Upper G I barium test
 

Has anyone had one of these? I need to get one on Friday because of some pain and vomiting. What should I expect as far as after-affects?

Nothing, really. You drink the barium (kinda thick and chalky), they take pictures...you might belch a bit afterwards. It's a (relatively) easy diagnostic test. Are you prepping with laxatives? That's probably the worst part.

No. Thanks Bri, they didn't tell me that.

Did they tell you anything? I've found it very typical of them to "forget" to tell you of certain nasty effects. There were so many things the medico's didn't tell me about chemo and side effects...truly amazingly important stuff they didn't tell me.

i had a barium enema when i was an infant. i dont remember it at all, but I've always been a hard ass

barium: what you do when the patient dies

laf

:eyebrow: thanks for the support guys. Actually Bri, all they told me was to fast after midnight the night before

If it's upper, I'm not sure they need to do the laxative thing. (Disclaimer: not only am I not a doctor, I don't play one on the internet.)

I had an upper years and years ago---as a teen. They made me take dulcolax at twice the regular dosage the night before----probably found they didn't need to do that!

No biggie binky. You'll glide through this one.

Thanks guys for all the advice and support. I just hate anything to do with doctors.

I think I had one of those when I was in Japan. IIRC:
Fasting, thick chalky drink, roll over three times, photos, laxatives, and funny things happening in your bowels afterwards.

Don't gulp the drink down too quickly - one of my cow orkers said this can cause a bubble which will look like a problem leading to an unnecessary follow-up gastroscopy (camera tube down mouth).

Expect a bleachy white turd (or several) which sits in the bottom of the bowl and won't flush.

No major drama. Just be mindful of where the nearest toilet is, and if you don't get moving soonish, take another laxative. You'll be right.

I had a barium test a while back. I mostly remember them putting me on some kind of rotating table. I remember feeling bloated and gassy for a few hours afterwards, but no serious aftereffects.

I just had this test last week. What everyone has said about the experience matches mine. No prep other than no food or drink after midnight. After test, I had some Milk-of-Magnesia to flush the Barium. Barium tends to make you constipated. Weird experience having white poop. My test was very extensive (at the VA) and several tests had to be redone, including a small colon test, which requires a lot thicker, more concentrated form of the Barium.

I've had worse tests, that's for sure. Nothing to worry about. Hope all goes well for your test.

Yea, I have had one as well. No big deal. Drink lots of water afterwards for a day or so. I never got the constipation thing, just the whiteish light poops.

Binky, what do you think your problem is? I wonder if mine is the same. I went to the emergency room last night because of severe upper abdominal pain. After I got home I vomited a few times and now this morning I have more vomiting but no pain.

Best to ask a doctor. Your problem may not be hers. Could be as simple as a minor ulcer to something as serious as a heart attack (yes, that can manifest as stomach pain). Could be a hernia, could be GERD, could be Crohn's Disease. Go to WebMD.com and take the hypochondriac's quiz!

I was scheduled for an ultrasound yesterday but couldn't make it I was so sick. And this is day three, I still have pain, but it is moving around now (so, probably gas), headache and nausea (but no more vomiting..yet) So it sounds like the flu or food poisoning, but I plan on rescheduling the ultrasound (to look for gallstones) since this is the third time this has happened to me in the last year.

Does anyone have any suggestions for nausea? I'm trying chamomile tea now.

Binky, how did your test go and what was it looking for?

I get nauseated just thinking about nausea. I like peppermint tea, saltine crackers, and inane distractions like movies I've seen 20 times or more when I'm feeling sick. Feel better soon, everyone!

Hey I have some peppermint tea! Gonna go try that now.

Ginger Ale does it for me.

Especially in women. The well known heart attack symptoms are more common in men. In fact my Dad's Mum died from a heart attack saying she'd had a dicky tummy all day and she was feeling ever so tired, she was just going to lie down. When she wasn't up in order to cook tea they found her dead. Not to scare you - this was in 1972 and she hadn't been to a doctor in years (was a heavy smoker and fried everything that touched her plate).
Same as others - Ginger Ale is good if you can tolerate the bubbles. Ginger cordial is better in my experience. Peppermint, yes - but I've found nettle easier to drink. Small and light is the key with food - do you have Digestive biscuits over there? I used to keep them for my colleagues who were always complaining of one type of illness or another!

If you are having trouble swallowing, consider a meal replacement drink. Something generic and over the counter like Nourishment or Slim-Fast. It's not a long term solution, but short term at least you'll be taking in some vitamins.

Good luck with this, sounds really rotten.

Dude, I think you've got a planted memory from an alien abduction.

Okay done but no results until later in the week. The worst thing was these crystals and water they give you to inflate your stomach. (and don't burp please!) And the taste of the barium - almost vomited on the xray table.

SG, those digestive biscuits sound really interesting, I'm going to have to check around in the imported food section for them. I bet they are super with tea.

I'm fairly better now, no more headache or nausea, just a little soreness all over my gut. I did try the ginger-ale (it was the first thing I asked my husband to get) but it was hard to drink. The peppermint tea was much better and I think it helped a bit.

Binky...I just shiver thinking about having to drink something like that barium stuff.

Re: digestive biscuits.

In Japan you can buy fiber-rich biscuits to keep your innards moving. I guess that somewhere on the packet it says something like "Consume one to two biscuits per day. Excess consumption may have a laxative effect." Only it would say that in Japanese, wouldn't it?
I was hungry.
I cannot read Japanese.
You figure it out.

Oh dear...

Thank god they come in small packets.

I think graham crackers serve the same purpose here in the US.

Sry Pico, I missed your post I have no idea what is wrong with me at this point just a lot of upper abdominal pain only relieved by vomiting, hope to know soon why.

I've had a couple of upper GIs...not a terribly bad experience. The only actual bad part was the fucked up white poop that I had for a day.