The barium swallow...

One of the tests the GI specialist ordered for Cohen was an upper GI tract.

I learned through Josh this is also called the "Barium Swallow."

I was told Cohen would have to swallow some barium in the form of a tasty drink and then get an x-ray.

I wasn't too concerned about it.  The test seemed simple and helpful.

I tried to prepare Cohen for it, for days actually. 

I don't know if you've noticed it, but whenever x-rays are depicted in children's media it's fairly shocking.... like someones being electrocuted. 

This is what I had to get Cohen through emotionally.

He had to fast; and telling him he couldn't get his morning drink or cereal was pretty hard for him.

He tried so hard to be brave, but he was TERRIFIED leading up to the event.  I mean, he was screaming and running away, and fending me off, and hiding under chairs, and the whole bit.

I finally had to stop being sweet and supportive and be really firm with him. 

He got up on the x-ray table and was nervous and teared up a bit, but then he performed great!

Once he realized the x-ray was going to be ok he was a gem.

This was his, "I'm trying to be brave, mom, but I'm really terrified face."  This is before they actually did an x-ray.

He finally got his barium drink, and he LOVED IT!  I'm sure he was starving.  He even got to choose the syrup they put in it. 

Well, I didn't exactly understand the procedure beforehand, and learned it was very different from what I thought as they proceeded.  They put this "car wash" over Cohen, and did a continuous x-ray as he drank through a straw. 

In other words, it was kind of like an ultra sound where you can see what's happening real-time, but the information on the tv screen came via the x-ray video.  I was so glad I could be there to help Cohen through it.

So Cohen had to move around, and drink, and hold still, and move his arms just right, and all kinds of stuff, but he was such a champ!  He was mildly upset when the nurse told him he couldn't have any more of his metal drink.  He just wanted to continue!

The "car wash" was even closer to his body, this is at the end when they were finishing up. 

This is just a snapshot of the tv monitor at the end of the test.  Basically they watched the metal barium drink go down his esophagus, and into his stomach.  The test was to see if it would come back up.  It did.  Several times.  Cohen has reflux.  I already knew that, but I guess our new specialist needed some proof.  It's nice to know we haven't been mis-diagnosing it for 3 1/2 years though.

Cohen was so proud of himself afterword, and enjoyed our special breakfast out at the hospital cafeteria.