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Barium swallow results - all clear (?)

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Posted 4/27/2017 1:40 PM (GMT 0)
My doctor didn't want to send me to a GI doc for an endoscopy, but I did insist on a barium test and it came back all clear. No sign of reflux, erosions, hernia, ulcers anything. I still am suffering with burning in my stomach and throat though even though following a strict diet (No tomatoes/peppers/citrus, limited fatty food, no chocolate, no coffee/tea, nothing spicy and I only use salt/pepper and sometimes a tiny bit of garlic as seasoning these days. I've never smoked and don't drink at all anymore).

I'm going to push to see the GI doc though I know I'll get resistance and I'm in Canada so the wait times are pretty darn bad. Is it likely I'll find anything considering the barium test came back with nothing? Is there anything else I should look into?

Thanks so much smile
Posted 4/28/2017 12:34 PM (GMT 0)
Your "strict diet" may not be the right diet for you. It depends on the cause of your problem, which your doctor hasn't found ... yet. Yes, push for the GI doc. Sorry you are in Canada. Can you just pay for the GI appointment yourself, or get one in the USA?

If the barium swallow was rushed they might have missed something. I've had the test both ways, and there is a big difference. Some technicians are just trying to get through the day's work. My best test was when I had an actual doctor present. Residents and nurse practitioners don't wait for the stomach to do it's thing (reflux). It can take a few minutes for the stomach to get unhappy.

If you get to see a GI doc, he'll look at the barium results - take the disk! Then he'll probably do the endoscopy.

Your diet is just an old-fashioned suggestion, and it may not include the foods that trigger your reflux. Look up "food journal" in the archives (search box at the top of the page).
Posted 4/28/2017 12:55 PM (GMT 0)
The diet so far is due to some trial and error, but now I've added even bananas to the "no" list as they seem to be causing me trouble. At this point I can only seem to tolerate carefully homemade meals. I have no idea how I'll meet friends at a restaurants as I have no idea what I'd be able to eat.

I'm not sure if I can opt to pay my own GI appointment. I'll look into it. There was a doctor present for my test and I was in prone position for a good long while in the test and had to turn over plenty of times. Guess I still have a ways to go before I know what's really happening.

Thanks for your reply!
Posted 4/28/2017 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
i had a sonogram and one of those camera in your throat tests...nothing. i asked my doctor for a barium test and he said NO!? i was so shocked. i got of the ppi's after 2 1/2 mo. and it was very confusing...because i started feeling better in the morning...and i would take a ppi and would feel worse. anyway...it's not easy getting off of those...im sure they disturb the physiology in your body...and body has to get back to normal. did take 75mg of peptide for a week which worked perfectly until it stopped working a week later. i got off of those...and just have to live with my burning sensation but it is tolerable when my diet is right. i had a doctor tell me that if i could live without those meds...that's better for me!! anyway...i am going back to the doctor in a couple of months and demand they give me a barium test...because how could we treat this condition if we don't know what's causing it!! crazy! i don't like these gastro doctors...i don't think they care what's wrong with you they just keep you on meds, which eventually ruin your kidneys and everything else!! guess im one of the luckier ones!
Posted 4/28/2017 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not very impressed with my doctor experiences either. You really have to nag them to get anything done. sad
Posted 4/29/2017 7:44 AM (GMT 0)

bythesea said...
i had a sonogram and one of those camera in your throat tests...nothing. i asked my doctor for a barium test and he said NO!? i was so shocked. i got of the ppi's after 2 1/2 mo. and it was very confusing...because i started feeling better in the morning...and i would take a ppi and would feel worse. anyway...it's not easy getting off of those...im sure they disturb the physiology in your body...and body has to get back to normal. did take 75mg of peptide for a week which worked perfectly until it stopped working a week later. i got off of those...and just have to live with my burning sensation but it is tolerable when my diet is right. i had a doctor tell me that if i could live without those meds...that's better for me!! anyway...i am going back to the doctor in a couple of months and demand they give me a barium test...because how could we treat this condition if we don't know what's causing it!! crazy! i don't like these gastro doctors...i don't think they care what's wrong with you they just keep you on meds, which eventually ruin your kidneys and everything else!! guess im one of the luckier ones!

I agree Gastro doc are worse. I am on day 6 of no PPI and just visited one. He wants me to do endoscopy and get on another PPI. Are you kiddine me? No way in hell i am getting on another PPI. I told him straight up that i am not getting on any PPI. I was on nexium for 4 weeks and weaned myself off ( didn't exactly follow last step). Its been 6 days, i do have burning sensation in stomach for brief moments in night but i would think it as my stomach trying to readjust. I never had EGD done, i only got upper GI xray done. I am planning on getting myself h.pylori test after two weeks of being off PPI.
Posted 4/29/2017 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
yes, our system is readjusting! i had to learn to get thru that period...your stomach can't be void of all foods because that causes burning, and can't over eat...that made me feel sic too. anyway...keep water by your bed and drink water when the burning wakes you up! i also found a really good whole grain bread that i like, and when i get up in the morning i have a couple pieces of toast w/jam...and warm tea. i drink tea all day...and lots of water!! for me it's been almost a month...and sometimes i forget how sick i was...getting better and better. keep a strict diet most of the time and as you get better you will be able to eat almost everything. i am soooooo grateful. im very in tune with my body and know what i should be doing. im sooo happy for you, i feel sooooo sorry who have been on those ppi's for years!! wow what damage has that done to their organs!! just hang in there....you'll feel big changes in the next couple of weeks!! let me know how it goes for you.
Posted 5/2/2017 8:04 AM (GMT 0)

bythesea said...
yes, our system is readjusting! i had to learn to get thru that period...your stomach can't be void of all foods because that causes burning, and can't over eat...that made me feel sic too. anyway...keep water by your bed and drink water when the burning wakes you up! i also found a really good whole grain bread that i like, and when i get up in the morning i have a couple pieces of toast w/jam...and warm tea. i drink tea all day...and lots of water!! for me it's been almost a month...and sometimes i forget how sick i was...getting better and better. keep a strict diet most of the time and as you get better you will be able to eat almost everything. i am soooooo grateful. im very in tune with my body and know what i should be doing. im sooo happy for you, i feel sooooo sorry who have been on those ppi's for years!! wow what damage has that done to their organs!! just hang in there....you'll feel big changes in the next couple of weeks!! let me know how it goes for you.

Thanks for your response. what kind of tea do you drink?
Posted 5/7/2017 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Silverlining, I'm in Canada as well. Your symptoms sure sound like GERD to me, but it could be other things too. I sure hope your doctor is sending you for some other sort of testing. My doctor sent me off for an 'urgent' endoscopy... and it took forever to get. I ended up losing 15 pounds in 3 weeks and a nurse at my parent's church got me in within 2 days. (then I had to wait two weeks to see my doctor to get the results).

If your doctor is not up to your standards... Get another one. You are ultimately responsible for your health.

I'm happy to hear about your diet changes, although sad they are not making a difference. I'd also recommend sleeping on a 6-8 inch incline, avoiding vigorous exercise (like weights, or jogging, or anything hard on the abs), and don't eat 4 hours before going to bed. There's also a book called 'dropping acid' that many people recommend. There's a two week detox diet in the book that I feel that has been helping me. It lists all the food that you can eat.
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