Alternatives to barium?

[Everly]

Hello!

Today I had a follow up with my GI doctor and with some problems I had been having beforehand, she's questioning if a fistula is developing with my bladder. So she wants me to go in for a scan just to be safe. But the thing is, I can't tolerate drinking barium or barium based contrasts. So she's going to see if she can find an alternative for me. I'm just a bit worried since I have such a sensitive stomach and things easily make me full and sick. Has anyone ever had any type of different contrast, other than barium or anything barium based? was it easier to get down?

 

[jlm]

I think we're really SOL when it comes to tests that require us to drink something. It's all god awful. I had a Gastrograph yesterday and since I've had surgery recently they didn't want me to have barium so they gave me a water soluble contrast (don't know the name). It was yellow and see through and just the worsttthing I've ever tasted in my life. Luckily the amount I managed to get down which wasn't even half of what they wanted was plenty. I'm pretty sure my GI has pointed out fistula from MRIs that I've had. I have fistula that have formed between loops of small bowels they don't cause any issues but show up on MRIs. Might be worth looking into?