HI, ok my question is : I can NOT drink that stuff, As soon as I start to drink it and it hits the back of my mouth I start to vomit. Thursday I went to do all my preop tests and a class about what to expect and the food stages. I asked the lady and she said that that is how the Dr. has to do fills!!!! I do not want to puke while I am still healing (well,really anytime lol) So, Did your Dr. do it another way?? Could it be done another way?? Sorry about the long post, but, my surgery is 2-6 and I really would like to know soon. Any advice would be swell. Thank you

Sorry if I sound ignorant...but what is Barium? I haven't heard anything about it, I get my first fill on 2/27 I didn't think my doctor had us swallow anything before the fill.

It is some really thick drink that makes it easier to see inside your body basically. It is used for fills,CT scans, MRIs, and all kinds of things.

X-ray tech here:biggrin:

They can use Visipaque which is clear which you can mix with water and supposedly it has no taste. Generally when we do bypass post-op swallows we use it because it is water soluable. In that instance the docs are checking to make sure the patient doesn't have a leak, and barium (which is not water soluable) seeping out of a leak would not be a good thing.

So technically there is another option, but wether or not ur facility has it available is the other question, it is more expensive then barium.

Good luck.

Everytime I have a fill I have to drink the barium swallow.

I dont find it that horrible though. mine tastes like Milk of Magnesia . Is the consitancy of it as well. I dont have to drink but a few sips of it . I only have to take very tiny sips , and a few at at time and im good.

but I do have to do it , if your doc uses Flouro for fills your gonna have to suck it up and drink it .

Think of it as milk or something.

HTH

Mindy

I had a barium test years ago. I struggled not to gag on that vile, thick, nasty stuff. I remember them telling me not to vomit or I would have to start over again. I wanted to die. It was horrible. After Lap Band surgery, I was told before I could be released I had to do a barium swallow to make sure everything was in the right place, funcitoning properly and not leaking anywhere. I was frantic. When I got down there and they handed it to me, it was in a tiny cup. It wasn't very thick at all and it even tasted half way decent. Like vanilla ice cream. They have come a LONG way with improving the whole barium experience.

Fortunately for me, I don't have to have barium for my fills. My doctor only does that if you're having problems. When he does my fills, he fills you up a lot and then with the needle still in he has you drink water with a straw. (the nurse helps) He keeps adding fluid until the water backs up. Then when it does, he slowly starts taking the fluid back out until the water goes down easily. I rest for a little while and then drink water again to make sure. He put in 5 CCs and backed out 2 so I ended up with a 3 CC fill. (I have a large band) I really like this way, as he actually tests it, right then and there. Less chance of being to tight and having problems after I get home. He's a wonderful surgeon.