the best of fun.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Bet it goes down well, when time to share your holiday snaps.

 

[a.twiddler]

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?

 

[presta]

I have never needed a colonoscopy but read/heard that the whole thing is, to say the least, unpleasant.

Having had a bowel tumour, I've had several, and as long as they don't make it a problem, they're fine. It just feels like a bit of wind rumbling around.

Probably the worst part is not the colonoscopy itself but the "bowel prep"

I don't see why people make such a fuss about this, yes it's a bit bitter, but it's not that difficult just to gulp it down quickly, then it's gone.

All viewed on a large screen TV while the team are at work on your fundament.

It intrigued me just how clean the prep leaves it all, I was expecting it to look a bit more crappy.

And for anyone who hasn't yet had one, don't take any notice of the lurid tales about the sudden explosions after you take the prep, there's plenty of time to get to the loo at your leisure. There was someone on twitter recently who was most panicked about how undignified it would be. She needs to get a grip.

 

[Dave7]

Having had a bowel tumour, I've had several, and as long as they don't make it a problem, they're fine. It just feels like a bit of wind rumbling around.


I don't see why people make such a fuss about this, yes it's a bit bitter, but it's not that difficult just to gulp it down quickly, then it's gone.


It intrigued me just how clean the prep leaves it all, I was expecting it to look a bit more crappy.

And for anyone who hasn't yet had one, don't take any notice of the lurid tales about the sudden explosions after you take the prep, there's plenty of time to get to the loo at your leisure. There was someone on twitter recently who was most panicked about how undignified it would be. She needs to get a grip.

Could it just be that your body didnt have the bad reaction that others have had ?

 

[slowmotion]

I had my first colonoscopy about a month ago. Despite a fair bit of fear and embarrassment in advance, the reality wasn't nearly as bad as anticipated, helped by sedation from fentanyl and midazolam. I remained entirely conscious throughout as the charming doctor explained exactly what he was doing. Aptly enough, his name ( Naom ) translates from Hebrew as " gentleness". I learned later that the camera tube is about 12mm diameter and that the route it takes to the far end of your colon is about 1.5 metres from the start. Tactfully, the medics keep this hose well hid from you at all times so you don't get alarmed.

 

[a.twiddler]

I had a similar experience to @slowmotion. The first one I opted to have no sedation after discussion beforehand which suggested that "older patients tend to have a higher tolerance to discomfort", and your recovery is quicker without. It was OK actually. The second one was a follow up as I needed more polyps removed, and it was going to be a longer session, so opted for sedation. It was a similar experience to the first except that I felt a bit more chilled, and I was kept under observation for longer before they let me go. The whole experience was very professional and inspired confidence.

I've had a few procedures over the last few years, various scans etc but this was a fairly benign experience.

Hence my saying that the bowel prep was the worst part of the procedure. If you are going to have the screaming squits, it's always better to be in control of when you want it to start. Once you start, it's self limiting. Still, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. I don't think the taste of it had even registered as an issue. I had dysentery in 1990 and remember thinking then, "when will it ever end?" When I dragged myself to the doctor when it was finally safe to stray far from the toilet, he said he'd had it too. He was retired and working as a locum. "Had it in Pune when I was an Army doctor in India during the war. It was much worse this time!" he'd said.

The bowel prep was a minor inconvenience compared with that.

 

[BigSid]

For a bit of light relief there was a very funny thread here on SingleTrackWorld of this very procedure in 2009. They use a different laxative today though.

 

[slowereveryyear]

For me the laxative and its violent results will never be forgotten. The second time I was given a different laxative supposedly more gentle. It was not!
I remember being concerned as to whether things downstairs had calmed enough to get to the hospital without a mishap.

 

[BigSid]

When I had mine there wasn't any pain it was just a bit uncomfortable. I agree the bowel prep is the worst part though. I advise getting some moisturised toilet paper.

 

[slowmotion]

Having a friendly home lavatory takes the roughest edges off bowel prep. I once had industrial-grade laxatives after post-op opioids in hospital. Eight or so hours on a ward lavatory made me feel that death might be a merciful relief.