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Questions after meeting with surgeon

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 7/3/2013 12:39 PM (GMT 0)
I saw the surgeon today and he wants to do a test where I drink something and they watch it. Is that a barium swallow? If so, what is that like? Also, he wants to do another endoscopy on me although I just had one in May. He suspects I might have a hiatel hernia and he says he is going to use a different type of scope to see this and measure it if there is one. I am not sure why the first endoscopy wouldn’t show if I had a hernia. Has this ever happened to anyone?

Posted 7/3/2013 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Amba,

Not sure if your surgeon did your last endoscopy but if he didn't he will want to see your esophagus for himself before operating. They like to see the length of it.

None of my endoscopies have ever shown a hiatus Hernia but when the surgeon did my fundo, he said it was massive. Maybe your dude has a pretty funky scope.

Also, that swallowing test does sound like a barium swallow, it's not a bad test really. The stuff you drink is a bit chalky and I ended up with it all round my mouth!!!! turn it can leave you a little bloated and constipated for a few days. When it does finally come out, it takes a while to flush! I'm in the UK and believe our toilets better than those over the pond so I not sure how it gets flushed there! wink

Don't worry about them though, it's good that he's getting a very good idea of your anatomy before he operates.

Good luck

Xx
Posted 7/4/2013 3:57 AM (GMT 0)
The reason it would not be visible during a regular endoscopy is because the esophagus tends to appear bloated from the anesthesia. It might be bloated from something else, but that is the explanation I have been given. The barium swallow test is extremely easy and doesn't take that long. I don't see why he would want to redo the endoscopy for that since that is the exact purpose of the barium swallow test.
Posted 7/4/2013 8:58 AM (GMT 0)
The barium swallow liquid they give you to swallow is kind of yuck but the doctor who did my test said they flavour it chocolate for kids - ask your testing doctor for that! It's not that bad and over quickly. I'm not sure about the endoscopy not showing up the HH - all my endoscopies showed mine and they were done in different places by different people. My surgeon didn't do one on me because I had just had one done by someone he went through med school with and knew and trusted. Best of luck.
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