barium swallow study

[coffeeom]

Hi. I am going for this test  april 12th and was wondering if anyone had this test and what it was like?? Thanks, Linda

[coffeeom]

Thank you, it helps to know what you are in for and how they will do the testing!       ...Im not sure which one they are going to do but they did tell me not to eat or drink after 10 the night before.  

[essdipity]

Thought I should put in here that what I had was a modified barium swallow study, which probably is what you'll get, though of course I don't know. Here's a good explanation of this and how it differs from the regular barium swallowing.

http://www2.massgeneral.org/pcs/Heal_Lang/Modified_Barium_Swallow.pdf

Another study you might have performed is esophageal manometry. Haven't had that one but Quix has.

ess

[essdipity]

It's really not too bad, and doesn't take long. They use barium in different forms, such as a dab on a cracker, and so on. They watch (through flouroscopy?) its progression down the esophagus, to see if and where there are problems.

Mine showed a tiny bit of aspiration to the trachea, but it reversed itself and went down the normal route. Also, when I swallowed barium in pill form, it bounced around at the bottom (I could see it too) several times before making it to the stomach. Apparently that was because I have a stricture at the base of my esophagus. That is unlikely to be from MS, although other swallowing issues can be.

The problem with this sort of test is that they have to see the malfunctioning to know anything, and for most people, certainly including me, this was only a random and not very frequent occurrence. It's hard to catch it in the act, if you know what I mean.

Nevertheless, it's a good procedure. There are others as well, so if this doesn't show anything, don't give up.

Good luck to you and I hope you soon feel better.

ess

[coffeeom]

I am having problems with food getting stuck..it will sit in my esophagus and then come back up.  I have to eat really slow and chew my food good with no large pieces or it will get stuck and I will choke.  I had a endoscope and they found a hital hernia...doctor put me on aciphix but  it did not help.  the doctor now wants to do this test.  

I have been having a lot of symptoms lately..buzzing,ringing in my ears ,pain in my feet,hands, spasms and heavy legs. I don't know if this is something different or part of this.?

Thanks  ill prepare myself for the chalk taste......     Linda

[LLWB]

I had a barium study quite a few years ago. I hope they have improved the taste of the stuff......unless you like the tase of chalk that is, lol.  After you gag the stuff down, the rest of the test is a piece of cake.  Are you having stomach problems?  My test was because of being pregnant and vomiting so much I lost 15 lbs. I also had an ulcer.

It really isn't too bad as tests go, I'd rather repeat that than a colonoscopy anyday! Good Luck!