Barium drink????

[KTBUGG 14]

HI, ok my question is : I can NOT drink that stuff, As soon as I start to drink it and it hits the back of my mouth I start to vomit. Thursday I went to do all my preop tests and a class about what to expect and the food stages. I asked the lady and she said that that is how the Dr. has to do fills!!!! I do not want to puke while I am still healing (well,really anytime lol) So, Did your Dr. do it another way?? Could it be done another way?? Sorry about the long post, but, my surgery is 2-6 and I really would like to know soon. Any advice would be swell. Thank you

[Kalia Jade 0]

Sorry if I sound ignorant...but what is Barium? I haven't heard anything about it, I get my first fill on 2/27 I didn't think my doctor had us swallow anything before the fill.

[KTBUGG 14]

It is some really thick drink that makes it easier to see inside your body basically. It is used for fills,CT scans, MRIs, and all kinds of things.

[jlobyxmas 0]

X-ray tech here:biggrin:

They can use Visipaque which is clear which you can mix with Water and supposedly it has no taste. Generally when we do bypass post-op swallows we use it because it is water soluable. In that instance the docs are checking to make sure the patient doesn't have a leak, and barium (which is not water soluable) seeping out of a leak would not be a good thing.

So technically there is another option, but wether or not ur facility has it available is the other question, it is more expensive then barium.

Good luck.

[coltonwade 27]

Everytime I have a fill I have to drink the barium swallow.

I dont find it that horrible though. mine tastes like Milk of Magnesia . Is the consitancy of it as well. I dont have to drink but a few sips of it . I only have to take very tiny sips , and a few at at time and im good.

but I do have to do it , if your doc uses Flouro for fills your gonna have to suck it up and drink it .

Think of it as milk or something.

HTH

Mindy

[aubrie 6]

I had a barium test years ago. I struggled not to gag on that vile, thick, nasty stuff. I remember them telling me not to vomit or I would have to start over again. I wanted to die. It was horrible. After Lap Band surgery, I was told before I could be released I had to do a barium swallow to make sure everything was in the right place, funcitoning properly and not leaking anywhere. I was frantic. When I got down there and they handed it to me, it was in a tiny cup. It wasn't very thick at all and it even tasted half way decent. Like vanilla ice cream. They have come a LONG way with improving the whole barium experience.

Fortunately for me, I don't have to have barium for my fills. My doctor only does that if you're having problems. When he does my fills, he fills you up a lot and then with the needle still in he has you drink Water with a straw. (the nurse helps) He keeps adding Fluid until the water backs up. Then when it does, he slowly starts taking the fluid back out until the water goes down easily. I rest for a little while and then drink water again to make sure. He put in 5 CCs and backed out 2 so I ended up with a 3 CC fill. (I have a large band) I really like this way, as he actually tests it, right then and there. Less chance of being to tight and having problems after I get home. He's a wonderful surgeon.