Question:
Will I be able to swallow that Barium!!

I am having an upper GI done tomorrow. I have not been able to get solid food in for the last 10 days, and liquids are getting harder and harder to get in. I am so weak, my surgeon thinks I have a stricture but the specialist wants an upper GI to make sure before he does the scope. How am I going to swallow that stuff if I throw up things like milk!! anyone had this done with a stricture before?    — smedley200 (posted on October 15, 2002)

October 15, 2002
Sip Sip Sip, and if you throw it up, you throw it up. Enough will still get down to get a picture. Good Luck!!
   — Vicki L.

October 15, 2002
hi tina, at around 4 weeks i had teouble keeping down eveything even water i went into the hospital and i was really worried about taking that nasty stuff and the stuff they gave me they said was a little nastier than barium it was yellowish clear and i did throw it up a few times before i choked it down you will do fine try mind over matter luckily everything came out a ok no problems but i did have to stay in the hospital for three days until i could keep down fluids. i wish you the best of luck.
   — nice n sweet B.

October 15, 2002
Tina, I had an upper GI at about 3 months post-op to check pouch size. I was worried about getting in all that barium, but they only made me drink a swallow, then they looked, then repeated it about 4 times...its not too much.
   — Cindy R.

October 15, 2002
I had an upper GI at three weeks post-op. The tech and radiologist were very good about not making me drink too much. I told them I would just throw up on them if I drank too much. Just be honest with them and tell them when you can't drink any more. Just don't let them make you use a straw. They did that with me and I filled up with alot of air first.
   — tulagirl

October 15, 2002
My surgeon wrote on the orders that I was to drink no more than 1/3 of the stuff. I didnt even drink that much. If you are not even able to drink milk....it probably will come back up too. It wont interfere with the test, but most likely you will see it again after the test is over. Does your surgeon know the specialist is asking for the GI? You may want the surgeon to talk to these guys first.
   — RebeccaP

October 16, 2002
The only time I had this was for the leak test after surgery. Fortunately, if this helps, you have had WLS so they can't make you drink much of it at all. Just little sips. Just do what you can and that's all you can do..Good luck and I hope everything works out soon
   — emilyfink

October 16, 2002
If that is the same stuff I had to swallow for my leak test, GOOD LUCK drinking any of it. That is the nastiest stuff I have ever tAsted!! I told my doc that he better get a good look now cause I will NEVER swallow that stuff EVER again! Be prepared, it tastes like the nastiest stuff you will ever want to taste. I used a straw and stuck the staw clear back in my mouth so I wouldn't have to taste it but it didn't help.
   — Kim B.

October 16, 2002
At most (if not all) facilities, an Upper GI and the *leak* test is two different tests. First of all, the nasty stuff you drink for the leak test (at least at BTC) is called Gastrograffin....the leak test is called a GGS, which stands for gastrograffin swallow study (this is the bitter tasting clear-brownish colored stuff). If you are drinking barium for an Upper GI, the barium is actually a much thicker chalky tasting liquid.....and you have to drink a lot of it. To be honest, I don't know if we can have the barium or not....I'm thinking that the contents wouldn't be the problem, as much as the quantity would be. Find out what it is that you are supposed to drink and how much you'll be expected to drink and over what period of time.....then check with your specific surgeon/facility to find out if it's OK for you. Good luck!
   — Lynette B.