I've got one more pre-op test to take before my surgery on the 30th and that's the upper GI test.

Can anyone tell me their experience with it? From what I googled, it doesn't seem like a very comfortable test and seems to take a long time. Any info would be great. Thanks!

Got my iv in. They talked with me. Had some pain in my hand from the med. weird. Then I was out. Woke up a bit groggy but good. No pain at all. Just tired. You will be fine. ?

My upper GI was simple. Drank some fluid and stood in front of a huge xray machine turning from side to side.

They put me to sleep so didn't feel a thing i was there like 2 hours total

Took all of 15 minutes maybe.

No pain. It's funny, I didn't even know i was going to be put under. The doctor I saw was very brief prior to me getting it done. Just look at it as "practice" before the big day! They put you under as if you're going into surgery lol

Mine was a barium swallow.

Couldn't eat or drink anything for 8 hours.. as a diabetic this was torture.

Then I was given some super tangy pellets that looked like uncolored dippin' dots.

Then they made me swallow 6 cups of barium fluid, which is just disgusting.. not sure what's worse, barium drink or Glucerna.

Then they took some x-rays of me. Then I had to drink more barium drink, they flipped me nearly upside down on this same machine, took more x-rays, then I lied down in different positions with them taking more x-rays.

I hadn't started my liquid diet yet at that point so I rushed to get a burger to stop feeling sick to my stomach.

Then of course poop turned fricken pale gray for 2 days because of the barium.

Edited March 7, 20179 yr by PatientEleventyBillion

I wasn't put under. An Upper GI, they usually have you drink a barium solution (like a gross chalky milkshake) then roll you around to distribute it, then have you drink sips periodically as they take xrays from lots of different angles.

No cameras down your throat.

I wasn't put under. An Upper GI, they usually have you drink a barium solution (like a gross chalky milkshake) then roll you around to distribute it, then have you drink sips periodically as they take xrays from lots of different angles.
No cameras down your throat.

Lucky you. I had to do the barium swallow (what you're referring to) AND the Upper GI. My dr is a pain lol but it's all for safety measures. I can't be mad

The upper GI sounds like the fluoroscope that I had to do with the lapband.. nasty liquid that they watched go through me via a machine that took pictures

Got my iv in. They talked with me. Had some pain in my hand from the med. weird. Then I was out. Woke up a bit groggy but good. No pain at all. Just tired. You will be fine. [emoji4]

Ah, well that sounds super simple. Thanks!

8 minutes ago, clc9 said:

I wasn't put under. An Upper GI, they usually have you drink a barium solution (like a gross chalky milkshake) then roll you around to distribute it, then have you drink sips periodically as they take xrays from lots of different angles.

No cameras down your throat.

Yes, that's the EGD aka "endoscopy", "scope", etc.

Depending on one's surgeon and doctors, likewise depending on GI issues, one could need both. I had the barium swallow in like January, and the EGD last monday. Despite the barium swallow showing "moderate reflux" (which concerns me for post-op since I'm already on PPI's, although I was an idiot and dosed myself every other day to every other two days), both were perfectly fine so have the thumbs up for surgery day.

Edited March 7, 20179 yr by PatientEleventyBillion

No pain. It's funny, I didn't even know i was going to be put under. The doctor I saw was very brief prior to me getting it done. Just look at it as "practice" before the big day! They put you under as if you're going into surgery lol

So you're put under for the test? That's kind of awesome, because I've never had a surgery and have never been put under so this will be good practice. Thanks!

I had endoscopy (EGD) this morning. Super easy, zero pain. Under 20 minutes.

Thanks for all of the answers. You guys rock!! [emoji4][emoji4]

14 minutes ago, PatientEleventyBillion said:

Mine was a barium swallow.

Couldn't eat or drink anything for 8 hours.. as a diabetic this was torture.

Then I was given some super tangy pellets that looked like uncolored dippin' dots.

Then they made me swallow 6 cups of barium Fluid, which is just disgusting.. not sure what's worse, barium drink or Glucerna.

Then they took some x-rays of me. Then I had to drink more barium drink, they flipped me nearly upside down on this same machine, took more x-rays, then I lied down in different positions with them taking more x-rays.

I hadn't started my liquid diet yet at that point so I rushed to get a burger to stop feeling sick to my stomach.

Then of course poop turned fricken pale gray for 2 days because of the barium.

Oh yes, before I forget.. the tangy pellets they gave me were gas pellets that effectively inflated my stomach causing gas to build up. I could not burp or swallow or else they would give me more. Not to mention the swallowing thing would give tremendous gas. Thankfully I made it. Afterwards was also burping my head off.

Edited March 7, 20179 yr by PatientEleventyBillion