Barium Swallow

[Firefly43]

Hi everyone

Is anyone able to tell me how effective a barium swallow is in helping diagnose a problem in the oesophagus?

[geranium1111]

Hello Firefly

That was the first test and indication that some thing was wrong in my case - it showed a narrowing of the oesophagus and from then it was various tests to establish the exact problem.

My GP suggested the barium swallow first because I wasn't keen to have an endoscopy but from then on I had no choice.

It turned out to be cancer and then followed chemo and major operation in 2011

Good luck

Mick

[Firefly43 in reply to geranium1111]

Thank you Mick. My situation is similar. How long did you go before your barium swallow started to see what the problem was? My difficulty swallowing has been happening for about 4 or 5 weeks and it is intermittent but there seems to be something at the back of my throat.

[geranium1111 in reply to Firefly43]

Hello Firefly

I had been having problems for a few months and began to have violent hiccups almost every time I ate something and then food would not go down easily - the barium swallow showed a narrowing in the oesophagus which I was told about at that time and the same afternoon was contacted by my GP to discuss the next step so I knew it was serious.

Thinking back now I always had a packet of indigestion tablets with me because of indigestion now and again so not sure when the problem started.

regards Mick

[Hidden]

You swallow white liquid, and the radiographer can see it passing through your system. It is painless and would readily indicate any blockages, eg if the lower oesophageal sphincter does not open properly. It is a well established test, but often is supplemented with an endoscopy or sometimes a manometry test that measures swallowing pressure at various points from throat to stomach. So it is very effective for some kinds of problem.

[ian-james]

Hi Fierfly

As I understand it, a barium swallow shows the shape of your oesophagus and allows your consultant to spot any abnormalities. When I had a swallowing problem I had an endoscopy, which lets the doctor have a good look round inside and take any biopsies needed. I had an anaesthetic throat spray for the endoscopy, and it wasn't painful, just a bit uncomfortable. You get a choice of a sedative instead, if you prefer.

best wishes

Ian

[JosephR in reply to ian-james]

No medication (Versed) to put you into a "twilight" sleep for your endoscopy? Versed is a powerful but ultra short acting benzodiazepine that causes sedation but not unconsciousness. You will.have an IV drip going, on oxygen and vitals and heart rate monitored.

[Firefly43 in reply to ian-james]

Thank you Ian, how did your swallowing problem start and develop and how long did it take for your GP to begin the diagnosis procedure? Did you have any other symptoms?

[Spikey]

I had a barium swallow test and all it showed was that there was a narrowing at the base of my oesophagus, which was what was causing my dysphagia (difficulty swallowing). I then had to wait for an endoscopy to determine the cause of the narrowing, which was when they discovered the tumour. I know that there is a shortage of endoscopy capacity in the NHS, and that GP's are therefore reluctant to refer patients for endoscopies unnecessarily, but, personally, I thought the barium swallow was a waste of time. However, you will probably have to go through it in order to get referred for an endoscopy (unless of course it shows nothing!).

[still_ill]

After 6 years thats the stage im at / let us know how you go

[gutlesswonder]

It is extremely effective. It highlights the wall of the oesophagus in white against a black background enabling the practitioner to see a narrowing, a widening, a tumorous swelling or a fistula (a cavity opening through the wall).

It is quick, cheap and not in the least unpleasant.

[Firefly43 in reply to gutlesswonder]

Thank you gutless wonder, an unfortunate nom der plume however, lol. Depending on the B swallow, an endoscopy is next....how long did you go from difficulty swallowing to getting a diagnosis ?