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Ahhhh...how to get the barium out?!

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Posted 5/26/2011 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
I had a small bowel follow through yesterday and it went well, but the barium is awful stuff! I took dulcolax and some miralax last night before bed. I have been up since 2am with a stomach ache and small bowel movements every so often, and all of them have been white.

I hope this is not too much information, but I need some advice:

I passed what was like VERY dense white clay at first but now it is mostly just watery but STILL white!

I thought I would get the barium out, and then have some regular colored movements because I ate dinner last night. The way I was expecting it, the barium would come out first (separately) and then regular stools...but do I have it wrong? So far I have only been passing all white stools. Does the barium mix with everything else (like what I ate yesterday) and just turn everything white?

I know this post is confusing but I have so many bowel issues as it is, so throwing this barium into the mix is kind of making me paranoid. I really don't want any of it to get stuck up in there and it is scaring me.

about how long should I expect white-whiteish stools?
Posted 5/26/2011 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
Alisha, first of all let me tell you that you can calm down! sounds like you're passing it very well, esp if the output is liquidy! that's a good sign that it all moves through beautifully! gosh i don't remember how long it took me before my bms were brown again after my first defecography, but i think it was about 2-3 days before there wasn't any white left. any furthur tests with barium i just went to a colon hydrotherapy right after the tests to have it all sucked out that same day. but it doesn't matter. w/o it it'll just take a little longer.

yeah, i do think the barium is mixed with everything, also with what you ate yest. but DON'T WORRY! it should be over in about couple days or so.
Posted 5/26/2011 11:47 PM (GMT 0)
I had white bowel movements for a couple of weeks. It was terrible.
Posted 5/27/2011 1:10 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, even though I finally got most of stool out of me that weekend after not going to the bathroom all week and the small bowel transit.  I think I still noticed whitish tints to my stools for a few days.  It will pass; that barium sure does stick! 
Posted 5/28/2011 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone,
I took laxatives the night of the test and got a LOT of white out of me but have had a bellyache ever since Wednesday. I am taking dulcolax again tonight - I really hate the stuff but I feel like I have rocks in my belly and I need to get something out. Also my brother is home from college and leaving for his summer internship this weekend, so tomorrow we are going out for a nice dinner as a family. Going out to dinner is torture for me but I will suck it up because I know my Mom wants us all to go.

So I hope I feel better tomorrow at least.

I know there is so much going on lately with all of us, and I have to ask - do any of you have days where you feel REALLY depressed or scared, for no reason? Lately I have felt very down and scared, but I don't know what I'm scared of. Sometimes I don't want to get out of bed even! I am hoping that my appointment with the surgeon next week will help, I think I just need some answers. It's hard to feel sick all the time and not know why. I want him to tell me why, and I want him to tell me what he can do to help fix it.

I am sure you all can relate. I just hate feeling bummed out all the time.
Posted 5/28/2011 12:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Alibee, I had to have Barium for a test a while ago. It took about 2 weeks for the barium to get out of the my system. As days went by less and less of it was coming out. But I do remember in those immediate few days after it was such a pain especially as it made the stools so heavy and extremlely difficult to flush away - for me it sometimes felt like I had to flush the loo about 50 000 times for it to go lol!!

And you're completely normal to get days when you feel down, frustrated etc, we all get them, I would be surprised at anyone who says they never have. Its normal because if this disease is not under control 100% of the time then it can greatly impact many areas of your life, and that is upsetting and stressful. I need to take some of my own medicine here too when I say to you don't give yourself a hard time about having these days...I think they are healthy to have once in a while cos it means you can get your feelings from deep down out.

smilewinkgrin  

Posted 5/28/2011 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
Alibee, it will all be over soon enough. make sure you drink LOTS of water all the time too.

i know what you mean. i had those days when i felt so miserable. it's completely ok and normal to feel this way when a health issue affects your life like this. hang in hon! you're gonna make it through!
Posted 5/29/2011 2:48 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone,
and thanks Hodaya - that made me feel better :)
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