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SBFT need advice please

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 6/3/2016 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Y'all

Ill give a quick intro in case you have not seen any of my other posts. I was having symptoms despite a clean c-scope in january. my GI ordered a CT enterography which was mostly a bust (prep was in stomach and not bowels so couldnt see too much) however, they saw some mild inflammation in the illeum. my doc wants to do a Small Bowel Follow thru to get a clear pic of my small bowel.

I am very nervous, firstly, the preps have always been very tough for me
I have to do dye free mag citrate
and then the next day drink a couple cups of gluey chalk, erm barium

does anyone have tips/advice/suggestions/stories/even horror stories
i am doing it in two weeks and having anxiety about it

I am very scared about not knowing what to expect...
thanks!!
Posted 6/3/2016 6:08 AM (GMT 0)
The prep for the SBFT isn't near as bad as for a colonoscopy, but I don't remember needing to take mag citrate. It's an easy test. you swallow the barium and then go through a series of x-rays as they watch the dye snake through your intestines. You walk the halls in between x-rays to get the barium to move faster. The test is really no big deal....it is not painful. The barium prep tastes gross but I just guzzle it down and get it over with. Drinking with a straw sometimes can help too.

The SBFT will likely show narrowing or stricturing in your ileum if it is there, but easily might miss mild inflammation. The pill cam test would see if there are ulcers and get a better pic of your ileum, but if you do have narrowing they won't want to do that so the camera-pill doesn't get stuck. Good luck and try not to worry about it.
Posted 6/3/2016 6:26 AM (GMT 0)
My first SMBF I couldn't stand the barium and I just couldn't get enough down or something because I was there for almost 3 hours waiting for it to move through me and they were getting pretty annoyed haha. But even then it wasn't awful.

I've had one other one and it went 100x better (and quicker). I have found if they let you drink with a straw it is helpful to hold it as far back in your mouth as you can so you don't taste it that much, (also helps with the prep drink for a colonoscopy. The first time I had it done they had me chug a cup, then sip a cup, chugging was easier, sipping wasn't. But the second time she told me I could drink it all as fast as I wanted as long as I didn't throw up.

I do remember rock hard and painful BMs after them, but I am horrible at drinking water so that probably didn't help.

It isn't nearly as bad as it seems, I'm just telling you the things I didn't expect, but with my Crohn's painful BMs aren't unusual. I have also found (may not be the case for everyone), my attitude going in to tests and appointments changes everything. If I'm upset and anxious I tend to have a worse experience than if I go in positive (ex. This is going to get me answers I need, I am going to rock this, this is going to help). I know for me it make it all tolerable, but it is also very hard to do when you feel horrible.

I hope this helps, let us know how it goes!
Posted 6/3/2016 11:38 AM (GMT 0)
Paper Towels!! I tell everyone this that I know getting a barium swallow. For me, the gag reflex is the hardest part. But I bring a roll of paper towels, or lots of damp towels but they are not disposable, to the test. After every swallow, I wipe my tongue off. It has stopped the gaggy feeling and gives me another focus point too. I use this for the CT stuff too.

I had one SBFT when I was particularly inflamed and things were not moving....like MoShip below, I was there for quite a while. The RN gave me a small lemon hard candy to suck...and things started moving right along. If things are moving slowly, ask them if you can suck on a hard candy. It gets the digestive system kicking again for some.

Finally, yes, tons of fluids afterward. No horror stories here. I just know I was a lot more comfortable the times I drank more fluids than when I drank less afterward.
Posted 6/5/2016 11:06 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all so much!!

I will keep the tips in mind
I have had great experiences with the teechs/nurses at the hospital they are always so nice and want to make the experience as good as possible
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