Tell me about an Upper GI Study

kck329

We finally got to see a GI yesterday! It was a great appointment, I'm so glad we were able to get in (long waiting list). He asked lots of questions and wants to do some additional tests/studies for C's reflux. First is an upper GI-he explained she will just drink barium dye and then they will take lots of xrays. Has anyone done this? What should I know before going in?

After we get those results, we will determine what the next tests are so I'm sure I"ll have more questions. I'm so excited we are finally going to get her some help!

bhilyer

JS had this done in July.  He had to skip a meal because they need the stomach emtpy. 

Basically, they will watch her swallow.  They will be able to classify her reflux as grade 1, 2, 3, etc.  (Side note - I was in the room with JS and it was cool to see it on the screen.)  Then you'll wait 15-20 minutes and they will do the first belly xray.  They follow the dye through the entire bowel system.  I think JS had to have 3 xrays spaced out in 15 minutes increments.  After the first xray, he was able to eat, but he barium kind of filled him up.  We were able to get  the results the next day.  It was an easy procedure.

From what I was told with both boys, the barium tastes like cake batter.  JS and Hilyer both ate it up. 

Our GI dr also did a sweat test on JS which tests for CF.  The way our GI dr explained it, people with CF can have issues breaking down protein.  He wanted to rule that out as a possible issue.

C and JS really may be the same child.  The similarities are scary!

kck329

bhilyer:

JS had this done in July.  He had to skip a meal because they need the stomach emtpy. 

Basically, they will watch her swallow.  They will be able to classify her reflux as grade 1, 2, 3, etc.  (Side note - I was in the room with JS and it was cool to see it on the screen.)  Then you'll wait 15-20 minutes and they will do the first belly xray.  They follow the dye through the entire bowel system.  I think JS had to have 3 xrays spaced out in 15 minutes increments.  After the first xray, he was able to eat, but he barium kind of filled him up.  We were able to get  the results the next day.  It was an easy procedure.

From what I was told with both boys, the barium tastes like cake batter.  JS and Hilyer both ate it up. 

Our GI dr also did a sweat test on JS which tests for CF.  The way our GI dr explained it, people with CF can have issues breaking down protein.  He wanted to rule that out as a possible issue.

C and JS really may be the same child.  The similarities are scary!

Seriously!

And thanks!

katie4253

I had one done as a child.  I was older, but it WAS super cool to see it on the screen.  So, if you get to watch, do it. 

The barium made me sick, but it wasn't flavored like cake batter.  I wish it was )

lemen99

I didn't know it tasted like cake batter!

 andrew had one - it was neat and helped us! GL!

TriciaJoy

Robbie's had 5 (he had a congenital stomach defect) and I've actually had 2 myself. Ours was not flavored. I thought it was disgusting, but Robbie never minded.

They let me go in and be the one to hold him. A couple of times, he didn't care, a couple of times he was pissed at being rolled around and held down (it was worse as he got older) but he never really minded the nasty chalk stuff, just to being held down. 

The diapers for the next day are.. um.. interesting. It's like they're pooping concrete. But overall, it's not all that bad as far as tests go.