Re: Does barium cause diarrhea?

[Guest guest]

,

Although nurses and technicians have told my Mom it works both ways

it does give her diarrhea. She usually takes a couple of immodium

prior to the drink and it helps somewhat.

Kat

> Anybody know whether the barium drink they give you to prep for an

abdominal CT-scan

> causes diarrhea?

>

> Ugh.

>

> One step forward, two steps back.

>

> I'd appreciate any input you have.

>

> Thanks once again,

>

[Guest guest]

,

Although nurses and technicians have told my Mom it works both ways

it does give her diarrhea. She usually takes a couple of immodium

prior to the drink and it helps somewhat.

Kat

> Anybody know whether the barium drink they give you to prep for an

abdominal CT-scan

> causes diarrhea?

>

> Ugh.

>

> One step forward, two steps back.

>

> I'd appreciate any input you have.

>

> Thanks once again,

>

[Guest guest]

It can,generally within an hour your have a huge bowel movement but not

necessarily diarrhea. Lots of fluids to clear it out,and then try immodiuom or

start on a brat diet

,no grease important ad move up daily.

[Guest guest]

YES!!!

> Anybody know whether the barium drink they give you to prep for an

abdominal CT-scan

> causes diarrhea?

>

> Ugh.

>

> One step forward, two steps back.

>

> I'd appreciate any input you have.

>

> Thanks once again,

>

[Guest guest]

Thursday I had so much back pain and lower abdomen pain that I could hardly

stand or sit. My wife went with me to the emergency room. It was about

11:ooA.M. I was

there for 20 hours. This is not a complaint. They took good care of me but

they were

so full,had some really dire life or death patients plus rooms full of urgent

care and

a separate unit for pediatric patients. I had my vitals taken,blood work

done,x-rays

and a C.A.T. scan. The procedures were done over a period of time. Beds were

all

along the hallways,resources were stretched and word had gone out they were

over

capacity but still patients came. No one wa turned away. Over and over I

heard them say regulations made them accept any insurance in an emergency and

they

would

work out the billing later. There were security people,greeters,patient/guest

relations

counselors and support people for all the various funtions a hospital

performs. Once

they checked me over,they gave me a shot for the pain(2) and that was a

distinct relief. I could neither eat nor drink,with the exception of the barium

compound you

take before having the scan. There were people from all walks of

life,business types

in suits came running in I had a call my husnad,my daughter etc etc was in

the E/R

People came in wheel chairs,on crutches,with broken bones,fevers,skin rashes,

bleeding from accidents,it was a lesson veryon what you see on T.V. reality

shows.

Babies cried,old people nodded,young people frettered,some people

groaned,moaned

sniffled or coughed. Some had bandages,clean and otherwise,yet

everyone,except

the head wound,filled out the paperwork,was seen in triage and then depending

on the

severity,they were either taken in or came back out to wait. Someone checked

on us at least fivetimes. It is frustrating to wait,but imagine the stress on

the E/R personell.

Many work 10 hour shifts,everyone is asked,are you a diabetic,do you have a

pacemaker(no mri if so) are you currently inder teatment(in our case,yes,colon

cancer with mets,a portocath and records available from previous visit)

The scene was as if you were in New York Cit'y's Grand Central Station,people

of

all nationalities,multi lingual,all shapes,sizes,ages and ethnic background.

There were

two T.V.s but hard to hear with the constant hum of conversation,the moving

stream of people coming and going and the security peope,repeating

constantly,the patient only or in some instances the caretaker also. If you are

a people

watcher it is really

the place to be. People under stress behave i odd ways,some shout,some sit in

stoney silence,some whine,some come with whole grops and ocassionaly some

come alone. It is a constantly changing scene. There were soda dispensing

machines,bottled water,coffee machines,you could buy chips and snacks at at one

point a food cart came around. If you had not eaten and your tests were over

they offered a balaced meal(deending on your dietary needs)no choices,just one

and

most people took it. The bathrooms were cleaned constantly and well stocked

with

soap and paper. The floors were attended to when accidents occurred and after

a while people who had been there a condiserable time began to talk to one

another.

Two of my daughters called, I came by before leaving for work and when we

finally got into a cubcile,got all the results.were given an I.V,several meds

and

had a chat

with the doctor. There was a phone and a T.V. Blankets and pillows. The staff

was

rushed,you had to manuever around the patients to use the facilties. One

harried

worker,taking a breather told us there were plans for the hospital to

construct a new

state of the art,five story E/R building to handle the huge influex of

paients and to

utilize the present,camped quarters for a pediatric facility. One physician

told us

due to laws,litigattion and insurance retraints just about everyone had to

have many

of the same tests. We constantly heard on the loud speakers. bed 7 ready for

pick up from ultra sound/or x-ray/or some other testing site. They had

TSU,where patients

being admitted were waiting for an empty bed,separate childrens wing and

still the

process was unendning. Yes I was frustrated,but I could see all the wrok in

progress,

see two sides,and after more then 12 hours it gets a little tight. Eventually

we were

discharged,given pain meds,told to tell his oncologist about the scan,his

pcp,about

some other results and avised he pain med should be taken with food,may cause

drowsiness,not to drive,come back if complications arose and given papers

telling

us the name of he medications,teir use,the way to take it. Papers to read

about

constipation fever,chilss etc etc. They were constantly checking on us,

asking if

we had any questions. It was a long drwan out time but he came home and went

to sleep for about 10 hours. He ate igtly and slept again last night. Would I

do it all

over again if I had to. Yes,without question. Was I completely

satisfied,no,no one

could be but given the circumstances on a one to ten they defintiely earned a

ten.

Nick & Jane