Hi bunny, I have recently been through both due to anaemia, low iron low ferritin low folate etc. I have a terrible gag reflex but knew this had to be done. on thay day of the procedure I was offered a sedative as well as pain meds, I opted for both. The sedative does not knock you out it just takes away the anxiety and helped me a lot. managed to get through this endoscopy without gagging. first one without sedative was a little different. Blood in the stool can show as digested blood which means it comes from the small bowel and is why they do endoscopy. It is something I can understand your really worried about but if you can get through the procedure and all is clear then you can take a deep breath and work on building up your iron levels now you have the coil fitted. I have had three of each procedure so am more than happy to support you with this. there will also be plenty of other people here who have gone through them too.

best wishes

HM

Hi HM.

Thank you for the reply and supportive message.  I'm glad the procedure was OK for you.  I suffer with general anxiety so I'm concerned that I may end up with PTSD if I go through with it and have a bad experience. 

I have read that it's now possible to have a capsule endoscopy which you swallow and it records images on a device which you wear.  My NHS trust doesn't offer this yet but the neighbouring trust does.  I'm wondering whether I would be able to request this?   Have you come across this option?

Thanks, Bunny

Hi Bunny

yes The capsule procedure was discussed but because I have a very slow gastric emptying, gastroparesis which they found using a radio opaque capsule and x ray 2 weeks later normally you would have passed all the little opaque markers by then but 46 out of 50 were still in the upper quadrant, they assumed from this my complete transit could be anything up to 3 weeks, This was the reason they didn't do ahead with the capsule endoscopy, it would have just taken lots of images of my stomach and not moved through. I think it is possible to go out of trust area, two of my clinics are in different trusts but I was referred through by a consultant. I'm sure the GP can refer out of trust but would have to apply to the referal or comissioning group. I think perhaps your next step is to call your GP and ask about being referred for the pill cam and the reasons why. It might take a while unless he can still refer you on a 2ww to see someone in the other trust about this. in theory we are allowed to choose which hospital we can opt for if they have a shorter wait. If it is a neighbouring trust and just happens to be a bigger hospital then it might be a possibility

Sarah xx

Hi Sarah.

Thank you for this.  I've contacted my GP and got a callback this afternoon to discuss.  As mentioned earlier, I feel OK about the colonoscopy as my gut instinct (no pun intended) is that any issues would be found there.  The consultant I spoke to yesterday  didn't answer any of my questions about the reason for the gastroscopy and I just got the feeling he was ticking a box.  No explanation at all.

I'm wondering whether to take one step at a time.  Go for the colonoscopy and see what that comes back with.  If that's clear then request the capsule to investigate higher up?

My nieghbouring trust seem to offer more services there as it's much bigger than my.local one

Needless to say, I had another sleepless night. - I just want my life back!

Bunny x