barium swallow test - any experience?

[maturestudent]

Just had a surprising letter through with an appointment for DS1 (21mth) to have this done.
We recently met with his respiratry consultant regarding his ongoing chest problems, and we agreed on lots of other tests but not this. Does anyone know why they do these? If definately wasn't mentioned but he did have xrays of chest nasal spaces and neck done on the day. Is it possible something on the x rays prompted this test?
Has anyone had this or taken their LO to have this done, and why did they do it?
DS has suspected floppy airway andobstructive sleep apnoea, along with confirmed chronic bronchitis and asthma.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Is it to test for reflux. I think there can be a link between that and asthma sometimes.
A friends child had it recently and it was fine. They gave him aniseed flavour which oddly he thought delicious. He then had a few xrays, his Mum stayed in for the first, then had to leave him but he is 8. He is quite a worrier but honestly it was ok.

[jbadgirl]

HI, my son had this test done for reflux too. He had a gastrostomy as he had problems with swallowing. They tried him with the liquid orally but he had trouble so they put it through his gastrostomy. They then tilted the bed to see if it came up out of his tummy and it did.
He was not in any pain or discomfort only from the usual troubles with drinking. It did make his poo a little chalky though!!!
Hope this helps x

[maturestudent]

hmmm - possibly reflux then. The doc did keep asking if he vomitted lots or ever choked when eating, but he doesn't. My letter says it is best if I can stay with him, prob cos he is so little. Might ring and see why they want this done now.

[jbadgirl]

Yes it could be to rule out reflux. I know it is very uncomfortable when I get heartburn and worst if they have reflux as it comes right up.
I was able to stay with Tobs just had to wear one of their sexy lead vests as its xray.

[maturestudent]

jbad, in your experience wouldnt we know if he had reflux? prety sure he has none of the symptoms. How old was your DS when it was done?

[jbadgirl]

Sometimes it can be silent reflux where no sickness is present it just creeps up. I suppose it can damage the top of the tummy due to the acid.
Toby was 2 years 7 months but was severly disabled and wasnt able to sit up un aided so it made it quite hard

[maturestudent]

Fingers crossed my little one is cooperative. He is very strong willed ...sneaks off to google silent reflux

[jbadgirl]

Spose you cold try bribes??? lol
Sometimes they do a barium meal and that can also show the digestion etc. Ds used to suffer with constipation too and from the test it showed his tummy took 4 hours and 45 minutes to empty which was another reason for the reflux. (we didnt sit there for that long they just work it out over the course of the 3 xrays they do over an hour).
the average childs tummy should empty by half within 30 minutes!!!

[jbadgirl]

Hope all goes well, will watch the thread so you can let me know how it goes.

[alibobins]

Ds has had one of these he was a bit younger at the time. He has ongoing chest problems and it was to rule out a few things one was something called a fistula(i think) and reflux.
He didn't like the drink very much but he drank enough. I stayed with him and the whole thing didn't take more than an hour.
HTH