I just came from my pre-op Upper GI Series. Drinking the barium was even worse than I expected - I proceeded to gag and burp throughout the entire 6 ozs of cement-like sludge - which then forced me to do the gross fizzies again because I screwed up the "air" effect. Holy crap - all I kept chanting in my head was "Suck it up, Buttercup!" thanks to @@Dub !. I know there's a light at the end of the tunnel (well I sure as hell hope so) but I'm ready to be on the loser's bench - enough of this pre-op testing and waiting! Now I just have to hope the testing was normal and nothing causes anymore delays!

Still wanting to vomit...

Kristen

Drinking barium is one of the worst tests ever......not as bad as having it put in the other end though! LOL.......'

You are almost there! Hang in there.

Drink A LOT today and eat high fiber. That will help you clear the barium out and feel better.

You made it!!! Grab your Water and drink, drink, drink until you float away...

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Wait until you have to swallow that crap immediately post op. That was my only horrific experience with this process. The gastro Doctor performing the test had the bedside manner of a psycho sadist. He barked at me the whole time because I was gagging horribly and had tears pouring out of me eyes and snot bubbling out of my nose in an effort to hold it down.

If I ever see that man again, l'll junk punch him so hard his part will fall off. Seriously.

@@LipstickLady LOL. That's quite the visual! As I was lying down twisting and turning as they took pictures - I said "do i have to drink this crap post-op too" and the radiologist said "nope - that stuff is worse!". Oh joy!

I didn't have to pre-op. The barium was my leak test.

I haven't heard of doing that test preop. What are they looking for? Just curious.

@@suzzzzz I believe they order it as an alternative to an endoscopy. They took several "pictures" of my esophagus, stomach and duodenum. I'm assuming it is to make sure there's no issues prior to surgery (stricture, tumor, ulcers, reflux, etc.).

This makes me feel for you so much...I get so nauseated just thinking about the last time I had to drink that stuff. I was very lucky because I had upper endoscopy pre-op, and post-op I had no leak test! I am not sure why, but I am so glad I didn't. Nausea has been one of my worst side effects since my sleeve. I hope you feel better as you get that stuff out of your system today. One step closer!

@@suzzzzz I believe they order it as an alternative to an endoscopy. They took several "pictures" of my esophagus, stomach and duodenum. I'm assuming it is to make sure there's no issues prior to surgery (stricture, tumor, ulcers, reflux, etc.).

I only had to have a chest xray. Had an endoscopy 2 years prior when my hiatal hernia was discovered and my surgeon got a copy of that report. Sounds like you are being well taken care of!

Worst part of the pre-op testing was the barium swallow... Yuk! I'm sure for those of us who've done it all feel the same, pre-op or post-op. Hang in there "buttercup"!

Good luck on your journey!

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Edited August 10, 201610 yr by reducer623

Barium swallows are a walk in the park as compared to trying to keep down my wife's "meatloaf surprise".

swallowing the stuff - especially after taking the fizzy powder first was a struggle! but i did think it was cool that I got to watch everything on screen and see it flow down into and out of my stomach. thank goodness I have didn't have to do it post-op - there is no way i could have gotten it all down. for my leak test, the surgeon did a dye test before closing me up while the tube was still down my throat - fed dye into and "stressed" my sleeve with some pressure and made sure they didn't see any dye escape from the staple line. so hopefully they'll do that leak test and you won't have to do the barium swallow again.

definitely drink LOTS AND LOTS of Water - i felt gross pretty much the rest of the day afterward. I think this was the one that turned my poop a chalky white as well but that could have been the nuclear contrast from the cardiac stress test.

good news is - another hurdle down!

@@heidikat72 Oh - it's this that turns your poop white! lol I feel lousy too - only good thing is I have no appetite! I'm drinking plenty of Water.

@@KristenLe

When is your surgery date? It seems like you've been waiting forever!!

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