Modified Barium Study

For dysautonomia, I was put in a chair, instead of standing up. The lead apron goes on the abdomen, and then it is time to start.
Thin liquids, thicker juices, honey, and other foodstuff will be handed to you to drink or eat. The goal is to swallow and watch the bolus of barium dye travel down the mouth, to the esophagus, and toward the stomach.

If you drink from a straw, you very likely have an increased chance of choking on a liquid, as the straw 'points' to most people's trachea.

Drink thin barium, then thicker, then nectar + barium, then honey + barium, then small bread + barium, then other food or drink + barium.

The goal is to watch the food (via the barium) go down your throat, to see if it works right. If it does not work right, you are at risk for aspirating food from your mouth...into your trachea, instead of the esophagus. This causes one to choke, and the inhalation of particulate matter, especially if there is enough of it, can cause one to choke (i.e., the drops of liquid are resting on the airway). Thank God we do have a large protective airway reflex, as breathing is so important.

So just drink, eat, and relax..swallow and follow instructions. Do not eat and talk at the same time, or you could aspirate barium into your lungs.

And if you need thickened fluids with increased viscocity, there is a powder product on the market. Add 2 scoops to 8 oz and check the consistency. You can add more or less, depending on what you are drinking.

And if you have dysphagia, problems swallowing, it is probably best for you to eat or drink quite deliberately, with out sidetracking. Each morsel of fluid or food has to go to the right place, i.e., your stomach (not your lungs).

Category:

Education

Tags:

• dysautonomia
• esophagus
• motility
• barium
• swallow
• fluoroscopy
• choke
• aspirate
• aspiration
• risk
• pneumonia

[petermackett37]

I,Too have had this done many years ago,i didn't find it too bad but it tasted awful!

God bless you!

[VirtualMedSchool1]

@petermackett37 : you are right. So right. As a cosmetologist, I always knew we had to suffer to be beautiful.....but to suffer just to swallow? Not fun :-). LoLv.

[PHANTOMx209y]

God bless you Dr. Maggie for helping whoever needed the advise.

[VirtualMedSchool1]

@PHANTOMx209y : Thanks, my friend. I have to go get another barium swallow in a few weeks....at least now I can swallow without choking so much...:-).

[jtls8]

I just know you are helping people that you don`t even know about!

God Bless!

[VirtualMedSchool1]

@jtls8 God Bless you for your encouragement. Some day this will all make sense.

[nidgetucker]

@VirtualMedSchool1 Hello to Pastor Jeffrey i Hope you had a Beautiful Day, and Happy Fourth to you all!!!!xx

[VirtualMedSchool1]

@jd450lh : yes, it still tastes chalky but I was so hungry from not eating or drinking..I told them it was my breakfast :-).

[VirtualMedSchool1]

@nidgetucker : xxoo to you, too. Sitting here with Pastor Jeffrey and having a nice birthday day with him :-).

[VirtualMedSchool1]

@truckingsonofagun : I can't be the only one that has this problem. Perhaps it is related to ATP/mitochondrial insufficiency....or magnesium deficiency.