Berium (spell?)drink

[jdunn]

Hi
I was just curious, Josh goes in for a CT, chest, abd. and pelvis next week. His prior CT's he had to drink one of those yummy things at night and 2 in the morning before the test. Now, I was told he needs to drink one the night before and only one an hour before his test. Is this something new??? Trust me he's very happy to only have to down 2 instead of 3.

[Karen]

Ray drinks one the night before (~10pm), 1/2 of the second one an hour before the scan, and the remainder when he gets there for the morning scan.

[rjs]

i suspect there are various methods of intake of everyone's favorite shake. i actually fast 4 hours prior to the scan, and drink two bottles 2 hours prior. Then I drink another full cup just before the scan. No matter when, or how, it is still crap!

[Scott]

My instructions seem to be a little different each time. This week I was told to drink half a bottle of oral contrast agent at 8:00 p.m. and again at 10:00 p.m. the night before, and repeat at 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. for an 8:00 a.m. CT scan. Just before the scan I always get more contrast agent mixed with Kool-Aid or Crystal Light or something.

[Chris'Mom]

Jane, hope all goes well with cat....Josh is in my prayers....Chris drinks two on the morning of it if I remember right.....but the last time in NY, I believe he just drank one before the test......let us know how all goes...Mary Ellen

[jdunn]

Thanks Mary Ellen for the good thoughts and prayers. He had his test this morning and it went well. We won't have results probably for a couple days. Josh ended up drinking 3 after all. Yuck! Hope all is well with your family.
jane

[justinsmom]

just came across this post and thought I would tell you what happened 2 weeks ago to my son Justin....next time you are drinking your "shake" you can think of this.....Since he got married I have tried to let him handle his appts. ect. so when he called one day & said he was at the hospital to get his CT scan and they wanted to know how he was going to pay the deductible, I was confused...I checked my date book and questioned why he was getting a scan 6 weeks after his last one since he had just passed his one year mark & graduated from 2 month scans to 3 month, I told him to tell the tech. to hold the procedure while I called his oncologist....to shorten the story, he was not suppossed to have the scan, so he drank the "shake" just for the fun of it!!! I am thankful he called me and hopefully he learned a lesson on communicating to me since I keep much better records than he!!

[Marco1975]

only 5 or 4 glasses half an hour before ther scan
i was wondering if the contrast in still necessary after 2 years of "cancer-free satus". My next (third scan after being declared cured) is going to be in March, and it would be nice not to have to go through the contrast procedure... i'll ask my doc. anyone does scan without contrast?

[leaffan-Dave]

It must be way different here in Canada. I had my first CT scan done last week and I had to drink a gallon of some peach flavoured stuff that I am guessing was the contrast (wasn't too bad) at half hour intervals only 2 hours before the test. Once I got on the table they hooked me up to an IV for the 'rush' stuff and also made me swallow some sort of paste that I could only swallow once and hold it in my throat. That was disgusting. I don't see any American tests like this.

[Scott]

The oral and IV contrast are completely familiar, but this is the first time I've heard about swallowing paste.

[leaffan-Dave]

I guess I should have asked what the paste was but was kind of in no position to talk much. The technicians just said "its your lucky day, you get pudding". I think the doctor must have ordered more extensive tests or something. To make matters worse my IV came out of the vein just as they started the test so I have to swallow 2 more spoonfuls of the crap!
Do you get the IV contrast everytime you have a scan?

[Sans rt1]

Interesting how many different procedures there are. I had my last one split, half 4 hours before, half 2 hours before mixed it in 7up and it was kind of nasty. The prior one I mixed in cranberry juice with 7up and that was definitely better. But today I'm wondering how the contrast solution would taste mixed in mixed in egg nog.

[Scott]

I'd rather drink a cup of sweat sqeezed from santa's sock on the 26th...

Creatively disgusting, Chris!

[Martin]

have had ct-scan done in two different states now and both had the same set-up: no eating 4 hours prior, first 'shake' 2 hours prior, second one 30 minutes before the actual scan.

in massachusetts, I went to get a 'prep-kit' the day prior and was able to mix the barium with a flavor of my choice (my favorite: lingonberry juice from IKEA. masks the flavor better than anything else I've tried). in kansas, now, i get it pre-mixed with some rather unhelpful flavors ... also, they have me sit & wait for two hours prior to the scan, to make sure I drink everything and on time ...

martin