Man Reports PillCam Stuck In His Gut For Over 12 Weeks 183
A Portland man appears to have a pill-sized camera stuck in his gut. That man is me... Let me explain.
For the average Joe, the following statement might sound a bit peculiar: I have swallowed a pill-sized camera a number of times. You see, I have Crohn's Disease (CD) in the small intestine -- a 20 foot-long portion of the gastrointestinal tract that runs between the stomach and the large intestine (colon). A "PillCam" is the most non-invasive, detailed method to survey this area as it doesn't require a scope up the rectum or down the esophagus, nor does it require any tissue slicing. It's also one of the safest procedures available -- the retention rate is as low as 1%. Unfortunately, this most recent capsule endoscopy resulted in my admission to the 1% club.
On March 27th, 2018, I swallowed the PillCam that is currently lodged in my small intestine. If you do the math, that's more than 82 days ago (over 12 weeks). After hiking Smith Rock and summiting Black Butte a couple weeks later, I thought for sure the pill would have exited. It didn't, as evident by the follow-up X-ray. It can be difficult to find research on such a what-if scenario that happens to so few, but I did manage to find a Motherboard article telling the story of Scott Willis, a CD patient that had a PillCam lodged in his gut for eight weeks. One of the key differences between him and me is that he had a partial block and endured more symptoms, prompting him to schedule a procedure to get it out quicker. I'm relatively symptom free.
We have tried upping the dose of corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and help the pill pass through the strictured areas, but that didn't seem to work. Most recently, I had two double-balloon enteroscopy procedures done within a week apart. They were able to locate the PillCam during the second procedure, but weren't able to retrieve it without risking the scope itself becoming stuck. The next step is to try again via the esophagus. The potential issue/complication here is the location. As my doctors warned, the PillCam is stuck 15 feet down and the scope is only 20 feet in length. There's little wiggle room if the pill is slightly further down the GI tract than estimated.
I am sharing this story with the Slashdot community for two reasons. First, those entrenched in the world of cyborgs and/or modern-day medical procedures may find this experience particularly interesting. Second, the more people who know about the procedures and complications of Crohn's Disease the better. For those interested, I'll update this post after the next procedure. Have you or someone you know experienced a capsule endoscopy? Please share what you feel comfortable with.
UPDATE 7/11/18: Yesterday, I had the procedure to remove the PillCam via the esophagus and it wasn't successful. The doctor said he tried everything he could to retrieve it but the scope wasn't quite long enough to reach the pill. I'll be talking with a surgeon next week and will update this post when a surgery date is confirmed.
For the average Joe, the following statement might sound a bit peculiar: I have swallowed a pill-sized camera a number of times. You see, I have Crohn's Disease (CD) in the small intestine -- a 20 foot-long portion of the gastrointestinal tract that runs between the stomach and the large intestine (colon). A "PillCam" is the most non-invasive, detailed method to survey this area as it doesn't require a scope up the rectum or down the esophagus, nor does it require any tissue slicing. It's also one of the safest procedures available -- the retention rate is as low as 1%. Unfortunately, this most recent capsule endoscopy resulted in my admission to the 1% club.
On March 27th, 2018, I swallowed the PillCam that is currently lodged in my small intestine. If you do the math, that's more than 82 days ago (over 12 weeks). After hiking Smith Rock and summiting Black Butte a couple weeks later, I thought for sure the pill would have exited. It didn't, as evident by the follow-up X-ray. It can be difficult to find research on such a what-if scenario that happens to so few, but I did manage to find a Motherboard article telling the story of Scott Willis, a CD patient that had a PillCam lodged in his gut for eight weeks. One of the key differences between him and me is that he had a partial block and endured more symptoms, prompting him to schedule a procedure to get it out quicker. I'm relatively symptom free.
