WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW
An upper gastrointestinal series (also called an upper GI
series) is an x-ray examination of your esophagus (the tube
connecting the throat to the stomach), stomach, and duodenum
(the upper part of the bowel). During the exam, you'll need to
drink a liquid filled with barium. This substance blocks
x-rays, making it easier for the doctor to see the outlines of
your digestive tract.
Risks
If the barium stays in your body, it can harden and block
your bowel. Barium can also draw water from the body, causing
dehydration. To avoid this, follow post-exam instructions with
care.
Call Your Doctor
If...
-
You have a cold or flu, or
are running a high temperature. Your test may have to be
put off until you are well.
IF YOU'RE HEADING FOR THE
HOSPITAL...
Before You Go
-
The Week Before the Test:
-
To help your body get rid of
the barium after the test, begin eating foods high in
fiber, such as fruits, grain, and vegetables, 2 to 3 days
before the test.
-
During the same period, drink
at least 6 to 8 large glasses of water each
day.
-
The Night Before the Test:
-
Just before the test, you
should not eat or drink anything. Your doctor will tell you
when to begin fasting.
-
Stop smoking once midnight is
past.
When You
Arrive
-
If your doctor approves, you
may take your usual medications with a single sip of water
before the test. You should not, however, take narcotic
pain-killers or medicine for a peptic ulcer.
-
You may be given a laxative
to help speed the barium out of your system after the
test.
What to Expect While You're
There
You may encounter the following procedures and equipment
during your stay.
-
Taking Vital Signs: These include your temperature,
blood pressure, pulse (counting your heartbeats), and
respirations (counting your breaths). A stethoscope is used
to listen to your heart and lungs. Your blood pressure is
taken by wrapping a cuff around your arm.
-
During the Upper GI Study...
-
You'll be asked to drink 1 or
2 large barium "milkshakes." Because the barium has a
chalky taste, some hospitals give flavored
milkshakes---strawberry, for example.
-
Your doctor will take x-rays
as the barium flows down your esophagus to your
stomach.
-
The test takes about 15 to 30
minutes. You may need follow-up pictures 6 hours after you
swallowed the barium.
After You
Leave
-
Drink 2 to 3 soda-can sized
glasses of water after the test. This will help flush the
barium from your body.
-
Your bowel movements will be
chalky and light-colored for 24 to 72 hours after the
test.
-
If you have a colostomy,
irrigate it after the last x-ray is taken and again in the
morning.
Call Your Doctor
If...
-
Your bowel movements haven't
shown any evidence of barium within 2 to 3 days after the
exam.
-
You have pain in your lower
abdomen or stomach.
-
Your bowel movements are
pencil-thin, or more or less frequent than
usual.
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