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.