Berry Smoothie Readi-cat 2, Barium Sulfate Suspension

[Cornhusker]

Went in for a CAT scan of my guts this morning. Was given berry and barium smoothie for contrast. Being that I'm only 50-so hours into the gluten-free lifestyle, I started drinking it without asking questions. Doh! However, even after asking questions, nobody in radiology knew anything. Not too surprised and not upset with them in the slightest.

So anyway as I sit at home after the procedure with my guts doing a bit of a churn-n-roll (I'm sure I'm just getting ready to expel the material, doesn't feel like how I've been feeling), I decide to do a little research, found the company (E-Z-EM, www.ezem.com), and gave them a call. A very nice lady in customer service was quick to respond that the product in question was gluten-free, yeast-free, and dye-free. So that's good news.

In case anyone here has the same question, thought I'd make a quick post.

[aneres]

well, it's a year later, but i just did a search for Readi-Cat and gluten, and your post was the first result. i'm very grateful for this information. so, you did help someone--thanks!

[Luisa2552]

well, it's a year later, but i just did a search for Readi-Cat and gluten, and your post was the first result. i'm very grateful for this information. so, you did help someone--thanks!

And even later yet. I did the search after my procedure. Trying to find out why I feel like crap right now and can't be off the toilet for more than 10 minutes . Maybe it's just normal after having that stuff go through you. Trying to flush with water. Anyone else have this after a CT scan with barium?

[blueeyedmanda]

This happens to my fiance' and a lot of my patients, it seems as if the dye irritates them. One of my patients refuses to do the contrast anymore.

[Rpm999]

^is it normal to last a while? i had a catscan monday and i still feel really sick....very mentally off, shaky, chills/heat flashes, dizzy, constant cramps....ugh i feel so weird emotionally and physically but it isn't going away

also, i find it weird that i hadn't seen barium come out of my bowels....could that be making me sick like this? if it absorbed in my system that is, cause i know it has a lot of gluten...but when i had it with the barium swallow, it came out in every one of my bowels quickly and i had no symptoms really...but this is the worst i ever felt, feels like some terrible reaction...maybe because of the drink on top of the contrast, but still

i still feel flush like i did with the injection though too, i don't know what to do....ugh i'll shut up, i've just been a mess lol

what do you know/think/suggest?

[Rpm999]

it isn't letting me edit my posts, weird....but nevermind with the barium since that guy said it's gluten-free...heard it wasn't though, just very odd it hasn't came out

contrast is a different story...hope this is normal

[DeafEskie]

it isn't letting me edit my posts, weird....but nevermind with the barium since that guy said it's gluten-free...heard it wasn't though, just very odd it hasn't came out

contrast is a different story...hope this is normal

I am new here. Joined because I was looking for info on this very topic. Suspect I am gluten sensitive...and MAY have Celiac Disease but am not sure as I have umpteen other health issues, quite a few are autoimmune, and nowwww they are saying my adrenals might be an underlying issue that has never been resolved.... so am doing a CT Scan tmw with this very stuff and trying to find answers.

For the person that said the stuff has not come out---have you been drinking LOTS of water? Sure hope so...Good luck and I hope you don't have some type of blockage. But if I was you I would have contacted my doctor way sooner than this if I did not pass the barium in my stools. (Glad I read this warning, LOL)

[HeartofGlass224]

Thank you for posting this! I have Crohn's, so cat scans are a common thing....I would have never thought to ask if the barium was gluten-free. The lab here uses the same brand....such an improvement from what they used to give you, and what they give you in the hospital!

As far as the, uh, after-effects, the chalky-style barium usually binds me up a bit for a day or two, which is great, since when I need a cat scan, I'm usually sick and in the bathroom all day. The clear stuff that tastes like Mylicon that they use in the hospital is the opposite, and makes me even more ill than I started out.

