I had my barium follow through test, now I feel like cr*p

[marygold]

I had my follow through test, which they cut short. They were supposed to follow the Barium through the small intstine until it reaches the colon, but they only followed it intil it was out of the stomach. He said that they were not likely to find anything there, and it would save me the radiation. I don't know if I'm happy about that or not. They did find I have a lot of reflux (I could have told them that) but nothing else. I walked home and slept. I just barely dragged myself out of bed to come down to a computer. I've been sleeping for the last 8hrs straight. And before my test, I had slept for another 8hrs. Does this have something to do with the radiation? I'm thinking that if the test were longer, I'd probably feel worse, but then again, if they had done the whole test, they might have found something, you never know. Anyway, what now? It's taking a whole lot of energy just to type. I want to roll over and go back to sleep. Is this normal/typical? I haven't expelled the Barium yet. Could that have something to do with it?

I'm going to stop there because I am so tired I can't continue. I'm going back to bed.

[marygold]

you see, my stool never turned colour. It's been 5 days since my test (which showed reflux within a minute of lying down, which is so not good) and my stools never changed to white. I don't even remember my stools having changed to white when I last had that test years ago. I do have a lot of gas right now. It's not in my upper digestive tract, it's all in my intestines. I hold it in and don't fart unless I'm in the bathroom, and I can actually feel the air bubbles cruising through my intestines. During supper tonight, I was (secretly) following the passage of one large bubble that was making its way around my insides. It's kinda cool to actually feel and trace your insides, although it probably ain't normal. I shoulda taken an anti-gas tablet, but I never got a chance to sneak away on my own to my bag and get one. (I was long-lost family, having dinner with a second cousin I only found out I had a couple months ago, and everyone was curious. She's got a big family, too.)

Anyway, back on track. I come from a German and Polish background on my mom's side. My other gramma is English, though. I had a Barium Swallow test years ago, which didn't show any reflux during the test, although I was diagnosed with GERD. But this test, I saw on the monitor, showed some major reflux within a minute of lying down, although I was swallowing nonstop to try to get it to stay down. I think it's safe to say that it's gotten much worse in those few years. It was severe and chronic back then, so what is it now? Would I be facing surgery? I don't know yet, but I'm going to go to the doc's in the new year to see what the next move is. I can't keep on like this. Hey, maybe I'll ask the doc to refer me to a specialist, a dietician, and possibly a psychologist. Wow, I am one whacked out kid here. Adult, I'm an adult. I still feel like a kid sometimes because I like to go out and have fun, and a bunch of the other adults I talk to are so boring already. I always felt that the older you get, the less fun you go after. True for some people, I guess, but I'm trying to stay as young as possible for as long as possible. Sounds good to me!

Anyway, gotta go. Merry Christmas, everyone!

[Concerned lady]

Some GASTRIC REFLUX TIPS (without acid blockers):

Please check with your doctor, first, before trying these tips to be sure they are safe, in your particular situation.

TRY USING THESE TIPS, EVERY DAY, FOR TWO WEEKS, WHILE YOU CONTINUE TAKING THE ACID BLOCKING MEDICATION.

If these tips seem to help you, then, after 2 weeks, KEEP USING THE TIPS, while you begin to VERY, VERY, SLOWLY DECREASE THE ACID BLOCKING MEDICATION.

CONTINUE USING THESE TIPS, UNTIL YOU ARE COMPLETELY OFF THE ACID BLOCKERS. Then, keep using these tips until you have no more reflux problems for at least 3 months. Some of us have to continue using these tips longer, or "forever", but it's worth it!:

GER=Gastro-Esophageal Reflux. (Gastro=stomach. Esophagus=food tube.)

LPR= Laryngeal-Pharyngeal Reflux. (Larynx=voice box, containing the 2 vocal cords. Pharynx=throat, above the larynx. The larynx is above the trachea/windpipe.)

