Barium follow through

[smile]

Ive just got my appointment through, its in less than 2 weeks time.

Just a few questions really, the appointment card does give some information.
However it doesn't say roughly how much barium you need to drink? When my mum had this done years ago she had to drink 1 can (yes it came in a can). It also says the barium is fruit flavoured, does it actually make it easier to drink?

It also says before the barium I will need to take some tablets to create gas in my stomach. I was told by someone that you can't burp and have to resist the urge. Is this difficult to do?

Thanks

 

[Crohn's 35]

HI Smile, here in Canada we just go to the appt and drink 2 or more glasses and then a liquid mixture that tastes very very fizzy and I burp everytime, hard not to and they make you drink even more, so try not to. If you can watch the monitor , takes your mind off everything. Walk around whilst drinking it goes through faster. Good luck, it will be a while for the test results, let us know.

 

[smile]

Thanks for the reply, it says on my papers that I will have to lay down during the whole test and to bring a book, mainly because it could take all morning for the bairum to work through to the colon. I must say I am dreading this, mainly because of my fear of being sick. If I didnt have that I would be ok. I guess I just have to believe it will be ok.

 

[Crohn's 35]

Is it a barium follow thru, we never lay down, and even when on the machine you are on an angle.

The new CT scans here you have to drink and a contrast but no fizzy stuff. Guess every clinic has their own tests? It will be fine, i never threw up and had many. :hang:

 

[Christy]

Hi smile!

I had a small bowel follow through back in February, is that what you are having?

If it's the same test, they had me drink about 2 1/2 tall glasses of chalky, {supposedly} vanilla flavored barium crud. It wasn't good, but it wasn't horrid either (would have been MUCH better if they'd refrigerated the stuff beforehand, maybe you can call the radiology department and ask them to chill yours?). They only had me lie down when they were doing the actual x-rays, the rest of the time I sat or walked about. There was never any mention of suppressing burps.

And it doesn't always take a very long time ~ I was done in three hours. Everyone is different, we'll hope for the best for you!!

 

[MapleLeafGirl]

I also had to drink two large chalky glasses of barium crud. I was sitting the whole time and only lied down for the xrays. I was in and out very quick. That stuff shot right through me and straight out the other end. It may not be the same test though, it seems like different hospitals/clinics use different names for similar tests so it gets a little confusing.