[minniejack]

just wondering the same thing--my son has been on Gluten-free Casein-free for 2 weeks and ALL of his symptoms for the past 3 years disappeared. I asked before he took the test if it had gluten in it, but was told no. HOWEVER, the plans were to come home eat breakfast and go back to school. He has been asleep for the past 2 hours and I can't even begin to budge him--just like he'd been glutened.....

[Pennyebony]

And even later yet. I did the search after my procedure. Trying to find out why I feel like crap right now and can't be off the toilet for more than 10 minutes . Maybe it's just normal after having that stuff go through you. Trying to flush with water. Anyone else have this after a CT scan with barium?

I too had berry smoothie for the cat scan.

This morning I am having a reaction as if I had gluten also. A lot of diarrhea. Hopefully this berry smoothy will go through me quickly. As I was drinking this drink I started to get a reaction of my sinuses clogging and feeling very sick. I was told no one is allergic to this drink. After drinking a bottle and 3/4, I informed them if I had one more sip it all would come up. I was told I could forget about the other quarter. I also did not have the iv contrast because of all my allergies. This may be necessary at some later date though. My first reaction this morning was to find out what was in this drink. Glad to hear it did not contain gluten. However, I may be allergic to the berry flavoring.

[Roda]

The ct barium is sorta the consitency of well um, snot. It can give people diarrhea as it seems to be a common complaint I hear from my patients. There is contrast you drink that you mix with water and it causes more water to be drawn into the bowel. It can give you the D too. The thick barium they use for the upper gi series, barium swallow, small bowel, and barium enema x-rays tends to make people constipated. The key is to stay well hydrated. When I had my upper gi series I was worried about the constipation issue, but my body had other plans. As it happened I came down with a stomach virus the next day and had no problem passing it. While it is common to notice some gray to white to your stool in bowel movements after the procedures, don't be alarmed if you don't notice anything. As long as you are hydrated and are still moving your bowels and not getting constipated you should elimate it fine. The barium itself is an inert substance most people react to the additional additives.

[imedbone]

I had the same question this morning after I took Readi-Cat 2 for an abdominal CT. I called the number on the bottle and they said the ingredients for this one; Cat# 723 (non flavored) are:

citric acid, natural gum, natural flavors, potassium, purified water, saccharine, sorbitol, sodium benzoate, simethicone emultion. rep said there is no gluten so gluten-free.

couriously, I have Ulcerative Colitis, and after drinking half 450ml bottle last night, I finally slept all night without waking up to go poo. I can only imagine that it's the potassium that helped...

lets spread this around so it's not so hard to find this info.

[justjo]

Though I got contaminated about 7 weeks ago. Abdominal pain for a month, mentioned it to a doctor friend who wrote and order for a CT of the abdomen and pelvis with contrast. I put it off, felt better, then had a horrible episode of abdominal pain during the night -woke me up and kept me up for a couple of hours. So I had the CT. Now I am suffering from the worst cramps and gas after emptying my bowel (I think) and it's almost 4 hours from the last contrast I drank. I didn't suspect gluten in the contrast, but after researching side effects, etc., I thought I'd search celiac and contrast. There must be some kind of connection.

I won't be drinking contrast again. I think I would rather die.

[minniejack]

The ct barium is sorta the consitency of well um, snot. It can give people diarrhea as it seems to be a common complaint I hear from my patients. There is contrast you drink that you mix with water and it causes more water to be drawn into the bowel. It can give you the D too. The thick barium they use for the upper gi series, barium swallow, small bowel, and barium enema x-rays tends to make people constipated. The key is to stay well hydrated. When I had my upper gi series I was worried about the constipation issue, but my body had other plans. As it happened I came down with a stomach virus the next day and had no problem passing it. While it is common to notice some gray to white to your stool in bowel movements after the procedures, don't be alarmed if you don't notice anything. As long as you are hydrated and are still moving your bowels and not getting constipated you should elimate it fine. The barium itself is an inert substance most people react to the additional additives.

