Barium X-ray

[kickstart]

Anyone had one of these ? whats it like ? Waiting for an appointment for one ..is it horrible ?

[Toots]

What area will they be looking at? There are barium enema x-rays and barium meal x rays to my knowledge - the first is looking at your colon from the back passage and the second is by performing an endoscopy to look at the top parts of your digestive system through your mouth.

Unfortunately I have had the former but it was over 10 years ago. I drank a kind of chalky solution which fizzed and became warm at intervals to empty the bowel. At my appointment in the x-ray dept a tube was inserted into my back passage and some sort of balloon held it in place. Air was pumped in (and it has to come out afterwards!) so they can see the bowel properly.A number of x-rays were taken whilst the bed I was on was turned over. Sounds horrid but it really wasn't and it was done by females and I wasn't embarassed at all. Fortunately nothing serious was found.

I know my mom and my dad have had an endoscopy but I'm not exactly sure of the process. I think you have a chalky drink and you may have some anaethetic sprayed into your mouth so that the small camera can go down your windpipe. If my Mom can have one and not moan (well, not too much) then it can't be bad at all. Dad found it a doddle - he was just fascinated at being offered a chance to see his insides on a telly!

The hospital will send you a booklet telling you exactly what will happen in nice simple terms.

Try not to worry about it - and the best of luck with the results.

[black-saturn]

My dad had one of these a week ago. I havn't heard all the details but he went out for a meal the same night so it can't have been too bad. He hasn't reported anything horrible about it.

[*zippy*]

I had a barium swallow couple of weeks ago KS and it was fine. I had to drink the chalky liquid, which tasted fine and then had to hold it in my mouth until they said swallow, they moved the equipment around to different angles, which was motorised and I think It took about 15 mins. The doctor told me afterwards the results, but I don't think they always do as I asked before going in and the nurse said they wouldn't. It was much better than I expected, my stomach felt heavy afterwards, but we went straight to a cafe for a cuppa and I felt fine.

All the best with it.

[kickstart]

Thanks everyone !! Not worried bout the X-ray part , just wondering what the 'drink' was like !!! Just out of interest roughly how much of the barium did you have to drink ? A teacup? ..mugfull?

[*zippy*]

it was in a screw top beaker, it must have been a good mug full altogether, you are only doing a mouthful at a time though and it didn't taste unpleasant.

[beechescomposter]

Hi Kickstart,
Is it a barium meal you are having? There is also barium follow through and barium enema as mentioned above.
For a meal you have some powder and liquid first (basically baking soda) which fizzes up to distend the stomach and then drink about 1/2 cup of barium altogether. For a follow through you drink about 3 full cups over about 20 minutes and for an enema you have 500-600 mls and a litre or two of air up the rear end. Obviously this is the most uncomfortable of the three but for a barium meal you need to roll over on the table so yuo need to be mobile.
The other thing is that your poo wont flush away and just sits as a white blob at the bottom of the pan so it might be a bit embarrassing if you visit someones loo.
Hope it goes well.

[kickstart]

Thanks for that hehe ! All i know is the barium is for an xray to confirm a Hiatus Hernia , so its down as opposed to up ! But i have been told i can expect to wait up to 3 weeks for an appt .. which is great , cause i am so miserable with it atm .