Barium meal - will DS tolerate this?

[Solo2]

DS1, aged 9, has to have a barium meal to see if he might have a mal-rotation of his bowel.

Has anyone else's child had one and if so, how do you get your child to swallow not very nice tasting stuff, especially, if, like DS1 he never tolerates drinking or eating anything that he's not 100% OK with and will probably gag and refuse to carry on drinking it?!

This is part of investigations to find out why he vomits so much , in any case.

my DD had to have this done last summer when she was about 3 and half years old so at an age when it was impossible to reason with her.

She was expected to drink several (at least 6 I think) plastic cups of the liquid (which they'd flavoured with Nesquick chocolate milk powder) but in the end managed less than 1/4 cup! however, despite some concern from the nurses, it was just about enough to confirm that she didn't have any strictures and the 'transit time' was within the normal range.

All I can suggest is that you go armed with all your best bribery techniques and rewards you can muster to get your DS through it. I have to admit to starting off with the treats, and then pleading and then finally threats if she didn't drink any more . I felt a terrible mother by the end of it but another mum who was there with her teenage son reassured me that I had done eveything I could

oh and you will be there for ages - up to 3 hours possibly - so make sure you also have plenty of things to occupy yourselves.

good luck! Its not pleasant but you WILL both get through it

oh blimey! Sound unpleasant. DS1 can't ever even have dioralyte/lucozade/any drink really other than orange juice when v v sick as they all make him vomit. No idea how he'll manage a barium meal.

Does it make a child feel sick afterwards? Does it change their poo?

DD has never really been a sicky child fortunately and has rarely been sick so the test didn't really bother her that way. Obviously if your DS is having the test because he does vomit a lot then that is a different story.

the barium will turn your poo white although because DD had so little of it the effect didn't last for long. I had a barium enema (ie from the other end!) the year before and that definitely gives you white poo - just like old fashioned dog poo that's if you're old enough to remember!

one thing I didn't like and wish I'd ask to change considering how young DD was at the time was that the barium drink was made up in a huge plastic jug like you get in canteens and school halls. Although she wasn't expected to drink all of it, I think just seeing the sheer volume of what was there would be offputting to anyone. not sure how you can get round that but might be worth asking if the team can hide away the jug so that your DS only has to deal with one cupful at a time

have you got long before the test? I hope its not too far away and then you can relax again

Thanks for the advice, Minty. We don't yet know when the test will be but I assume quite soon. It's good at least to know in advance, what to expect. I well remember white dog poo BTW, as I'm 47 myself! I've also had a barium enema and that was pretty yukky - so i guess I have to prepare for the worst with poor DS1!

they tried a barium enema on DD too last summer but I think with young children they don't do the clearout beforehand so they only managed to get the tube in about an inch before hitting a wall of poo!

Poor thing, I told her we were going to the hospital to take some 'funny photos' of her tummy but didn't tell her till we were getting out the car that there would be tubes involved! She put up with all though so well.

good luck again and I would be interested to hear how it all works out.

oh I forgot to say that i actually tried the barium drink myself - in for a penny as they say! - and didn't think the chocolate flavour was TOO bad. It wasn't quite as chalky textured as I'd expected although I guess after a cup of it you would quickly grow to dislike it

Solo thanks for starting this thread, my DS2 has to have barium xray soon and he's 15 months. That kid won't eat anything he doesn't want to eat. But we've been told to starve him and not give him anything to drink beforehand for 5 hrs ish so he will supposedly be hungry / thirsty. Ha. I have seen that child starve himself for 24 hrs at the age of 6mths in bottle refusal hell

Perhaps you can bribe the 9 yo (I would bribe my eldest I think) with the promise of a McDs afterwards or something similar.