Upper GI on Wednesday

Hey all, I am a little nervous about my upper GI on Wednesday. I have never had this procedure done before. I really hope I am able to keep the liquid down. Any suggestions for preparing for this, or things to have after the procedure? I have to be at the hospital at 6:20 a.m. and my upper GI is not until 8:00a.m. I will also be doing my pre-op bloodwork that day. After that all I have left is my Recovery shakes for a week before surgery and then I will have my surgery. Man time flies, not that I am complaining. Carrie

Carrie- No worries!! I had a upper GI just last week...., anyhow....they arnt as bad as people make them out to be!! You swallow these air pockets, kinda like candy pop rocks, they fizz and you drink a bunch of the baruim, it tastes just like nasty sprite ..kinda and it goes by really quick because they x-ray all along...youll be A-OK!! The only bad thing was i had a bit of a upset stomach a few hours after and I was kinda constapasted... just drink ALOT of water... to prevent this good luck!! Callie

Thanks Callie! That makes my feel so much better! I have a really hard time swallowing really gross stuff, while not really swallowing it, just keeping it down. Hopefully I will not everywhere. Carrie PS I heard that if you smile it is impossible to . We will see about that Everyone will think I am crazy because I will be smiling so much

Cariie.. Im not sure what kind of upper GI your having, but I had an ENG and it was nothing. Worst part for me was starting the IV( I have naughty vaines). I didn't have to drink anything.. just some thoat numbing med (3 squirts) that tasted bad but a minuite later they gave me versed and ALL of life was good. I had no discomfort after words or any memory of what had happened... GOOD LUCK! Im off to Pre-Op today... Erin 12 days and counting!

Carrie, Don't worry...I had to drink 3 of the barium drinks because they were having machine issues!! I was actually soooo thirsty at that point, the first one was great!! Just to give you a hint...I do not like flavored drinks of any kind...I drink diet soda and water...that is it. No cherry in my soda, no flavor of any kind in my water...I don't drink milkshakes, Icee's, Italian ice, nothing...I really do not like any other consistancy or taste other than my plain water and the 'bite' of my diet soda. So, of course, I thought I would have a hard time with the thick consistancy and the flavor...but honestly, it just was not as bad as I had convinced myself it would be. They added a package of gas...as they called it...to each of my drinks. Then, for a video series, they had me continuously swollow air. I would suggest having a full bottle of water and some Gas X or something for after. I felt so much pressure it hurt. I also had a lunch meeting after and was very embarassed at having to burp so often!! They were nice and laughed along with my apologies, but I would have loved to have been able to take some sort of antigas meds!! LOL You'll do great!! Smile, Donna

Carrie, My doctor has not mentioned anything about having an upper GI. Is this something he would have told me or do they just automatically do it? I have my pre op on the same day thay you do. They never mentioned anything about any of the test that they are going to do. Christine

Christine My doctor didn't mention it to me specially, but I also transferred into his practice after I had most of my pre-op stuff done. I think he thought that I already knew. I am not sure if all doctor require this. The first I heard of it was when I made my appointment with the hospital for the rest of my pre-op testing. I would not worry about it because you have to fast in order to have the procedure, and they would have told you that. Your best bet might be to put a call into your surgeons office to make sure. I would hate for you to get there for you surgery and find out that it can't be done. Let me know what happens. Carrie

I had the ENG too. It was nothing. They totally knock you out and I don't remember what happened and I never felt anything afterwards. It was fine.