Video Endoscopy Capsule

[4tomorrow]

I have posted a few questions on here. I believe that I am at the very least gluten intolerant. I have been living on bananas, turkey/chicken, and rice cakes for days. I am taking librax also. I ate one of those small packages of blueberry muffins tonight and was in terrible pain for hours.

I am trying Heather VanVorous IBS diet to prove to myself and others that I don't have IBS. My pain is about 2-3 in. above my navel.

Enterolab received my kit last Wednesday, so I'm hoping for my results soon but I know that they are busy.

My GI is convinced I don't have celiac but noted that she saw "flattening of the mucosal folds in the duodenum, which are consistent with Celiac disease". My biopsy came back fine as did my blood tests.

So, on to my point. Will there be any evidence that could prove/disprove my theory of celiac by the video capsule endoscopy? I was just wondering if anyone else had had one done.

Disclaimer: I did a search and did not find anything relevant to this.

[Nancym]

I doubt it because they look at those biopsy slides with a microscope. Are you going to swallow a camera? How cool is that!

[4tomorrow]

Yes, it's the size of a large vitamin. I'll have a belt on that it transmits too. It'll take about 55,000 pics of my small intestine. I would love to get a copy of it.

[Canadian Karen]

I found this about it:

Open Original Shared Link

I have heard of it before, but don't know of anyone who has had this done.....

Karen

[4tomorrow]

Thanks for the research. I'll let everyone know what happens with it. It should be really interesting.

[Guest nini]

one of the ladies in our support group had this done as a follow up to make sure she was complying with the diet. I can't remember exactly what she said they found, but I do remember that it sounded really cool!

[jenvan]

Go here and scroll down to see pill cam images of Celiac: Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link I can't find the article, but I read one on the pill cam being an inferior means to diagnosing Celiac. I would say the endoscopy/biopsy is better. The pill cam is not a microscope and can only show regular images. Sometimes that means showing Celiac, other times it does not. I like the biopsy b/c it tells you a lot of things the pill cam can't, like increased lymphocytes etc. I think of the article I'll let you know. It does seem like the pill cam is becoming more popular though. I had a friend who did it and thought it was fun

[jerseyangel]

My mom had it done last year. She had been hospitalized after a fall, and her hemiglobin was very low, and they couldn't figure out why. She had a colo. and endo., but there's a portion of the intestine that is not viewed by either of those, so she swallowed the camera. She then had to wear a little 'battery pack' looking thing for several hours afterwards, and then go back to the drs. Her's showed nothing abnormal. I wouldn't think it would be useful in dx. Celiac, as any damage seen is through a microscope. That said, my dr. saw 'changes' during my endo. and told me to begin the diet that day.

[mmaccartney]

I have had the test performed. My GI Doc called it a Camera Endoscopy. He suggested it after ALL my testing showed absolutely nothing wrong with me, (bloodwork, Upper GI series, endoscopy, colonscopy). basically just swallow a pill sized camera and wear a vest that records the pictures. It took about 6 hours and was absoultely painless. the vest was a tad uncomfortable, but compared to an upper endoscopy or a colonoscopy I'll take it any day.

As someone pointed out though, no biospies can be taken BUT it shows parts of your intesties that are normally only visible through surgery! My GI doc indicated that the picture showed simliar patterns and "folds" that are consistent with celiac sprue. based on that we did another upper endoscopy and got a biopsy. That showed negative for celiac. However I don't know if he biposied the correct location (he indicated that the inflammation and "folds" he noticed were about 1.5 hours into the digestive process dont know if that location is visible through endoscopy or not...), did the lab use a microscope? How good is the lab at dx for celiac?? I don't have any of those answers.

He also did the test to rule out Chron's disease which is what my insurance company also wanted to hear to cover the ~$1500 test. My attitude, it sure as heck beat exploratory surgery!!!!!

[Nancym]

Just curious... how is the camera retrieved? Or is it?

Why must I always be the one to ask the difficult questions?!?!

[jenvan]

It comes out the other end

[Guest nini]

It comes out the other end

ewwwwwww

[Nancym]

It comes out the other end

I was sort of figuring that. But doesn't it take days for it to pass? Or does it get through in those 6 hours? And do they retrive it and reuse it? Oh dear... I really shouldn't think so hard.

[jerseyangel]

No. they don't retrieve it--it just 'goes' away

[4tomorrow]

I'd say if they were reusable they would have a VERY hard time getting anyone to swallow it.

[Nancym]

I'd say if they were reusable they would have a VERY hard time getting anyone to swallow it.

LOL! I should say so! I figured maybe the open it up, yank the camera out and put it inside another capsule.

This is the coolest technology! Reminds me of when they miniaturized guys and injected them into someone blood stream in some movie.

[celiac3270]

To my knowledge:

The video capsule endoscopy takes images, but the main problem is that it can't take intestinal samples, which are the CRITICAL part of an endoscopy, moreso than the images. So it is an inferior means.

[elfkin]

My husband had this done. They said they didn't find anything. He also had exploratory surgery - nothing there either. I wonder if they did the right blood test on him for celiac? They said it was negative. They said that he had reflux, mild colitis, severe IBS or viseral hypersensitivity, and possibly allergies.