Boy do I love getting a fill under fluoroscope! :banana

I was so nervous this morning cause I thought the doc was going to find a leak..What other explanation for the complete loss of restriction. I even had 2 pork chops last night, the last time I had 3 bites of a pork chop, I PBed!!

So off to radiology I went with my head full of questions for the doc. I landed up waiting 2 hours to get in with only water I was pretty hungry.

Dr McKeen struts in looking quite thin...I remark on how good he looks with his weight loss and his remark was "I did it the hard way" Then quickly apologizes and reams "I hope it stays off," we laughed as he pulls out a bag of goodies, syringes and bottles. The radiologist is starting to put 2 and 2 together cause we purposely wrote up the orders for hard to swallow, barium swallow test so my insurance will cover most of the procedure.

We start talking about where my fill could have gone and why he couldn't get any fill out the previous time. Then I asked him about contrast and he remarks that he just read that the makers of the Swedish band were suggesting contrast fills because the band's not holding saline for a long time, Why...they don't really know, but he remarks that all bands have a tendency especially over time to loose some fill solution.

The fluoroscopy machine is on and the port is accessed the first time, we follow the tubing and indeed a possible kink is reveled, more like a sharp curve, about 2 inches from the port. He tries to pull some saline out but nothing comes out. He has me drink some yummy chocolate barium and we watch it go right through, a good 1/2 inch opening. He puts in 1cc of contrast as we see the stoma opening get smaller, then adds another cc and that's when it got real cool. As I drink small sips of barium you can see it sit right above the band for a second or so then with a couple of spasms in the esophagus, which is like a muscle, the barium slowly goes down about a 1/6th of an inch stoma opening.

The band is in the perfect place, no visible leaks, everything looks great besides the sharp curve in the tubing, which at this time were not too concerned about. I even have a picture the radiologist gave me.

I'm so relieved! :banana

Hi Blossom, Congratulations!!!

The difference is in the machine they use.

An upper GI is a term, Also called an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series or simply an upper GI, upper gastrointestinal tract radiography is an x-ray examination of the esophagus, stomach and first part of the small intestine. However, in order for the anatomy to show up on radiographic images, the upper gastrointestinal tract must be coated or filled with a contrast material called barium, an element that appears bright white on radiographs. The barium is given to the patient to drink. This procedure is called upper gastrointestinal tract radiography when the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum are evaluated, or a barium swallow when only the pharynx and esophagus are evaluated.

Fluoroscopy is a technique for obtaining "live" X-ray images of a living patient. The X-rays is coupled to a television camera. The Radiologist can then watch the images "live" on a TV monitor. Basically, It's just referring to the machine.

And Michelle, I haven't really been around at all. Right after Vegas got a severe upper respiratory infection and chest cold. 3 antibiotics didn't work so I've actually been on disability till this week. MD wanted strick bed rest. What a pain but I was sleeping 16 to 18 hours a day so I guess my body was really tired and needed the rest. Also needed oxygen and nebulizer treatments just to breathe right. She wanted to admit me but I'm glad I conviced her to let me stay home.

Michelle, my size 14's are getting a little big. After the holidays, I'll send you a box of clothes!!

Glad to hear everything was perfect! Teresa

Congrats! Glad to hear everything went well, does your dr. think eventually something will have to be done to get rid of the kink???