Celiac Disease: Treatment and Diagnosis
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Created by Stephen Doogan

PillCam Yay or Nay?

An Article on the PillCam:

http://www.weareceliac.org/treatment/articles/47

The PillCam procedure on video:

http://www.weareceliac.org/treatment/articles/46

So what are you views on this new technology? Have you had ever had this? Whilst this is hailed as a great medical advancement, there are still some issues around this new technology. Even though you can get good data and imagery of the digestive tract, that there is still a need for the conventional 'probe' that is seen more in the conventional colonoscopy. In addition, patients may need to go through the PillCam procedure twice, whereas a conventional colonoscopy generally has to be done once and is cheaper. Would you rather pay more and have less invasion or vice versa? Let us all know your thoughts.

Additionally, Gastroenterologists are resistant to introduce the idea of PillCam to their patients as it replaces the colonoscopy they get paid to carry out, how do you feel about this? If you knew that your G.I. was holding back on this procedure how would you feel?

38 months ago
Results 1 - 4

  • Amanda

    Definitely do the Pill Camera....that's how I was diagnosed.  That was amazing and not really a big deal.  All you do is swallow a pill and have a fanny pack around your waste for like 6 hours and that's it  The pictures are really amazing!

    37 months ago

  • Sea

    I don't see any controversy around this technology, personally. The less invasive a procedure and the less medication needed, the better. My gastroenterologist is absolutely comfortable with the pill technology, and he is of the older generation but has been at the forefront of Celiac research throughout his career. Any good doctor affiliated with a normal institution should not base their decision on the price they can charge for a procedure. My doctor is personally so busy doing procedures I think he is probably happy to have one less scheduled. However, some old fashioned or poorly informed doctors may not be comfortable or equipped for this technology, and in that case, I would say it could be time for a new doctor.

    -Sea

    37 months ago

  • Paxton

    I just had this conversation with my doctor and asked her about doctors being resistant to use it because they don't get paid as much. Her response to me was that they can make just as much money, and possibly more, by using the pill cam because they can theoretically spend hours upon hours going through the pictures to find nothing, then do the procedure again. Bottom line is that everyone (Celiac/nonCeliac) who has to use this country's healthcare system has the potential to be "fish in a barrel" to money motivated doctors. 

    As far as this pill goes, I would do it for the same reasons Sea Maiden mentioned.. less invasive and less medication.

    The pill that concerns me (actually scares the hell out of me!) is the one that the drug companies are currently developing and spending millions and millions on that will allow Celiacs to eat gluten again (like a lactose pill for lactose intolerant). To me there's a reason more and more of us have Celiac and this pill is just a way to ignore that reason and assimilate us back into the pharmaceutical driven system. I'm afariad there will be hundreds of Celiacs that will take the bait.  

    37 months ago

  • Amanda

    I agree....I definitely hate the idea of glutamate or any stupid pill like the latose pill.  I think that people should not be eating gluten or any other products that negatively affect them because it is not healthy for their body.

    36 months ago

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