We have tried upping the dose of corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and help the pill pass through the strictured areas, but that didn't seem to work. Most recently, I had two double-balloon enteroscopy procedures done within a week apart. They were able to locate the PillCam during the second procedure, but weren't able to retrieve it without risking the scope itself becoming stuck. The next step is to try again via the esophagus. The potential issue/complication here is the location. As my doctors warned, the PillCam is stuck 15 feet down and the scope is only 20 feet in length. There's little wiggle room if the pill is slightly further down the GI tract than estimated.
I am sharing this story with the Slashdot community for two reasons. First, those entrenched in the world of cyborgs and/or modern-day medical procedures may find this experience particularly interesting. Second, the more people who know about the procedures and complications of Crohn's Disease the better. For those interested, I'll update this post after the next procedure. Have you or someone you know experienced a capsule endoscopy? Please share what you feel comfortable with.
UPDATE 7/11/18: Yesterday, I had the procedure to remove the PillCam via the esophagus and it wasn't successful. The doctor said he tried everything he could to retrieve it but the scope wasn't quite long enough to reach the pill. I'll be talking with a surgeon next week and will update this post when a surgery date is confirmed.
Is the pill magnetic? (Score:2, Interesting)
Maybe you can use some strong rare-earth magnets to help it along?
Interesting, like Magnepull.Could work, or damage. (Score:2)
That's an interesting idea. I know that even small, cheap rare earth magnets from the dollar store can move things a couple inches away. YouTube videos of the Magnepull show the technique used to move wires through walls with a magnet, including walls stuffed with insulation. Of course, it could also be dangerous, but it might be worth talking to the doctor about. Maybe show the doctor the Magnepull video.
Rare earth magnets that are SWALLOWED can do damage, but of course that's not what's being discussed h
Magnetic pulling (Score:5, Informative)
Of course, it could also be dangerous, but it might be worth talking to the doctor about. {...} Rare earth magnets that are SWALLOWED can do damage,
The danger of swallowing rare earth magnets comes from the plural -s at the end of the word.
If you swallow just one, nothing of significance happens, you'll eventually just shit it out.
The risks rise dramatically if there's more than one magnet, specially if swallowed on separate instance (not stuck together as 1 block, but separately).
They'll travel with a distance apart from each other along the 20feet of gut tract.
If they come (from the outside perspective) close to each other, while they are in 2 distinct part of the gut (from the perspective of the length of the gut).
(Say, each magnet is in a turn, and both turn happens to be close to each other. Basically think a long labyrinth and the magnets only having a couple of walls inbetween), then there's a high risk that the magnets will attract each other and get stuck.
They'll be stick magnetically to each other, which might prevent from moving further along the gut.
They'll also be very strongly pinching whatever (mostly gut wall of the different loops) is in between them, which could damage the tissue, and/or block the blood flow due to the pinching.
These can lead to the the gut wall dying.
Regarding the camera, as you say it might be an idea worth talking but could be dangerous.
The poor guy isn't healthy, he has a gut disease (chronic inflammation).
His gut doesn't behave like a simple 20feet long hose. But instead due to the inflammation, the gut's wall is partly damaged, and in some points is stuck together (that's the "strictures" he's talking about). The hypothesis is that the pill is stuck in one such stricture.
Pulling it with magnets could potential help it go further along the gut.
But pulling it with magnets could also pull the pill against damaged wall, burrowing it further into the walls, or risking to rupture a peculiarly damaged wall.
For the double-balloon procedure, which end did they enter? If via the colon, I'll have to reference this in the future when BeuHD makes very silly posts a about solar-electric and such.
Given that he mentions that the eosophagus would be the next entry to try, I think we can guess that the colon was the entry used in the first 2 attempts.
Re: (Score:2)
Note that either the camera would be not be attracted to a magnet and this suggestion therefore pointless, or it would be attracted to a magnet and pose the similar sort of risk as having plural magnets and stick together through intestinal wall.
I was *assuming* the suggestion of a magnet was in jest.
Ferro-magnetic parts (Score:2)
Note that either the camera would be not be attracted to a magnet and this suggestion therefore pointless,
The pill cam has very likely ferro-magnetic parts and should be (slightly) attracted to magnets.