So for future reference, get the unflavored kind?

[Roda]

So for future reference, get the unflavored kind?

Both oral contrast agents are good for ct scans. I believe redicat does have an unflavored one it just depends on what the radiology department has. Unless you have a sensitivity or allergy to the additives/flavorings the flavored ones should be alright. You can always call ahead and ask. We use the water soluable (gastroview) on our emergency patinets and patients with contraindications for ct barium. Usually a patient can pick up the ct barium before the test and are instructed to drink it at certain times. You would probably have to get the other at the radiology department as it is mixed prior to administration. Here are a couple of links for you.

http://imaging.covidien.com/covidienImagin...l/169495,142951

http://www.ezem.com/ct_imaging/smoothies.htm

A good article:

http://www.ezem.com/pdf/1304089_ctbarium.pdf

I was unable to copy and quote the one paragraph. But if you make it that far down in the article read the section under the heading "Convienience and Choosing a Standard"

[minniejack]

thank you

[minniejack]

bump

[Roda]

Just to say that if you get a gluten free ct barium, don't be suprised that you might still get diarrhea from it. It is a common complaint.

[GlutenFreeManna]

Went in for a CAT scan of my guts this morning. Was given berry and barium smoothie for contrast. Being that I'm only 50-so hours into the gluten-free lifestyle, I started drinking it without asking questions. Doh! However, even after asking questions, nobody in radiology knew anything. Not too surprised and not upset with them in the slightest.

So anyway as I sit at home after the procedure with my guts doing a bit of a churn-n-roll (I'm sure I'm just getting ready to expel the material, doesn't feel like how I've been feeling), I decide to do a little research, found the company (E-Z-EM, www.ezem.com), and gave them a call. A very nice lady in customer service was quick to respond that the product in question was gluten-free, yeast-free, and dye-free. So that's good news.

In case anyone here has the same question, thought I'd make a quick post.

This is good to know, even though this post is four years old. My husband had to take Barium from the EZ-EM company. Hopefully they have not changed their formula.

[GlutenFreeManna]

Just to say that if you get a gluten free ct barium, don't be suprised that you might still get diarrhea from it. It is a common complaint.

Thank you Roda for the link to this and for bumping up this thread. I think I am just really sensitive to the barium stuff.

[Roda]

Just thought I would post some updated information on the CT barium. I inquired with this company because I am having a scan tomorrow and this is the brand we have in our department.

Per our conversation on 8-25-10, please see the attached response pertaining to the gluten content of Volumen.

Please refer to the package insert for full prescribing information (see attached)

Thank you for giving the Bracco Diagnostics Professional Services department the opportunity to respond to your request for information about our products.

We are sending the attached questionnaire to you to obtain feedback that will help us assess our processes and to identify areas that will help us to become more responsive to our customer needs. We recognize that your time is very valuable and understand that filling out a questionnaire such as this may not be a priority for you. If you decide to participate, the attached questionnaire should not take longer than a minute.

Please accept our sincere appreciation for your interest in Bracco.

Kind regards,

Professional Services

August 25, 2010

The Bracco Diagnostics Professional Services department received your request for

information about gluten content and E-Z-EM barium sulfate products. In response, we are

providing the following information:

Maxibar (L150), Liquid Polibar Plus (L168 and P650PPS) and Vanilla Smoothie (7550 and

7650), contain vanilla flavor. This vanilla flavor has a very small amount of caramel color

(0.1%), which may contain gluten.

There is no gluten in any of the other E-Z-EM Barium Sulfate products.

If you have any further questions, please contact us at 800-257-5181 (option #2)

Sincerely,

BRACCO DIAGNOSTICS INC.

Professional Services

[N8ra]

Hi everyone.  Sugar alcohols like sorbitol can cause a “laxative like” effect, do  you weren’t glutened but “fake sugared.” ;) here’s more about sorbitol:

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/D-Sorbitol#section=Top