Contrast Flavor: Berry Berry or Banana Poll sort of

[Fed]

At Dana Farber, they use Crystal Light (a variety of flavors) and mix in a capfull of the contrast solution. It tastes so much better and not as rough on your stomach (at least for me).

Across the street at Brigham and Women hospital however, they use the Berry-Berry or Banana contrast. Both are awful in my opinion, and whether I gulp or drink it slowly, my stomach does not handle it well.

So, you can imagine I do everything I can to keep the appointments at Dana Farber!!

Awww crap... my first surveillance scans will be at Brigham in a little over a week, so I guess I'll be stuck with the nasty stuff (and my med onc already warned me about it). Should I just not eat anything beforehand? Chundering would suck, b/c one would probably have to drink another bottle (is it a bottle?) anyways

[IowaBrian]

OK new news from the dr office now you have to drink the contrast like normal and right before you get scanned you have to drink a 3rd glass but it is the juice mixed with contrast. They are also offering the juice but you have to come in early and drink it there as it goes bad in 24 hours.
I guess the docs think the extra contrast right before you are scanned will help them see more. Guess they never drank it before I am waiting for them to say you need two IV's pushing in the hot contrast so you feel like you are really going to burn up

[IowaBrian]

That is taking one for the team Karen I can't find anyone that wants to try my drink.... if my custom flavor sucks I will market it as a diet drink it will cure you of wanting anything that it is flavored like.
Brian

[Karen]

Ray was given an UNFLAVORED smoothie....whose sick idea is that! He asked about the crystal lite and they sais no...and he didn't press. They suggested he add a few drops of vanilla extract. Yuck! (yes, I do taste them all! )

[IowaBrian]

Ok I am going to try the creamy vanilla smoothie and they said I can add Chocolate so that might make it a little better. I will report back after I am done with it (December 21). I have a month to get ready for the great drink of all drinks hahahahahahahahah.
Brian

[Kman99]

I just wanted to update this thread as I mentioned Dana Farber uses a different contrast dye. It's called gastrografin (Iodine based vs. barium) and is mixed into one of several flavors of cyrstal light. I drink 2.5 of these beginning about 90 minutes before my CT, leaving about 1/2 of the 3rd bottle, which I finish just before getting on the CT table. The CT tech called it the top shelf of contrast dyes. I have to agree as it doesn't bother my stomach nearly as much as the Readi CAT Smoothies do.

[Fish]

They've NEVER offered me a choice of flavors, mine has kind of an orange taste, kind of. Perhaps I'll lodge a formal complaint

I always get contrast also, which always tastes like metal.

[Rory (UAE)]

You have flavours. I just get given two bottles (looks like photo fluid) and told to drink away it tastes very bad but my record is 2 minutes to get 1 bottle down. I also have the contrast injected.

[Scott]

I've always had both. The oral contrast highlights gastrointestinal organs in the abdomen and pelvis. The intravenous contrast highlights blood vessels and helps to show organs like the liver and kidney.

[nzsteve]

I should add to that... we also have some contrast die injected in right before the scan. Gives you a nice hot flush and a metalic taste in your mouth for a few seconds.

Ive always just assumed this is the same for everyone, but maybe your crap tasting mixture means you dont have this done?

steve

[nzsteve]

wow, you guys get to choose flavours and it still tastes like crap?

For once it looks like us down in the southern hemisphere might have it better I have to take ioscan . You mix each dose with 200ml water. One the night before, then on the day of the scan you take them 2 hours, 1 hour and 10mins before it.

Tastes like lolly water. I could down a pint of it easy!

Maybe you could ask about it at the next scan. Might be something equivalent avaliable in the US?

Steve

[IowaBrian]

I asked about the contrast mixed with crystal light and it is a different type of contrast but the tech said it still taste like crap very sour ????? can't be any worse then the berry berry or banana. ANything that isn't as thick would have to be better. I will ask the doctor about it on Tuesday when I see him again

[IowaBrian]

OK today is the Berry Berry test day:
Started it at 2:00(got it out and cracked the seal) put back and waited for 2:30 to drink 1/2 the bottle, then at 3:00 the other 1/2, CT is at 3:30.
My First impression is that it doesn't smell as bad as the banana banana so that is a good thing
2:25 First gulp and it sucks not as bad as banana but still really bad.
Well I guess I will watch the Cubs and drink my contrast.
Wish me luck with the CT and I will ask my tech if they can do the small shot glass of contrast mixed with orange drink in the future.
Brian

[GeoffH]

I like the lemon

Ok, I do not like the flavor at all, but I found that the Lemon flavored one goes down the best. I have only had the lemon and Berry ones so far.

[huckchef]

fear factor here we come!!! i've had them all and i guess the berry is my favorite. but they are all pretty grim.