Matthew Anci, aged 25
An interview with Matthew Anci, aged 25, who was diagnosed with Meckel’s diverticulum using Capsule Endoscopy.
Background
A current acting student, Matthew Anci lives life to its fullest. Matthew was a college athlete and continues to pursue recreational sports. Matthew enjoys an active lifestyle shared with family and friends.
How long did you suffer?
I have always been in good health. In fact, I was a college athlete and played basketball nearly three times a week. It was while playing basketball that I noticed something was very wrong. I became out of breath and light headed. Thinking that I had the flu, I went about my daily routine until I suddenly became very pale and passed blood. I was rushed to the emergency room, where I was informed that I had lost half of the blood in my body.
The doctors performed an emergency blood transfusion and attributed my illness to either an internal hemorrhoid or a popped blood vessel.
What kind of treatment did you have?
In the hospital, I had all the tests possible. After I left, I was symptom free for 3 months when I went to my GI for a regular check-up. To my surprise, my blood count had gone down again. I was put back in the hospital, where the doctors ran a series of tests, but again, were not able to make a diagnosis. The doctors were, however, able to rule out the colon and stomach and determined that the bleeding was coming from my small intestine.
What type of previous diagnostic testing did you have?
In both stays at the hospital, the doctors ran endless tests: an upper GI, a colonoscopy, a barium enema, bleeding scan and a Meckel scan. Despite all the tests, the doctors were unable to come up with a conclusive diagnosis.
And then you had Capsule Endoscopy?
Following all of the inconclusive tests, capsule endoscopy was finally recommended. After swallowing the capsule, Dr. Schmelkin, who conducted the test, was able to diagnose me with Meckel’s diverticulum, a small pouch on the lower part of the small intestine that can cause bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, the very next morning.
Meckel's diverticulum occurs in 1 in 50 people; however, very few ever suffer any symptoms. Had it not been for capsule endoscopy, my diagnoses would have been nearly impossible to make.
Dr. Schmelkin was able to email the pictures of my small intestine directly to my surgeon, who was then able to perform corrective surgery. It was amazing that the three of us could actually view the problem on our own computers as we discussed the diagnosis with Dr. Schmelkin.
How did you feel during the examination?
The examination was absolutely painless. You can’t tell that it’s going on at all. It’s basically like swallowing a large Tylenol!
What is your message to other patients around the world?
Capsule endoscopy is by far the most simple and comfortable test you can undergo. The pictures are amazing—they have perfect clarity. I just wish I had swallowed the capsule earlier and saved myself from the headache of undergoing the endless uncomfortable tests. My surgeon confessed that he had never been able to pinpoint the problem in advance of surgery like he could with the images taken by the capsule. Amazing!