But..
or it would be attracted to a magnet and pose the similar sort of risk as having plural magnets and stick together through intestinal wall.
That was my opinion too, hence my comment :
But pulling it with magnets could also pull the pill against damaged wall, burrowing it further into the walls, or risking to rupture a peculiarly damaged wall.
Though as noted by other answers, the point here isn't to have 2 strong magnet with only a few milimeters of walls of gut loops in between (that is guaranteed to pinch and damage even healthy gut), but to have a not so strongly attracted pill cam pulled from a distance by magnet outside the abdominal cavity (might or might not pull to strongly on the inflamed gut w
Re: Interesting, like Magnepull.Could work, or dam (Score:2)
Rare Earth magnets aren't dangerous to swallow unless you swallow more than one.
82 84 (Score:1)
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Sorry, I did the math.. 82 84 = 7 Ãf-- 12 So maybe "almost 12 weeks" would've worked better here.
I think he's using metric weeks. ;)
82 is less than 84 (Score:1)
Re: 82 is less than 84 (Score:1)
Re:Is the pill magnetic? (Score:5, Insightful)
So let me get this straight, you want to attract a metallic object the size of a pill or, oh let's say, a bullet with a strong magnet... a thing that has the tendency to rapidly accelerate a magnetic object... inside human intestines.
I have ulcerative colitis so I imagine I know what I'm talking about when I say the man has enough problems as it is...
Re: Is the pill magnetic? (Score:2)
Why an x-ray? Wouldn't ultrasound do?
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Maybe you can use some strong rare-earth magnets to help it along?
This is highly unlikely to work. The problem? You think of the intestine as a linear tube from mouth to colon (then anus), but in reality there are many twists and turns in the intestine (which happens in real time - aka peristalsis [wikipedia.org]). So for any placement of the magnet, you are just as likely to hang it up as to move it along - so doing this yourself won't help - and may actually be harmful if the magnet is strong enough and left in one area too long. That being said....someone has already thought of th [springer.com]
Single nudge to turn it, then let it pass normally (Score:2)
99% of the time, they get through all those bends without any help. I think the idea would just give it a little nudge to get it unstuck, perhaps by rotating it to be pointed the right way, then leave it alone and let it continue through normally. Guiding it through all the twists and turns would be extremely difficult, but probably not helpful.
I'm reminded of when a toy is thrown into a tree. It falls through all the branches and twigs, then gets stuck halfway down. So someone throws a tennis ball at it t
Re: Is the pill magnetic? (Score:2)
That's basically a colon cleaning. It's totally useless otherwise and does nothing for your health, but I can't say I've heard of it being used to remove foreign objects, but it might work, and you don't need any kind of a license to do it.
Especially the kind of foreign objects that were shoved up there too far that one time when you were drunk at that party, pulled your pants down, bent over, and shouted "Go ahead! See what you can fit in there!"
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I'll take $20 for my efforts and me and my air compressor will get you handled. If we get you aimed right, we may even be able to handle some target practice.
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> I'll take $20 for my efforts and me and my air compressor will get you handled. If we get you aimed right, we may even be able to handle some target practice.
Does your malpractice insurance cover overpressure injury and embolism? Neither is a good way to die.
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I wouldn't recommend that procedure, rare earth magnets are a bit too strong and depending on the location (probably one of the 'folds' in the GI tract), it's more likely you'll get it lodged even deeper or do more damage. What you need is a guided magnetic field, there has been some research done in them to guide tiny objects such as drug delivery even through something relatively small like arteries.
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Maybe you can use some strong rare-earth magnets to help it along?
This reminds me of what they do for cows. I grew up in a rural area and a fellow student brought in the rounded cylindrical magnets they use to retrieve bits of metal a cow may swallow. I think they go in like an endoscopy and then slowly pull them out.
This was elementary school so I may be remembering it wrong, but that was the idea apparently.