Reflux=acidic or alkaline stomach material that backs up into the esophagus (food tube), causing any of these problems (at least): VCD/Vocal Cord Dysfunction/Laryngospasm attacks, cough, voice problems, asthma, globus (feeling of lump in throat), constant need to clear throat, much extra throat mucus, worsening of sinus condition, sore throat, laryngitis, voice problems, pre-cancerous conditions of throat &/or esophagus, etc.

SOME GER/LPR CONTROL THINGS WE DO, that we learned from the excellent book: STOMACH AILMENTS AND DIGESTIVE DISTURBANCES, by Michael T. Murray, N.D. See page 9, References, in my website: http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com   and, also see GER/LPR info on page 5, and on LINKS page.

PLEASE READ THIS GREAT BOOK. It may possibly be bought on-line, from Michael T. Murray

[Concerned lady]

Dear Marygold,

I agree with all the others' advice--but don't use MINT, because mint makes gastric reflux worse.

Here are some ideas you can think about:

1)Go & see a doctor who knows a lot about FOOD SENSITIVITIES, FOOD ALLERGIES, & CELIAC DISEASE (Celiac Disease doesn't always show up on the LIMITED tests for it that you probably were given!).

2)Regarding the above:

a)Try going on a MILK-FREE diet for 2 weeks. This means, avoid milk, cheese, yogurt, & anything that has milk-products added to it. MIGHT YOU BE LACTOSE-INTOLERANT? Lactose is milk sugar. People who have lactose intolerance usually bloat up "bigtime" about 20 minutes after drinking or eating MILK PRODUCTS. I know about this personally!

If you feel like you must eat or drink some milk products, take a tablet (the "ultra") of LACTAID (has Lactase enzymes in it), at the same time that you swallow the first bite or sip of the milk product.

b)Try going on a GLUTEN-FREE DIET for at least 30 days. A few days may not have been long enough for you to see an improvement. To go gluten-free means you need to AVOID THE FOLLOWING: Wheat, Rye, Oats, Barley, Buckwheat.

This means avoid wheat breads (includes SPELT & KAMUT, which are ancient forms of wheat). Avoid breaded foods. Avoid bread crumbs. Avoid gravies unless you make them gluten-free.

This means, avoid vanilla extract or any "extracts" that were made using "grain" alcohol, because the "grain" may have been a "glutenous" grain.

Do you have any ancestors who are/were IRISH, ENGLISH, or SCANDINAVIAN (or near these places)? When Celiac Disease is inherited, it is found in a higher percentage of people whose ancestry includes Irish, British, Scottish, Welsh, & Scandinavian, than in others.

Celiac Disease can also be acquired (non-hereditary), and can result from infections of the small intestine.

3)See a good Psychologist or Psychiatrist, to help you survive the stress of your physical problems, & to give you some emotional support, to help you not fall back into the anorexia. Maybe your roomy could also go, so you both can help eachother even more.

4)Consider the following GASTRIC REFLUX TIPS, which can help you to GET OFF THE ACID BLOCKER!!! Why? Because acid blocking medications have some awful side effects. READ THE PACKAGE INSERT PAPER, WITH A MAGNIFYING GLASS! ASK YOUR PHARMACIST TO TRANSLATE THE "ADVERSE" (BAD) EFFECTS INTO PLAIN ENGLISH.

I'll put the GASTRIC REFLUX TIPS into the next message below this, so this one won't be too lengthy.

Sincerely, Concerned lady
http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com

[toBethany]

DRINK LOTS AND LOTS OF WATER - the barium is "heavy" and can cause your bowels to slow down... drink lots of fluid!!! If necessary, drink some Milk of Magnesia (mint flavor!) or drink some Magnesium Citrate.  The stool will be white a couple of times, and you will know that it is all out when your stool returns to its "normal" color.

Bethany

[4gpact]

I doubt it had anything to do with the radiation, but I wonder if the barium is emptying properly. Do be sure to drink lots of fluids, and use a laxative to be sure it moves out quickly, or it can harden and cause a bowel obstruction. Maybe it's like when you eat a big meal and get sleepy? This stuff does move slowly, it can actually harden, so be careful.