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I have to go monday and get my ct scan done. And i was wondering how to drink the prep for that, I attempted to last time and made me sick. Just thought i would see what others do or if i am stuck trying to drink it down. This will determine if i am all done with chemo or not. Wish me luck!!
MiraLax Cancer Surgery Kidney stones Constipation Primary peritoneal carcinoma Pain Floaters Diarrhea Stress
ooh I feel your pain. Ick. The only suggestion I have is to drink it cold. Maybe try a straw too.
But it will give you good news hopefully!
Jeanie
I agree cold, with a straw and quick!
They put mine in cold diet coke with ice...and remember that the gunk lays at the bottom so if you use a straw, stir it up or you'll gag like me! I thought I was drinking antifreeze...yuk! But I drank it as fast as I could and tried to think of something else...I feel your pain!
Blessings and hugs!!!
I have only have the milky white "berry" version and was told at my last appt that there is a clear barium but the doc has to pre-order it for you like a prescription. The nurse told me if you refrigerate it and add a little crystal light to it it is better than the thick milky stuff - I have developed a gag reflux since starting treatment and I am already dreading the next scan for the drink! I haven;t tried this yet though.
The stuff is bad, I have tried the berry and banana flavored, berry is better, believe me! I like to use a straw, as far back in my mouth as I can, and drink and swallow it fast while it is cold. My next CT will be around the end of December, and I am so not looking forward to it! I am not sure what my onc has planned, and I don't think she knows either. They already tried debulking, and can't do it. Then she told me chemo won't help anymore. The only thing I am taking right now for it is Femara. But she did tell me she isn't ruling out anything in the future, chemo or surgery. So just got to wait, and how I hate waiting!
Good luck with your test - I hope things turn out really well for you!
Bobbie
I always get the berry smoothie mix. Sounds healthy, doesn't it? I have never had any problem drinking it. You may try holding your nose closed while drinking, as this will take away your sense of taste.
I do get sick from that stuff for two days after the test though, really bad gas (that won't come out but travels into the shoulder) and constipation.
I have a CT scan on Monday, also. They give me a great big glass of Crystal Light orange flavor. I have to drink it over a 45 minute period, so no chugging! The nurse said if I wanted a different flavor, like Lemonade, that I could bring it, but it has to be clear. No chocolate Yoo-Hoo! Hmmm...wonder if they would let me drink Mountain Dew?
Good luck to us both. Mine will likely determine the course of my chemo, also.
Drink it cold and fast! There is no good way to ingest it!
When I have it at home , I dont even bother making it cold cause its harder to drink. I dont know which one they gave you. The one I get is a bottle , you get 2 , one for the night before and the next day. I literally open the bottle take a deep breath and chug and chug...
When im done to get rid of the chalky taste I gargle with some mouthwash.
When I go there they add some cystal light in it for me, usally a berry flavor, I just chug it. no straw.
I find the only issue I get with it is gas and a light stool for 2 days other than that its ok. Im sure you do just fine...but good luck to you and know I feel your pain...Hugs Cheryl
Here is the trick at least for me. I chew grape gum and suck on grape life savers and put the straw back in your mouth so your tongue dosen't get alot of barrium on it . Beleave me this works. I also get the cold berry flavor. Good luck to you. Paula
I get two bottles (each half full...which is weird) of a milk shake type drink. I don't like cold drinks, usually drink room temp water. So I prefer to drink the stuff at room temp and gulp is quickly. Never thought of a straw...I'll have to try that.
My doctor changed me from a CT to "PET Scan with CT Contrast"...no drinking anything! Don't know how often you're having them though (I only have them annually) and insurance may not cover them more frequently? Also, the continued radiation would not be good for you. Might be worth asking your Doctor though - I really don't miss any of the icky stuff. My Husband had an abdominal CT for possible kidney stones, and the outpatient facility that he had it at gave him a tiny amount of medication to dilute in 3-16 oz. glasses of water. He claims it went down without a problem. My Mom also had the same stuff at her last abdominal CT and she said it was much easier. There are options...check with your insurance and shop around.
Good luck...will be thinking of you until you get your results! Karen
The first thing that comes to my mind is yuck...I do hate that stuff. However what I find that helps is, get the unflavored contrast & add some powered Crystal Light to it. I prefer the orange...thot about lemon but I think the acidic properties would get to me...
Anyway, drink it cold, use a straw, & put the straw as far back in your mouth without gagging. Concentrate on the ol' continuous sippin' & swallowin' with as little contact with your taste buds as possible. I even bite down on the straw a little bit so I don't get a great big bunch at one time.
Did I mention I hate that stuff? As you can probably tell...I meant it! I have tried different 'techniques' & so far this one works the best for me.
Good Luck to You! Just remember, in the grand scheme of things...who cares what it taste like as long as the results are fabulous!
Thanks for all of your tips. I hope it goes down smoothly and i get more down this time then last time. I hope to get good results. I will let you all know on friday that is when i will know everything for sure. Thanks again!
I depends on what they give you to drink. I used to get 2-3 bottles of white stuff, which I hated, and they had to be consumed in a one hour period. I never finished more than 2 because I thought I would gag.
Now I get a "cool-aid" looking clear drink in a 32 oz. cup, with a straw, and have 1 hour to drink it. This one is not so bad at all. I don't think they want or expect you to gulp it down and they come back in exactly one hour to see if you've finished.
Good luck with your test!
I also got sick from drinking the barium. I had severe stomach pains for days after. My next CT they gave me an orange flavored drink in stead of the barium. Much, much better. It had the consistency of orange soda. Tell them you had a bad reaction to barium and see if you can get the orange drink. Best of luck to you!
Where I go they suggested (and I have done so ever since) drinking it in 2 bottles of Snapple. I usually get one of the diet flavored iced teas, use a straw and it has been easy to drink it in the 90 min or so they give me. I do get envious glances from those around me in the waiting room drinking that other crap.
*grin*
mine was lemonade flavored and I drank it fast and cold. It was my first one since I was diagnosised. Another patient suggested that I take it like a shot. It help get it down. I had to drink five glass 30 min apart. Someone else suggested a straw because it does no hit all your tastebuds at once. I think I will try that in Jan when I go back.
Definitely the berry flavor. I have to drink one an hour before, then one when I get to the radiologist - that makes 2! Ugh! But the colder the better, and the straw is a must. SInce it must be drunk over a 15 minute period, I try for a steady flow, or freuqent sipping. Big gulps do not go down well. One would think they could find a better way....
Irene
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