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Better yet use a bell to generate fecal currents. Taco Bell, that is.
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I thought the reason taco bell creates the problems it does, is because it's a low residue, low fiber diet.
re: Crohn's... (Score:2, Informative)
So sorry. (Score:5, Funny)
It sounds really shitty.
Data Retention Policy (Score:2)
He's just retaining his own data because he didn't sign the PooLA agreement. If he had known the latin word "Camera" origin he might have expected what happens you put something private, where the sun don't shine. But he should have known that face book never lets you excrete your data.
Black Butt Hike should have dislodged it. (Score:1)
Black Butte is a "butt" of a mountain, nothing but steep lava talus, if a hike that jarring cannot dislodge the Butt Plug then nothing can. perhaps your Crohn's Disease super-organism is retaining the camera for study.
Beautiful Black Butt -- https://upload.wikimedia.org/w... [wikimedia.org]
Solution 2 (Score:5, Funny)
Should have got an MRI done first (Score:5, Informative)
When I saw the title of the post I knew this would be about someone with Crohn's. I have it too, and my doctor wanted to do a PillCam, but luckily he decided to do an abdominal MRI first to make sure there weren't any strictures narrow enough to prevent the pill from passing through. After the MRI the doc decided it was too risky, and went for a traditional colonoscopy instead.
I hope they find a way to get yours out without resorting to major surgery. :)
Good luck! Crohn's sucks enough without problems like this to deal with.
Hopefully the Crohn's MAP vaccine will be approved soon and we can all put this behind us.
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Frankly I'm not sure what the big problem with colonoscopies is... I've had one without anesthetics and while it was by no means pleasant I must say my ulcerative colitis has provided me with more painful experiences on the crapper.
Can't comment on the variety from the other end. Haven't had that pleasure yet.
Re:Should have got an MRI done first (Score:5, Insightful)
The problem isn't the procedure, it's the prep. No food, a gallon of unpleasant-tasting liquid, and hours and hours of watery diarrhea.
You basically give up an entire day of your life to hunger and voluminous diarrhea.
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combine this with diabetes..try having a diabetic patient NOT eat anything for a while.
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The problem isn't the procedure, it's the prep. No food, a gallon of unpleasant-tasting liquid, and hours and hours of watery diarrhea.
Ask your doctor about a product called Pico-Salax. I've had it twice now for colonoscopies, and it's so much better than the 'gallon of antifreeze' prep that I'll never go back. It's still not pleasant, but no terrible taste, and no nausea.
Another tip - spread Vaseline in the ol' butt crack before your date with the toilet, and re-apply as necessary. It prevents the 'diaper rash' that makes the experience even more miserable.
just wait for the bill medical procedures only pla (Score:2)
just wait for the bill medical procedures only place when when they F* up you are stuck with an bill to fix it.
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If this guy is anything like my wife (who has Crohns) he's hit the max out of pocket cost already... My wife's Entyvio infusion gets billed at 25k a pop (I think insurance "negotiates" that down to 8k or so) and she gets them every 8 weeks.
Makes it easy to estimate medical expenses for the year though. Just premiums plus max out of pocket. Well unless insurance decides to screw you by denying coverage on something that is necessary...
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I take it you've never worked with a general contractor, IBM, or Oracle.
a warrior's drink (Score:1)
Prune Juice
and plenty of it.
I appreciate your candor. (Score:5, Informative)
Plain and simple: thanks for taking about this, both for the interest and the education.
I'm typically jokey here, but really: thanks, and good luck losing that thing.
Thanks for keeping Portland weird (Score:3)
Oh man (Score:5, Funny)
Anyway I hope your camera pill passes better than my kidney stones.
Pill cam (Score:2)
I have Crohns and had five Colonoscopies over the years, just to keep an eye on things. I asked my doctor if we should try pill cam, as we got them here now. He answered that they preferred only to use them if there was a very good reason to, not for routine spelunking. Reason was that a guy had gotten it stuck and needed surgery for removal.
