HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Barium meal showed nothing!

Support Forums
>
GERD & Acid Reflux
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/23/2015 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
Back in the summer I had an endoscopy that showed I have a small hiatus hernia but no evidence of reflux. I was still on my meds though. In 2010 I had a barium swallow that showed significant reflux but obviously that was five years ago.

I had a barium swallow last Thursday and I knew I wasn't refluxing! I just met the surgeon and sure enough nothing showed up on the X-ray, not even my hernia.

He has recommended I now have the Bravo test. But what if I go through all that hell of not being on my medication and having the test only for them to turn round and say I don't have reflux and refuse to give me the surgery.

I thought I'd found the answer but feel back at square one.
Posted 12/29/2015 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
I had horrible GERD for a good part of a decade before having the fundo. I lost count how many EGD's, barium swallows, and other tests and procedures I had during that time. Not one of them showed my HUGE sliding hiatal hernia. Not one!! I did do the Bravo test, which being off the meds was hell I'll admit, but that's what prompted them to do the fundo (thank god!). It wasn't until they got inside to do the fundo that they saw the hernia first hand. I'm still shocked it was never seen on any of the tests I had done. I'm talking dozens and dozens of tests over the years. Hernia's certainly don't heal themselves so I'm sure yours is still there. It might not be pleasant, but if being off your meds you're having awful GERD symptoms, it should easily be picked up on the Bravo.

Since mine was a sliding hiatal hernia (it slides back and forth...some days it'll be above the diaphragm, some days below it), my guess is that somehow when they did the tests that my stomach just happened to be below the diaphragm in it's proper place that particular day....so they just didn't catch it. Could be what's happening to you, I dunno. Either way, despite the discomfort and potential pain of being off your meds for 2 weeks prior to the Bravo, it could make all the difference in the end. I think I was still allowed to take Tums up to a week prior and then Carafate up to 2 days before the Bravo which helped a tiny bit. Chances are, if your symptoms are awful off the meds, the Bravo will verify the reflux.
Posted 12/29/2015 9:35 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your reply. I have since found out that the Dr doing my bravo test only wants me to be off the meds for 1 week and I can take zantac up until 24 hours before.

I have a sliding hernia as well but it is only small. It is normally worse when I am on my period or constipated with my IBS. I didn't have either of those things the day I had the barium swallow.

I am still nervous about the bravo test but I guess it will show once and for all if I have acid reflux. But surely the fact that my small hernia was seen by the Dr Who did my endoscopy means they will be willing to do something?

I know I have reflux as I am doing it now!!
Posted 12/29/2015 10:04 PM (GMT 0)
I've heard that with small hernias they don't always fix it right away cuz they don't cause too many problems but if you're having symptoms from it combined with reflux, they should fix it. My Dr definitely didn't let me have Zantac the day before and was adamant about being off PPI's for 2 weeks to ensure they get an accurate reading but hopefully 1 week will b enough. My reflux was severe so I personally was in a lot of pain being off the meds that long but each person is different and since you'll only have to wait a week maybe it won't be as bad. Considering u have proof of the hernia, despite the barium test which isn't always accurate anyways, that should b all you need for them to do something.
Posted 12/29/2015 10:13 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks. I've had he symptoms 10 years so even though they only found the hernia this year, I'm pretty sure I've had it the whole time!

I swear I caused it myself. I used to hold off going to the loo till I got home from work as didn't want to do no 2 in public. This went on for years and years and I'm convinced k caused my ibs c and hernia!
Posted 12/29/2015 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hopefully it gets taken care of either way so u can finally get some relief! Don't b too hard on yourself. My mom is adamant that stress caused mine due to a bad marriage lol. I wish I knew what actually caused mine so I don't repeat my mistake but sadly my symptoms have started to come back already (fundo was in 2010). Oh well. It was a nice run while it lasted!

Wish u luck!
Posted 1/2/2016 6:28 PM (GMT 0)
I also didn't show any reflux on my barium swallow and my hiatal hernia is very small but that doesn't mean you aren't still having reflux or that a large hernia is needed to cause major pain and reflux. My surgeon didn't have to do any other tests besides the barium swallow, blood work (test for CDIFF), and chest x Ray. My history of symptoms and the very small hernia on the swallow test, and the fact that I was no longer responding to heartburn meds of any kind was enough for him to feel confident. I should add that I had also had GERD several years back when I was 190 pounds but once I lost 40 pounds it corrected itself. I have all the typical food triggers and inability to lie flat, bend over, excessive burping, water brash, chest pains almost constantly (ekg showed no heart problems). Long story short, I was suffering from GERD for about 8 months before I met with the surgeon (a bariatric surgeon who is a leader in heartburn surgery) and then he green lit me for surgery after the tests. It took me another 9 months to get up the courage to deal with the recovery and get to the point where I could afford the copays and time off work. I am 1 month out from surgery and feeling better. Last night I slept on ONE PILLOW foe the first time in I don't know how long. I've had some trigger foods without problems. I'm still recover from surgery which its own process and takes a long time but I have hope that the surgery was worth it. I hope your surgeon can speed things along for you. If not, a second opinion never hurts, if you are able.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply