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Posted 4/14/2010 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
I just got back from my esophagram. It was easy. My barium wasn't flavored at all so that was rough. I didn't have to take the gas crystals and didn't have to drink a lot of barium. After about 10 swallows he said to stop because my stomach was full. The fullness didn't hit me until I was changing. The "thin" barium was really slow going down. I could only take 2 sips of the thick because it felt like it was getting stuck. He has me drink standing up and on my stomach. The stomach was hard because the barium was basically collecting in my esophagus. He had to stand me back up and take drinks of water to get it to go down. He had me lay on my back for a bit and asked if I get woken up at night from the reflux, which I do most nights. I shouldn't be having any reflux if the wrap is tight enough, right? That's about all he said except for my results will be in within 24 hours. Has anyone else had these kind of results during the test?
Posted 4/14/2010 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
I did feel kinda chokey on the laying down and drinking part.

Make sure you take some laxative to keep the stuff from harding in you. Mine did the first time and I felt like I'd swallowed rocks.

Joy
Posted 4/15/2010 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
I found it frustrating trying to get the results of my barium swallow test. I had learned here that I own my test results and should ask for a copy for myself. They gave me a CD of the pictures, but told me I needed my GI doc's permission (which is weird to me) for the written results. When I called the GI doc's office, they said I had to fill out and send in a HIPA form to get it released. Come on...it was my own results!

The easiest access I got was through my family doctor. He simply emailed me his copy. He couldn't really give me answers, because it is not his specialty, but at least I could read the results for myself.

I finally got a copy from my GI doc's office, long after I'd gotten a copy from my PCP.
I'd recommend you getting a copy for yourself as well. Even if you can't figure it out completely, at least you'll have the satisfaction of knowing how it came out. Also, you'll have them for your records.
Good luck!
Denise
Posted 4/15/2010 3:32 PM (GMT 0)
As far as the test goes, my most recent barium swallow involved a lot more than my first one did (I think that one was just looking for a hiatus hernia. This one was to figure out if my wrap was intact as well, and what was going on with my esophagus, if there was reflux, etc.)

I didn't have any trouble swallowing any of it, but I wasn't thrilled with the thick kind. I had to chug that down at the end..to "fill my esophagus".
My biggest issue was I hated waiting for 2 months to get into my GI doc to discuss the results.
Denise
Posted 4/15/2010 3:54 PM (GMT 0)
I just talked to the nurse and my results showed no abnormalities. mad How can all the tests come back normal when there's clearly something wrong. So frustrating!! The nurse is going to have the dr call me to discuss other meds.
Posted 4/16/2010 7:06 PM (GMT 0)
Got the actual results from my test and the nurse said the wrap has probably failed so I might have to get it redone. Since I'm still have reflux, I'm not sure if I should get my tonsils out next week or not. I'm going to talk to the surgeon that did my nissen on Monday to find out for sure and what his plan is. I talked to my gastro last night and she wants to see what the surgeon says. So now I guess I wait.
Posted 4/16/2010 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
Aw, shucks, Michelle!

I hate that you've got to go through that again! :(

Hang in there.

(((((((hugs))))))))))

Joy
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