Re: Pill cam (Score:3, Interesting)
You might have missed the news on CD awhile back, ask your doctor if he/she knows what causes Crohnâ(TM)s (get treatment targeting the Candida fungi and E. Coli and the S. marcescens), hereâ(TM)s two relevant quotes from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160920151435.htm
The researchers found strong fungal-bacterial interactions in those with Crohn's disease: two bacteria (Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens) and one fungus (Candida tropicalis) moved in lock step.
Additionally, tes
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So, basically what you're saying is to kick Crohn's in the ass by inventing a 40 or 50 foot long anti-biotic power washer for the human gastro-intestinal tract.
That sounds like a fun procedure!
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You might have missed the news on CD awhile back, ask your doctor if he/she knows what causes Crohn['s]
This is a very interesting article and they may be on to something, but it is far from the first time Crohn’s disease has been attributed to microbes. They make a good argument, but I don't think that this closes the case yet. They specifically note that this is for "Familial Crohn’s Disease" and not all cases are familial [nejm.org]. This was also a study that only looked a 9 family, with an n of 20, so this is not a very large study, and these are likely geographically co-located (but they did not giv
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Dr. Joel Fuhrman on IBS/Crohns; also Phage Therapy (Score:2)
To follow up on your diet modification suggestion and also probiotics, see Dr. Joel Fuhrman's writing; example: https://www.drfuhrman.com/libr... [drfuhrman.com]
Another way to deal with biofilms in theory is with phages (viruses that attack bacteria):
"Dr. Tim Lu - Biofilms and Phage Therapy"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
Mentioned here: http://www.phagetherapycenter.... [phagetherapycenter.com]
"This 11 minute film is excerpted from an interview with Dr. Tim Lu, who is an expert in characterizing & eliminating biofilms with phage therapy. He
Re: (Score:1)
There was actually a study recently published that concluded that Crohn's is caused by Mycobacterium Avium Paratuberculosis (MAP).
https://j.ideasspread.org/index.php/mhs/article/view/72/39
I would suggest everyone at least do a bit of reading into this, Anti Map Antibiotic Therapy (AMAT), and the Crohn's MAP vaccine which is potentially going to be a cure for Crohns if it gets approved (http://crohnsmapvaccine.com/). Then, if you're interested, ask your GI about it, or find one who is willing to give it a tr
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Aw, I guess that means one less hip Gastroenterologist who gets to feel cool at the expense of his patients. Sometimes, everyone's a loser it seems. ;(
Thought I had Crohn's, (Score:4, Interesting)
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So whats the deal with the two deleted posts from earlier in the day? Shitpost-y as they were, I thought editor overreach was not a thing here?
Re: (Score:2)
They have deleted posts in the past when it came to Scientology. I've had my account suspended before as well. Who knew that was even a thing.
Re: (Score:1)
WARNING: Accepting medical advice from random slashdotters can lead to an aggravated condition and even death. Check with a certified medical practitioner first.
Re: (Score:2)
Try Apple cider Vinegar
I personnaly prefer Android cider Vinegar.
Educating others about your condition (Score:2)
Sorry to hear it (Score:2)
I know little of CD, but I recall a girl with an extreme case, wanting to have a euthanasia option here in Australia available to her, her death details were quite gruesome. I hope it goes ok for you.
This is a serious suggestion (Score:3, Interesting)
This is not a joke. Try smoking (or vaping, or eating) some marijuana. It tends to relax internal muscles and may help you pass it. At worst, it's a cheap, harmless, fun thing to try before going in for a more complicated, potentially needless procedure.
Re:This is a serious suggestion (Score:5, Informative)
This is not a joke. Try smoking (or vaping, or eating) some marijuana. It tends to relax internal muscles and may help you pass it. At worst, it's a cheap, harmless, fun thing to try before going in for a more complicated, potentially needless procedure.
This is not a joke, this is some of the worst advice. Please stop posting uninformed advice that is more harmful than helpful.
