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barium for bone scan

sarajane
sarajane CSN Member Posts: 22
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Anyone have any suggestions how to drink all that barium before the bone scan. It looks like so much to keep down...doctor saays I need it along with other studies to monitor how we aredoing but last year I had a scan without a contrast material. Just wondering....Thanks...
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  • inkblot
    inkblot CSN Member Posts: 698
    #2
    I had one bone scan, prior to beginning chemo, 4 years ago and didn't need to drink anything. Instead, received the radioactive tagged injection, IV. Waited and drank fluids for a bit (if I recall correctly, about an hour) for it to ciruclate into my system well and then had the scan. Not sure why you'd be drinking barium for a bone scan so perhaps I've misunderstood the question?

    Hoping someone else has a helpful answer.

    Love, light and laughter,
    Ink
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  • sarajane
    sarajane CSN Member Posts: 22
    #3
    inkblot said:

    I had one bone scan, prior to beginning chemo, 4 years ago and didn't need to drink anything. Instead, received the radioactive tagged injection, IV. Waited and drank fluids for a bit (if I recall correctly, about an hour) for it to ciruclate into my system well and then had the scan. Not sure why you'd be drinking barium for a bone scan so perhaps I've misunderstood the question?

    Hoping someone else has a helpful answer.

    Love, light and laughter,
    Ink

    Thank you Inkblot. Last time that was how I had it done but this time the onocologist wants a contrast study..last time it was no problem but this time i saw the big bottle of stuff and wonder how people get it down....
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  • Idalia
    Idalia CSN Member Posts: 76
    #4
    sarajane said:

    Thank you Inkblot. Last time that was how I had it done but this time the onocologist wants a contrast study..last time it was no problem but this time i saw the big bottle of stuff and wonder how people get it down....

    Barium isn't that bad. Chill it and use a straw. Think of it as a vanilla malt that melted!
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  • mc2001
    mc2001 CSN Member Posts: 343
    #5
    one trick I learned... dont breathe through your nose. For some reason, flavors are intensified when I breath through my nose. Dont keep looking at the bottle. Think hard and imagine it is a refreshing drink. Hope this helps!
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