Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

Well, today I went in for my second flouroscopy (sp?) - which was strangely much different than the first one. I had my first one done when I was on vacation and has a bad IBS attack in Massachusettes. Landed in the ER and they made me swallow 3 bottles of barium. Tasted nasty but they took the x-rays in 5 mins and was done!

So since that was 2 years ago, my doctor made me do another one today which was much different. The doctor first made me swallow some fizzy stuff that looked like alkaseltzer. I had to take it so it would create gas in my stomach and was not allowed to burp at all! I felt like I was about to explode when the doctor kept telling me to swallow any urges to burp. I thought they were supposed to be "helping" to get rid of the gas - not create it! So then I had to swallow the banana flavored barium (didn't taste quite as bad as the plain stuff in MA) and turn in 50 different directions. Then they gave me more barium and told me to walk around outside and they would take x-rays of my stomach every 15-30 minutes for 3 hours. My doctor only told me 20 minutes! Needless to say it was a very long day at the hospital today. So for making me wait, I felt like I earned the warm hospital blanket that they gave me and took it home with me! I know, bad Jennifer. But they pass those things out like candy. O=)

Unfortunately, the barium causes constipation and my tummy is still full of gas, and I can't even burp anymore! So if I can't let it out at either ends, how am I supposed to get rid of it? The pains in my side are driving me nuts.

Okay, I think I'm done venting. Thanks for reading if you got this far. Anyone else had to do a test like this?

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- Jennifer

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