What does an upper GI consist of?

Hi everyone,
My surgeon's office told me today that I should ask my PCP for a referral letter stating that I am OK to have the lap band surgery, plus an upper GI and gallbladder ultrasound. The gallbladder ultrasound is not much, I've had those before, it's the upper GI I am concerned about. Please if anyone has had one done, let me know what it consists of!!! Even the yucky parts, LOL!!!! thanks, Grama Lisa

Grama Lisa,

Lots of us have been required to have upper GI before our Lap Band surgery. It is not the most fun, but it also is not the worst thing I have ever been through.

Basically, you will be nothing by mouth after midnight. The day of your test, you will be given a little bit of a carbonated-like fizzy drink. Following that, they will give you a cup of white barium-like liquid. You will be asked to swallow, and then do a continuous swallow. While this is going on, they will be tilting you on an xray table. You will also be asked to turn from side to side. If you aren't too distracted by trying to drink the liquid "chalk", it is very cool to watch the dye flow throughout your upper GI tract.

Many of us have found out we have hiatal hernias when this test is done. I think most surgeons want to know ahead of time if that is what they will be finding when they do the lap band. It is a common repair that is done at the same time.

Honestly, the hernia repair has done me as much good as the lap band in these early stages. I can actually breathe agian, my snoring is gone, and my apnea machine has been returned!

Good luck to you...

*nods* Cadets has it right. It wasn't pleasant, but getting to see the barium go down on the x-ray was pretty cool. Just drink alot of water afterward!! Wash that barium down!! Otherwise you could get constipated, and your BMs will be like plaster!

It is not bad. I had been nervous but it was much easier than I thought it would be and it is over rather quickly.

Again, drink lots of water after.

Hi again Everyone,
I think I will try to relax and just enjoy the "show" of chalky stuff filling my insides. It doesn't sound near as bad as I thought it would be.

Thanks again! Lisa

If they ask what flavor barium you want to drink, I recommend the banana over the other flavors. None of them are yummy, but I find the banana easier to get down.

I think it's kind of pathetic that I have a favorite barium flavor!

Hi Mary I see that you are in Las Vegas. I am having surgery friday in Alabama and moving to LV on the 21st. How are the doctors out there?