Muscle relaxants (of which marijuana is a poor one [nih.gov]) are not useful here and are actually contraindicated. This capsule is not hung up on a sphincter, it is likely caught in a stricture [nih.gov] and inhibition of peristalsis is not going to help and may make matters worse.
In addition, by consuming marijuana and getting "high" he or she may miss changes in their condition that indicate that they need to get to the hospital emergently (e.g. abdominal pain indicative of intestinal rupture). If they decide to take themselves to the ED, driving while impaired is illegal in all states not to mention just plain dangerous. Once there, again, being under the influence of a psychoactive drugs they may not give a thorough medical history, or it may alter the physical exam findings, possibly leading to a misdiagnosis (even with EMRs - I have seen this happen). Marijuana may also interact with other more useful medications that need to be given leading to further complications. In addition, diagnostic tests may be delayed as they won't be able to properly consent after consuming an substance that alters cognition. In addition, buying drug on the street is very dangerous because you do not know exactly what you are buying (a pharmacology professor of mine proved this in the 80s) - even marijuana can be laced with even more dangerous substances [americanad...enters.org]
In short, please don't self-medicate. This is especially true when you have a complex medical condition. Leave the medical advice to someone who is trained and qualified.
And stop claiming that marijuana is harmless. I see too many people land in our ED as a result of this type of self-medication.
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
While you are certainly correct that pot is incredibly unlikely to be helpful here you veer into some pretty heavy scare tactics that dont have a lot of truth to them.
"". In addition, buying drug on the street is very dangerous because you do not know exactly what you are buying (a pharmacology professor of mine proved this in the 80s) - even marijuana can be laced with even more dangerous substances [americanad...enters.org]"
For starters, medical pot is legal in more states than not so why are we assuming
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While you are certainly correct that pot is incredibly unlikely to be helpful here you veer into some pretty heavy scare tactics that dont have a lot of truth to them.
"". In addition, buying drug on the street is very dangerous because you do not know exactly what you are buying (a pharmacology professor of mine proved this in the 80s) - even marijuana can be laced with even more dangerous substances [americanad...enters.org]"
For starters, medical pot is legal in more states than not so why are we assuming the purchase would be illegal? After that, a small amount of critical thinking quickly brings up the question, why would some one selling weed spend money lacing their product and not tell the person buying? Your own link even states there's no data on the subject.
Here's a nice snopes link debunking the latest panic of fentynal laced weed: https://www.snopes.com/fact-ch... [snopes.com]
"And stop claiming that marijuana is harmless. I see too many people land in our ED as a result of this type of self-medication."
While, much like drinking, there are those who will do truely stupid things while high pot is far safer than every day activities like sober driving or manual labor professions.
While you are certainly correct that pot is incredibly unlikely to be helpful here you veer into some pretty heavy scare tactics that dont have a lot of truth to them.
I'm sorry, what scare tactics did I refer to? I have not referred to any well publicized and likely misleading sources used by the war on drugs - I have not referenced the usual claims of lowering IQ or as a gateway drug even though it is reported in a peer reviewed journal [nih.gov]. I specfically avoided such sources because I knew someone would attempt to discredit them. What I have given you is clinical experience (19 years now) of issues that I have encountered with actual patients that I have treated. I hav
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"I'm sorry, what scare tactics did I refer to?"
I'm a little baffled by that question. I literally address this after making that statement. Go back and reread my last post if you are seriously wondering about this.
"I'm sorry, what scare tactics did I refer to? I have not referred to any well publicized and likely misleading sources used by the war on drugs - I have not referenced the usual claims of lowering IQ or as a gateway drug even though it is reported in a peer reviewed journal [nih.gov]. I specfical
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Always interesting to note when haters post drug war lies and get automatic top moderation.
Gee, did you read on Slashdot that the racist War on Drugs is actually all true and that marijuanas are killing the children because them dirty Mexicans can't stop puffing that nasty stuff. No really, it's true! I read it on Slashdot and it had a top moderation and was written by a real highly paid medical establishment person who gives people prescriptions for opiates every day so it's really really the truth.
