Upper GI

After I was moved to Respiratory Rehab. The doctor started ordering Upper GI series done about every eight days. This was not a pleasant thing. The stuff I had to swallow for the X-rays was not a white chalky barium. It was some other concoction that tasted so bad it almost made me gag each time I had to swallow some. The Radiologist said to be sure and go to the bathroom and allow the body to evacuate this preparation or constipation is sure to occur. No Problem ! Each time I had to have an Upper GI, I would have real bad diarrhea for about the next 36 hours. This posed a real problem for me because at first in December I had to use a bedpan. Then later I was able to go to the toilet but I could not reach around and clean myself up. This is when I really appreciated Diane being there. But a few times she was not there and I had to wait for someone to come and help me. I guess they knew what was up when I would pull the help cord in the bathroom, because sometimes I would have to wait more than 30 minutes for someone to come help me. When I complained, I was told that the attendants were busy and they came as soon as they could.

This led to the reason why my scar is so bad. Once I called for assistance in the bathroom and 45 minutes passed with no help. I decided I was going to clean myself up one way or the other. Bad move. My incision line was not only stapled but there were large stress sutures with rubber bumpers. When I tried to clean myself up I tore several of the stress sutures, but they didn’t tear out - they tore into my skin. It would be safe to say that I do not like Upper GI’s. But what could I do having this X-ray series was necessary to see if the leaks in my guts were healed up yet. While I was in the hospital they never completely healed. When I went home I was still leaking and understood that I would have to return to the hospital as an out patient to under go this procedure.

January 19th 1999 Upper GI X-ray series resulted in another bout with diarrhea that lasted about 36 hours. Also the bad information that I am still leaking! The worst part about this information is the fact that I will have to go through this again. About this I had to have a talk with Dr. Cowan. I told him I did not want to come back in eight days, I wanted to wait longer so that I might only have to do it one more time. Each time this X-ray series has been done I was leaking less and less, but still leaking.

Dr. Cowan allow me to wait 3 weeks, till February 8th. On this date I did go back to the hospital and submit myself to this torture again. Let me tell you this time was real torture. The first doctor in Radiology made me drink about twice as much of that nasty tasting stuff because she couldn’t find any leaks and she wanted to be sure. But then when she called for a second opinion from another Radiologist he had me drink more of that junk because he didn’t want to see her pictures he wanted to do his own series. By the time I got out of there I had consumed three times more of that stuff than ever before. Yes there was a good side to all this - I’m Not Leaking Any More!

But I just barely made it home before the flushing out started. I messed on myself as I ran down the hall unbuckling my pants. But at this point who cares? My Guts Are Not Leaking Inside Any More! This means I will be allowed to start my liquid diet. Before this I was not allowed to take anything by mouth except 1 ounce clear liquid every 30 minutes. Now that I don’t leak inside I can start the liquid diet. This includes broth, or clear juices and tea diluted 3:1 three parts water to one part juice or tea. This is pretty weak stuff, but to me I was in heaven.

What is an Upper GI?

University of Iowa Department of Radiology has this to say about the Upper GI:

An Upper GI or Barium Swallow are X-ray examinations of the esophagus and stomach with Barium. The Radiologist, assisted by the Technologist, studies the function of the GI tract under fluoroscopy by watching how the individual swallows and how the stomach fills and empties. Radiographs are obtained throughout the procedure and usually one or two radiographs are taken at the end of the fluoroscopic part of the examination.

In some cases, a small nasogastric tube is inserted into the stomach for better control of the barium flow. This does not hurt the individual but it can be very uncomfortable.