Barium swallow

Ok, Barium Swallow done....and GROSSS!!!! I was unprepared for how disgusting that would be!!

I got to the Radiology appt WAY early. Living in DC Metro...the traffic is SO unpredictable. This morning wasn't so bad, so I got there at 7:12 and my appt was at 8:00. I found a Starbucks and got my drink for when I'm done with the B.S. I had to fast from midnight until the appt. I didn't tell them that I ate tacos last night and had horrible reflux so I drank 1 cup of milk at 1:30....I figure it has run it's course by now. And I guess it did--they didn't say anything about it.

I had to take a shot of this extreemly FIZZY stuff that tasted like unflavored AlkaSeltzer. That stuff is s'posed to blow up your stomach and make you feel like you have to burp--but you are s'posed to keep it all in. Then about a cup of the "heavy barium". The X-ray tech says "Take 2 swallows" and then takes a million films...then more swallows. And flipping over and over trying to keep your boobs in line. It wasn't so much the taste as the texture of this barium that was so gross. It felt like swallowing white floam.

But, it is one more thing down!! I made my appt with PCP for Medical Clearance, Phsyc Eval appt, PRE-OP Appt. Everything is scheduled and on track!

Been there, done that! Hated it more! Get ready, right after surgery, when you wake up, another one...but, small, thin liquid and only a couple of sips. They have to see that there is no bleeding inside! Have fun! All worth it!

i just went through it last week! it was not the most comfortable thing in the world thats for sure! i drank the fizzy shot and was also told to "not burp" and then the two techs sat there and talked about burping for the five minutes it took to drink the heavy barrium and move the table from standing to lying. i was seriously not sure that i could keep it all down! it went by quickly afterward and i am just glad it is done!

Oh, no! Not another one! Yes! It is all worth it.

And I ALSO got the burping dialog for 5 minutes. Must be standard procedure! ha ha! I have to say when I flipped over to my stomach a burp DID escape--but not to worry. More where that came from.