Barium Swallow?

*zippy*

Hi

I'm having a barium swallow next week and just wanted some quick advice please.

My appointment is in the morning so should I book the day off work or should I feel fine afterwards?

many thanks
zippy x

floyd

Some people feel a little nauseous and constipated after the barium swallow its hard to predict how each individual will respond

Penny_Watcher

I had a barium swallow years ago. I don't know if they've changed the protocol, but I had an injection that made it difficult for my eyes to focus and was advised not to drive.

I don't know if they do the same these days.

noonesperfect

I did one about 28 years ago. I was warned I may be constipated afterwards. However, I passed gas within ten minutes of leaving the hospital and most of the barium followed :eek: :eek: :eek:

My best skirt was ruined. Can't remember how I felt afterwards, but your btm might be unpredictable!!

*zippy*

noonesperfect wrote: »

I did one about 28 years ago. I was warned I may be constipated afterwards. However, I passed gas within ten minutes of leaving the hospital and most of the barium followed :eek: :eek: :eek:

My best skirt was ruined. Can't remember how I felt afterwards, but your btm might be unpredictable!!

I have to go home on the bus, so fingers crossed this doesn't happen :rotfl:

you_wicked_gay

*zippy* wrote: »

Hi

I'm having a barium swallow next week and just wanted some quick advice please.

My appointment is in the morning so should I book the day off work or should I feel fine afterwards?

many thanks
zippy x

I've had one of these and i was sat on the toilet all day after it feeling like i needed to plop out some bricks! :rotfl:

If it were me, i'd book the day off because you'll have to wait around for a while usually, when i had mine i turned up for my appointment but had to wait for several others before me to have mine.

Booking the day off work beforehand will cause less hassle and stress for yourself on the day too incase your stomach does feel a little unpleasant, that way you wont be worrying about getting back on time either incase theres a delay

Just be prepared for your bottom to act as a cowboy builder for the following week. I was laying bricks in out toilet for a while afterwards. :rotfl:

you_wicked_gay

Penny_Watcher wrote: »

I had a barium swallow years ago. I don't know if they've changed the protocol, but I had an injection that made it difficult for my eyes to focus and was advised not to drive.

I don't know if they do the same these days.

I had one a couple of years ago (im 19 now) and wasnt given the injection, but most of the others that were older than me were.

The nurse that was preparing the barium meal was telling me the injection is given to relax you, but i obviously didn't need it 'cause i wasnt given it haha

Tiff_2

*zippy* wrote: »

Hi

I'm having a barium swallow next week and just wanted some quick advice please.

My appointment is in the morning so should I book the day off work or should I feel fine afterwards?

many thanks
zippy x

Hi zippy!;)
I've had a barium meal twice.
As another poster said hun, I'd book the day off work because sometimes the barium goes quicker through some people's systems than other people's, which means that they'll be ready for their X-ray first. It takes a little while longer for some people.

Plus afterwards, I felt quite full and tired from all the sitting around and I so I had a nice shower and some quality couch-napping time.;)

Be there on time angel, but also be prepared to wait for your turn as bodies all work differently - it'll save you fretting about getting back to work and what your boss might think. You don't want that getting you all anxious and wound up. Take a book or crossword or something just in case to ease your boredom of waiting.
Treat yourself to a taxi home hun or have someone collect you just to be sure - it doesn't hurt but you probably don't want to be stood around in pouring rain at the bus stop as they've forecast for most of next week.
Good luck hun. (((HUGS)))
Much Love,
Tiff xxx

Puttytat

Hi,
I'm a radiographer so can tell you exactly what to expect for your appointment. You won't be given any injection as it is not required for this test. You will possibly be asked to swallow some powder and lemon like juice prior to the examination to produce gas in your stomach as this allows us to see the stomach clearer during the examination. You will then be stood on an upright xray table and asked to drink the barium liquid whilst the radiographer and radiologist watch on the monitor. You will be asked to turn in certain directions so we can see the anatomy clearly. The whole examination should only last approximately 5-10 mins and then you should be free to leave. I always explain to patients that it goes in one end white and will come out the other end white as well so they aren't too shocked. To be honest, we rarely see patients again so I can't comment on whether it goes through quickly and causes accidents, we tend to say it's more likely to lead to constipation and to keep their fluid intake up.
The other barium tests are barium meal (similar to this one but more concentrated on the stomach and related anatomy), barium follow through which can take hours as we watch the barium pass through the small intestine and barium enema which goes in the other end! (this is the one which normally requires the injection of muscle relaxant)
Hope this helps
PT

*zippy*

Thank you all for your lovely replies

I went today and it was fine, no waiting about, went straight in and was out 20 minutes later, my stomach feels a bit heavy, but fine otherwise. Had to laugh though I knew I had dribbled it a bit, but I came out and looked in the mirror and my face was white, I was covered in it, I don't know how they kept a straight face

noonesperfect

Hi Zippy,

glad it went well and no hanging about.

I had mine and a cholesytegram (sp) at the same time, 1980 I think.
No doubt it was the tablets I'd had to take the night before (to clear me out :eek: ) that were still working.

The barium nearly made me wretch and the little tablets to make gas didn't help!!