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Anyone had to do an Upper GI study for LO?

Mrs. A.J. MartinsMrs. A.J. Martins member
in Babies: 3 - 6 Months

Hey Mamas,

  This is the first time I've been on the bump since Gordy was born so I apologize for the way out-of-date siggy and ticker.  Gordy has been really struggling with reflux and his meds don't seem to be helping so we have to take him in for a 'swallow study'.  Basically they watch him drink this stuff via x-ray to check out his upper GI tract from what I understand.  Anyone been through this?  I'd really appreciate any advice or insight you have.  I hope you are all loving every minute of your beautiful babies.  TIA!

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Re: Anyone had to do an Upper GI study for LO?

  • ellemoney:)ellemoney:) member

    First, I'm lol'ing at your siggy saying you're 59w pregnant, ;)?

    But to get to the point, yes. My first daughter had to have an upper GI when she was 2-3 months old and it wasn't the procedure that was bad, but the waiting.?

    When it first was scheduled, they made the appt for 8am and told me that she?couldn't eat after midnight. Um, wtf?! I started freaking out. I had used my?cell phone to?call the hospital to schedule it right after I left her pedi's office.. After they told me that I drove straight to my Mom's work and freaked out. Layla was sleeping all night at that time, but 12-8? That's a HUGE stretch for a baby, you know??

    So, my mom, the?calm person that she is, thank God LOL! She?called and explained that it is an infant and asked what the very latest she?could eat was. ?They told me 3 am, so I got up at 2:30am the night before the Upper GI and fed her at the last possible moment.?

    I dressed her,?changed her diaper, and put her in the?carseat. I was hoping she would sleep until 8 and we'd already be all ready to go and we wouldn't have to wake her to get her in the?carseat.?

    It mostly worked, except they took freaking FOREVER to?call us back, or what felt like forever.. and she did scream right around 8am. ?It was really hard and I was?crying b/c I knew she was hungry, but I?couldn't feed her.?

    After they?called us back, they gave her a bottle of the dye-stuff and she drank it and they took the x-rays. The reflux showed up immediately and it was not a more serious stomach issue. ?She was fine after drinking the dye and she had her bottle when the x-ray was finished.?

    Also, I recommend finding out exactly where to go. ?I thought we knew where to go, but we didn't, so we wasted like 5 minutes trekking through the hospital. ?GL!??

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  • livinrealitylivinreality member

    My suggestion is to take your big girl panties and a supporter, I literally had to hold my son in the proper position and he was screaming... it broke my heart. 

    As mentioned he could not eat so my mom and I were switching back and forth holding him as he screamed in the waiting room...

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  • ellemoney:)ellemoney:) member
    Yes, I agree! This is definitely not something you want to do on your own. Have DH or your Mom (I had both, lol) go with you. ?You will want the extra support.?
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  • Mrs. A.J. MartinsMrs. A.J. Martins member
    Oh thanks ladies!  Luckily the 4 hour span when he can't eat is right when he usually takes about a 2 1/2 hour nap so hopefully he will sleep through most of it.  I had DH get the day off so he will be able to come with me thank goodness.  Hopefully they can figure out what's going on and do something about it because the poor little guy has been a mess all week. 
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  • livinrealitylivinreality member
    Depending on what they find, I recommend you find a GI specialist to help you out... we found an excellent one at our children's hospital and it would have been wonderful if our pedi had recommended we go see one sooner...
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  • Mrs. A.J. MartinsMrs. A.J. Martins member
    Ok that's good to know.  I'm a little annoyed with my pedi's office.  Gordy is 4 months old and we only pinned it down to reflux 2 1/2 weeks ago.  I'd called about all the symptoms separately (pulling off when he eats, waking up in the night screaming with what I thought was gas, a hoarse voice, etc.)  but the stupid nurse who does call backs always had some reason for the symptoms and dismissed them.  I finally got an appointment to see the Dr and just said, look something is wrong I don't know if any of this is related but this is what's going on and the got him on reflux meds that day.  I LOVE our Dr but that stupid nurse is useless. 
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  • soontobeahighsoontobeahigh member

    DD just had her done yesterday. I didn't have anyone to go with me and I did just fine. She did really good until they had to do a NG tube, then she wasn't happy. Once they got it in and started feeding her again she was fine. It was about an hour long procedure all together with the upper GI then the swallow study part. DD's was at 10am and they said she couldn't eat after 7am that morning, so when we started she was ready to eat.

    Good luck and I don't think it will be too bad, at least ours wasn't.

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  • carlarose710carlarose710
    I actually do these tests on the little ones, and its not as bad as you would think.  Babies usually drink the contrast no problem, as long as they take a bottle ok they usually like the barium and suck it right down.  The worst part is probably holding them still so the radiologist can get the images that they need.  It looks like we hold them super tight, but I promise it doesn't hurt them, they are usually just madder that they are being held in one position and not able to kick and move like usual.  The test is very quick, maybe 15 minutes tops.  Bring a pacifier for sure, the doctors usually have them take a pacifier when they are not drinking.  And also the next few times your little one poops, there will be white in it.  Its just the barium, it comes out the same color it goes in.  Hope this helps:)
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  • Mrs. A.J. MartinsMrs. A.J. Martins member
    He did great!  Slept right up until when we had to put him in the gown (which he looked adorable in).  He fought the barium a little so the had to use a syringe, but they finally stopped the test and let me give him the bottle at the end and he took it much better.  He was a really good sport and didn't cry much at all. Now its just a matter of waiting for the results.  Thanks for all the advice ladies!
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