Question:
So what is with the awful tasting liquid that you have to drink to check for leaks?

I haven't seen anyone mention it!!!!    — [Anonymous] (posted on August 26, 2000)

August 26, 2000
IT'S BARIUM (OR MAYBE GASTROGRAFFIN), EITHER OF WHICH ARE RADIOPAQUE DYES THAT SHOW UP ON XRAY . I BELIEVE THE BARIUM IS DESCRIBED AS TASTING LIKE CHALK.UGH
   — Donna G.

August 26, 2000
I can not tell you what it is exactly (I heard that from the different liquids that they could have you drink this one was the only one that they would allow if a small amount did leak into your abdominal cavity). I can tell you that if you haven't had the test yet, it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. One reason being is that you can only get a sip or two in you. They gave me month wash immediately after and then a lemon glycerine swap. The pictures are taken with the table slightly reclined so you do not have to lie flat.
   — Jilda H.

August 26, 2000
Barium? gag... you'd think with the miracles of modern technology..they'd at least come up with a better tasting radioactive drink..lol. Awww well... as with most all things in life lately...grin and bare it,this too shall pass! =0)
   — Tricee

August 26, 2000
I have had this awful stuff, but this time they inserted through my NG tube. I didn't taste anything!!!! It felt kind of weird going down at first, but it beats the heck out of drinking it!!!
   — LaNora L.

February 9, 2001
My answer to barium which was my bigest fear, was nestles quick. Take it with you and they will add it to the mixture. It goes down alot smoother. Like chocolate milk.
   — shelly W.

April 23, 2001
My brother had the surgery. The stuff he had to drink to check for leaks is called Methylene Blue. Just wanted to let everyone know that.
   — [Anonymous]

June 15, 2001
I had my Barium swallow on day 8 and had to drink a cup of it all at once! Really fast and it sucked! I get sick to my stomach thinking about it now. I got to taste mine twice LOL! Just couldn't take the taste of it and the heavy feeling in my new tummy and up it came! Not trying to scare you but, hey, it happens!
   — April H.

June 26, 2001
After not having had anything to drink for nearly 36 hours, this was the best tasting thing I could have had. True, it was nasty and vile, but hey, I was soooo parched, it didn't even matter. My 2 shekels.
   — Peter S.

June 26, 2001
I had more trouble standing for the x-ray than swallowing the thick stuff. Seems like it was a small amount. Not like the other times I've had to drink it. But I was still on strong pain killers and so it wasn't that bad. It was a relief to have something besides a wet swab in my mouth and to get back to my room for some good old apple juice.
   — Sue H.

September 28, 2001
I'm in the radiology field, and have done many of these on other people... geez... now it's my turn!!! Post-op, my surgeon orders a gastrografin (water soluble contrast media) upper gi. That stuff's so very nasty... BITTER!!!! They made me taste it in school, and I swore I'd never do THAT again... just another example of NEVER SAY NEVER!!! LOL
   — Michelle B.

November 9, 2001
barium is the liquid they hae you drink that lights up when you have your stomach cat scan, it shows any leaks you may have
   — shakia W.

April 5, 2003
Okey-dokey, I am an "expert" on this one, having had my upper GI on April 3rd (it is now April 6th, 2003). First, they had me put some crystals on my tongue and told me not to burp. They tasted good and were the consistency of Pop Rocks! I got a little tiny bit of water to wash them down with. Then, I got a plastic container with thick barium. I was really worried as I have a "hair trigger" gag reflex. I sniffed it, then took a small sip. It tasted great! I am NOT kidding! I drank more, and then they took the thick stuff away. When they put the table down, I had to roll all around for the stuff to coat my stomach. Then I had to lay on my belly and drink thin barium. This was kind of lemon-y and didn't taste nearly as good, and I almost gagged because of the position I was in and how fast I was drinking. Everything was over pretty quickly, though. I got a glance at the screen, and that was AWESOME!!!
   — Scott B.

April 6, 2003
I consider myself something of an expert too, since I had several upper GI series over the summer. The first one was the day after my surgery. I couldn't keep it down and when they told me I'd have to come back the next day and do it again, I just sobbed. I had asked if they couldn't just put the stuff down my NG tube, which I still had in. They said no. The next day, I was able to get enough down and keep it down long enough for them to do the xrays they needed. I had to have 2 or 3 more over the course of the summer. After my second surgery, I had to go have another leak test. I laid there on the table and was quite surprised when they said they were done. I asked about swallowing the barium and they said, 'Oh, we put it down your NG tube.' I couldn't believe it. However, when all is said and done, it really wasn't all that bad. It does taste awful, but you'll forget that part pretty quickly. Think of it this way. Many, many, many, many of us have done it before you and we've survived it. You will too. :-)
   — garw

August 21, 2003
That awful tasting stuff is called gastrographin. Its different from barium. They can't use regular barium just in case you have a leak.
   — maureen P.

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