Upper GI test... what's it like?

[GMen88 70]

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!

[Newme17 3,444]

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. 😊

[O-Town Body Rock 148]

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

[jensnewbody 33]

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

[O-Town Body Rock 148]

Took all of 15 minutes maybe.

[Tashagirlxo 41]

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

[PatientEleventyBillion 851]

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, 2017 by PatientEleventyBillion

[clc9 644]

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.

[Tashagirlxo 41]

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

[SIPS in Seattle 344]

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

[GMen88 70]

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!

[PatientEleventyBillion 851]

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, 2017 by PatientEleventyBillion

[GMen88 70]

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!

[kins117 104]

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

[GMen88 70]

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