Capsule endoscopy

Preparing for your capsule endoscopy

Your nurse will explain what you can eat and drink, and what medications you can take before the test. These instructions are usually in an information leaflet or your hospital appointment letter.

Instructions vary slightly between hospitals, the following is general guidance.

Your bowel needs to be clear for the camera to get the best pictures. To do this, you will usually have to change your diet a few days before your test. This helps to reduce the amount of poo in your bowel. You also need to take ​laxatives​ to empty your bowels. This is called bowel preparation or bowel prep. It’s important to follow the instructions carefully so that you have a clean bowel for the test.

Let your nurse know if you are on any regular medication. They will tell you if you need to stop any medication beforehand and when to stop them. If you take iron tablets, you will be asked to stop taking them about one week before the test.

Your hospital letter will also tell you what you should do in the days before your test and on the day of the test.

This includes:

• when to start reducing the amount of food you have and when you should stop eating

• what fluids you can drink and how much you should drink

• when to take your bowel prep

You must let your nurse or doctor know if you are diabetic and if you are allergic to anything.

You can’t have this test if you are pregnant. Phone your nurse before your appointment if you are pregnant or think you might be.

What happens?

You usually go to the outpatient department or the endoscopy unit on the morning of the test. You are at the hospital for about an hour. The test itself can take around 6 to 10 hours.

Your doctor or nurse will check that you are ready for the test and will explain the procedure to you. They will then ask you to sign a consent form. This is a good time to ask any questions you may have.

There are two ways you may have the test.

The most common way is to wear a belt with built in sensors inside it. You will be fitted with a special belt and shoulder bag that holds the recorder. Some people might find these feel little heavy.

Or the nurse or technician may put some sticky pads (sensors) on your chest and stomach area. They then attach a data recorder to a belt that you wear around your waist.

Once this is in place, your nurse, doctor or technician will ask you to swallow a capsule that has the camera inside. You swallow it whole with some water.

At home

Once you have swallowed the capsule and your nurse has given you all the instructions, you can leave the hospital.

They will give you instructions about taking more laxatives for your bowel. This is to keep your bowel moving which helps the capsule pass through the bowel. They will also tell you when you can drink again and when you can have a light snack.

You may go back to hospital later that afternoon to check if the capsule has passed into the large bowel. 

The camera takes pictures as it passes through your bowel. It sends all the photos that it takes to the data recorder. 

You can remove the sensors or belt once the test has finished. You return the data recorder to the department later that day or the next day.

After your capsule endoscopy

A technician downloads the pictures from the data recorder to a computer. A doctor or specialist nurse then looks at the pictures.

The capsule is disposable. You pass it naturally in your poo when you go to the toilet.

Possible risks

The team caring for you will give you phone numbers to contact if you have any questions or problems after your test. 

A capsule endoscopy is usually a safe procedure. Your doctors make sure the benefits of having a capsule endoscopy outweigh any possible risks.

Very rarely, the capsule might get stuck inside your body. Tell your doctor or nurse if you are worried that you have not passed out the capsule. You might need an x-ray to check if it is still in your bowel.