Don't t
Some ideas to try. (Score:5, Informative)
It sounds as though despite active disease, stricture, and these technical headaches, that you are active (hiking tall rocks) and thus not acutely complicated by your palsied pill. If you are not sick, then no urgent risk. The big concern of course is that the thing will lodge in the stricture and you will get acutely obstructed.
I assume that your doctors have already tried various things, but on hearing the story anew, several things come to mind. They might have all been done already, but it doesn't hurt to get fresh ideas:
- Steroid boost. I see that that has been tried, but all too often when I hear that steroids were raised, it is often just trivial amounts. If reduction of inflammation and edema will loosen the stricture and de-narrow the lumen, one to two weeks of sizeable doses might be needed, e.g. the kinds of doses used for severe life threatening flares of autoimmune disorders such as lupus or pemphigus.
- Lubrication. Mineral oil is a classic stool softener and lubricant. It is less in favor today because (1) concerns about hydrocarbon aspiration and pneumonitis if you are obstructed and vomiting, and (2) high priced pharmaceutical pills are more in the minds of most physicians these days. If you are not obstructed (sounds like you are not), then a good swig or two of the stuff might help.
- Bulk flow. The concentrated osmotic agents that are used for bowel preps might create a wave of peristalsis and flow that might carry the flotsam forward. This could be a concern if you are obstructed, but evidently you are not. But if you were . . .
- Gastrograffin swallow. This is intestinal x-ray dye. It is very hygroscopic and can induce bulk fluid flows as well as dehydrating the mucosa (lining tissue) of the bowel surface. It is often used as a first line intervention to alleviate an early bowel obstruction before resorting to surgery. A gastrograffin swallow would partly combine the effects of steroids and osmotic agents, which if primed with mineral oil might get the thing to sneak by.
- Technical. If they could see it with the 2-balloon enteroscope, then they might have snagged it except that they either could not reach it or else not grab it with a biopsy forceps. Instead, they could use a stone basket. If the stone baskets are on too short a wire, then weld-solder-splice an extension. Big companies such as Olympus that make the equipment will often make custom modified hardware for special circumstances, and making a 20 or 25 foot long stone basket might be easy if you ask your local rep for help.
None of these are guaranteed to work, but they have a fair chance of doing so, and they are safe. Perhaps one or some of these have not been tried yet, in which case it is worth discussing them with your doctors.
Good luck.
Re: (Score:3)
Best /. comment this year. TYFYS.
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Man oh man (Score:2)
I hope you continue to stay mostly symptom free until the thing passes.
Make money from it!!! (Score:5, Funny)
I’m sure there’s someone that’s willing to pay to watch that livestream. Or maybe just livestream it with sponsorship from laxative companies.
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It must be said... (Score:5, Funny)
This, too, shall pass.
Re:It must be said... (Score:4, Funny)
Gandalf might have a word or to with you in regards to this.
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Thank you for that. You made my day!
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NONE SHALL PASS.
Oblogatory (Score:3)
! YOU SHALL NOT PASS
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Bad spelling is bad!
Try it, but see your doc (Score:2)
I had normal (but very painful) constriction in my gut caused by binge eating too much fibre.
Was on the verge of going to the doc but it was the middle of the night so I made a cocktail of 4 parts pineapple juice to 1 part olive oil. About three tall glasses of those shifted it. Shake it well and drink before it separates.
You can add an olfactory marker to see (or rather smell) if it's passing round the obstruction. Garlic works.
It's easy to cite a number (Score:1)
If you believe that 1-3% approximation, then I've got a fine set of encyclopedias that are going to find a new owner. Do you take pharmaceutical enterprises any more at their word than deceitful software shops?
Even a 6-year-old can solve this (Score:1)
Swallow a little battle-bot
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It might not help ones condition, but sure is fun to watch.
