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Barium Swallow tomorrow morning!!

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 3/11/2010 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
Ok, I am getting nervous about this, but I know it will be Ok. In a way I am glad I am having a bad week, maybe it means something will show up on the Xray, although I have no idea what barium swallow can reveal. Does anyone know what can be seen by way of GERD damage?
Posted 3/11/2010 11:44 PM (GMT 0)
It can show if there are any strictures, reflux, or if there is an issue with stuff getting through the LES. Not sure what else it would show.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 3/12/2010 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
They saw my lower valve to my small intestines open. They also were able to see my polyps.

Joy
Posted 3/12/2010 9:22 AM (GMT 0)
Haital Hernia and general anatomy, also
Posted 3/12/2010 12:35 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I have just got back from the hospital, slightly nauseated from the dodgy drink!

I hate doctors sometimes. They walked me in, did the procedure, (numerous pics) and told me "right, you can go". No talking, no info as to when and how to get the results, I am treated like an animal. I went up the the ENT who ordered the Xray and they said the results will be discussed at my next review in 8 weeks! So I am left to wonder now, and keep steadily getting worse and worse, if that last 3 months are anything to go by, til I see yet another inept ENT who has no idea about me and my history.

Went to speech therapist, she's refusing to treat anymore until such time as I am actually "in recovery". She and I both agree though that speech therapy was premature, and needs to wait til after I am diagnosed and treated.

Demoralised right now, but at least I have had the Xray. Now I have to wait for pale poop hahaha
Posted 3/12/2010 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
zelda,


I am sorry to hear you did not recieve the best of support during your procedure. Is there any chance you can get into see your ENT before 8 weeks as that is a long time to wait for results? The other thing you could ask for is the final written report of your Barium Study if you are OK with reading the results with over- reading anything in the report.



Usually there is a summary at the end of the report that indicates the conclusion of the test results.



You have my support and sending you many good vibes.



Kitt
Posted 3/12/2010 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
Zelda
You can go to the department that did the procedure (Wait a week or so until there is a report!) and ask for a copy of the report and the disk with the pictures. This information belongs to you and you are entitled to it. If the department doesn't keep it it should be available at medical records.

I keep a folder of all my test results and disks of pictures (x-rays and such). I often need the info when I go to a different doctor or a hospital with a different affiliation.
Posted 3/13/2010 12:55 AM (GMT 0)
Alcie,
What is the response when you ask for the CD and report? How long does it take for it to be available? Do you have to go pick it up, or will they mail it? Is this simply a patient's rights issue?
I'm going to get a barium swallow next week and would like the results. How should I go about getting them?
Thanks a lot for your information!
Denise
Posted 3/13/2010 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
I got all of my information from my tests within five days of the test. They mailed mine to me.

Joy
Posted 3/13/2010 6:50 AM (GMT 0)
In the U.S. it is a patients right issue. I have been able to pick mine up. They have just asked for 24 hours to get them ready. I have a really cool cd of my last mri on my neck... shows some ugly bulging discs.

Bill
Posted 3/13/2010 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
Denise
I give the center that did the study a week so that the doctor has had enough time to write the report. Then I call and give them a day to make up the disk and I pick it up. Some places will also mail them to you. I've been told we have a right to the information.

I have my barium swallow showing my pre-op paraesophageal hernia, all my MRIs, post-op x-rays, and all the written reports for blood tests and everything I can think of. It really helps when you go to a different doctor for a different condition.

I'm starting to get smartr and ask for some tests too: I needed a blood test for my oncologist because I have a low white count, so I asked for a vitamin D, which no doc ever orders unless you ask for it. I was extremely low and needed to triple my vitamin D. I'll ask for that one every time I need another test. Just a couple of days of taking extra D has made half my pain go away!
Posted 3/13/2010 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
How's vitamin D on the stomach?
Posted 3/14/2010 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
I take a lot with no problems. Haven't heard of any.
Posted 3/14/2010 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
Mike -

The larger doses of D are the same size gel cap as the 400 unit ones. I don't have a problem with them, although I make sure to take all my supplements with food. I don't tolerate the regular fish oil gel caps, so tolerating the D caps means something. D is also available in tablets, but the gel caps are recommended.

My intolerance for fish oil is probably due to most fish and crab and shrimp being sprayed with sulfite to preserve them right on the boats. If it's not cleaned off adequately during processing, and judging by my reaction it isn't, I get tachycardia. I can eat fish and shrimp just fine if I wash them and cook them myself. If you have a severe intolerance or allergy you could have a problem with D because it's from a fish source.

The formula for raising D level is:
For every 1 ng/mL to be raised you need to add 100 units of D. My level was 18. To raise it to 38 (good on old scale) I needed to add 2000 units. To get it up to 48 (new scale is 50 or even higher) I would need 3000 units more than I was already taking, which was about 1300 units from all sources: vitamin, Calcium supplement, and the extra D I was already taking.
Posted 3/15/2010 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
Just a word of caution, if you are self prescribing D, be careful. If you aren't D deficient, you can end up ODing if you take it for a long period of time, since the half life is long with D, it builds up in your body.

Many say its virtually impossible to OD with it, but there are some long term studies that have shown it can be quite harmful over long periods.
Posted 3/15/2010 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
Not to criticize, Zelda, but just to add to what you said - In my first post on this thread I mentioned I had a blood test for D, which I would recommend before anyone starts self-medicating. I always say you need to know the cause of your problem. That's why I keep reiterating you need tests to determine if you need surgery and if so, what type. In the case of vitamin D, you don't want too much, but 10000 units a day is the toxic level you have to worry about. 2000 is recommended in some of the reports I have read.

Back to your original issue of what can be seen on barium swallow, did they ever tell you what they saw? My doc said I had no ulcers, but could clearly see my hiatal hernia and reflux.
Posted 3/15/2010 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
Alcie, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to come across badly, I understand that you have been tested, and my comment wasn't directed towards you personally, I did just kinda wanna send out a precaution on this in case another user decides to try it. You can get it so easily, I thought the safety side was worth a mention. I know I am desperate enough to try anything atm, and someone else might be too!

I've had no contact regarding my xray, they said they would call if there was anything serious, but otherwise they would discuss in my review in 8 weeks time...its just a matter of what they consider serious. To me, this is very serious, its ruining my life, but to them, I am not sure, they haven't treated me with much concern thus far.
Posted 3/15/2010 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
Zelda,
No, I didn't mean you to think I took your comment as personal. In fact, it was a good comment not to overdo! So many people take vitamins and herbs without a reason and without thinking. 'Tis best to err on the side of caution!

I would go get the copy of the disk and the radiologist's report. You should be able to view the disk on any computer. The normally come with the program needed to run the disk right on it. I find them very interesting. I make copies of everything, disks too, to give to other doctors. Especially the blood tests! Then I don't have to wait for them to go to a computer to look up the report, even if they have that capability.

As for the waiting - I had to wait and endure one horrible test after another, some twice, then get more blood tests because the first ones were too old, for 4 1/2 months before they finally agreed that I needed the surgery. Then I had 3 days to prepare because there was a cancellation and I had to get a nuclear stress test (which I normally refuse because of the unnecessary radiation and they don't prove anything) because I'd had a heart attack a few years ago. And this was all after it was proven that I had my stomach in my chest from the seat belt in a high speed wreck. That type of hernia (paraesophageal) has a 50% mortality if the stomach flips over and I could feel it turning when I rolled over every night. But I do understand your impatience. Waiting is the worst part. But if your doc is that busy maybe he's good. Mine is. I'm glad I put up with it.
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