Roller Coaster? (Score:2)
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I hadn't heard that- that is awesome, thank you!
Oil or Laxative ? (Score:1)
One of my close relatives has crohn's and a blockage would be painful dangerous and expensive. I assume a laxative won't work as this is the small intestine but are you drinking a lot of fluids or trying castor oil in case that may help lubricate the stuck pillcam ?
D Vitamin, high dosages. (Score:1)
Anti-inflammants (Score:2)
I've probably got a benign from of Crohn, and have always refused any invasive measure or method of diagnostic, exactly in order to avoid risking what unfortunately happened to the author of TFA. I'm keeping it in check, more or less, with anti-inflammants and some care in my diet. Not ideal, and I know it may be progressing, but then again.. I'm 51. I'll sit out the ride until I die.
For the rest, I'd not be too anxious about the thing. If your gut doesn't protest, you may possibly be best off by l
After summiting Black Butte a few weeks later... (Score:3)
I thought for sure the pill would have exited.
Is that what the kids are calling it these days? I'm not judging.
Osmotic Laxative (Score:2)
https://www.amazon.com/Basic-C... [amazon.com]
Be warned, it will shuttle every last bit of fluid you consume with it directly into your colon.
Solution from a surgeon (Score:5, Informative)
I am sorry you have this problem.
I am a Trauma, General surgeon.
This is what I would do:
1) removing the pill does not fix the stricture problem. It simply kicks the proverbial can down the road. The next time something gets stuck there, (and there will be a next time) it will be possibly worse. It may lead to a perforation and an emergency surgery with possible ostomy (stool bag) as the outcome.
2) I would do laparoscopy using three 5mm ports. Identify the stricture, and do the correct surgery which is a stricturaplasty And removal of the Pill Cam. If stricturoplasty is inadequate then you may need a resection.
Thatâ(TM)s it.
The real problem is that you can not avoid the inevitable which is you have a relatively asymptotic stricture which is symptomatic by virtue of the Pill Cam not passing through. Consider it a warning and deal with it in semi-elective manner. Better now then as an emergency which given enough time it will become.
Re: (Score:2)
Parasites (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
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Worst case.... (Score:2)
The urge to make a joke or unhelpful suggestion... (Score:2)
alright, one joke. I was backpacking as a kid (BSA@Philmont) and the rangers told us not to wait too long between BMs (as rookie were inclined to do, given the lack of comfortable facilities along the trail), as it could result in a trip to the doctor to resolve the situation via a dire-sounding process called manual extraction. "Unless," the ranger said, "you are a mathematician."
I had to ask. I knew something awful was coming, but I asked.
"Wh
Instagram link in TFA (Score:1)
This is about a camera, right? I was very nervous about clicking that Instagram link.
Guess then that it was a ... (Score:2)
... shitty pill cam.
*Tadum* *Crash* *Thud*
Thank you, thank you. I'm here all week. Tip your waitor and try the fish.
Sorry (Score:2)
I'm sorry to hear about your problem. I hope everything comes out okay in the end.
He's watching . . . (Score:2)
He's watching re-runs for a while . . .
Options (Score:3)
Ideas - Crohn's disease in the 3rd world? (Score:2)
Does Crohn's disease exist in the non-industrialized world? Is it a symptom somewhat similar to allergic reactions gone crazy?
It's recently been proven that food allergies go away with tiny dosages over time. Allergy doctors give you shots of whatever it is you are allergic to.
Is there any hope that people with Crohn's just need their immune system to start reacting with more of the natural world? Mosquito bites, dirt, cuts, scrapes? I remember reading on Slashdot or somewhere a while back one grad student
Re:Deleted posts? (Score:4, Insightful)
This smacks of editorial over reach, and I don't like it.
If Slashdot is going to start deleting comments, they're removing one of the last reasons to stay here.
Re: (Score:3)
The very last reason, you mean. I hear about things in other places first these days, even G+regularly beats /. To the punch
Re: (Score:2)
How many people swallow pill cameras every year?