The Age to Drink Barium

“Please turn 45 degrees to the right.
Ah, too far, come back a little.”
Following the instructions, I am spinning around and around on the table.

I am 30 years old this year.
This day has finally arrived during my annual health checkup.
Yes, the day I drink barium for the first time.

At my company, we have our health checkups every winter.
Starting at age 30, a barium test or a gastric endoscopy is mandatory. I have never experienced either, but this time I chose the free-of-charge barium test.

And so, the barium time arrived.
I was handed the barium and the effervescent agent to inflate my stomach.
It was a thick, white liquid in a small paper cup. I was told to take the effervescent agent with this. After finishing that, while desperately trying to hold back burps, I gulped down the newly handed barium.

And then, the spinning began.
The bloating of my stomach felt gross, and the additional barium I was forced to drink was uncomfortable, so I was already exhausted. Listening to the staff's announcements, I spun to the right and to the left on the table. I spun again while holding the handrail with my head tilted downward. Finally, the machine punched my stomach, and it was over.

I was tired, completely worn out. Were health checkups always this exhausting? At the end, I received a coin at the counter that could be exchanged for a drink, so I pressed the Ion Water button without hesitation and headed back to the office while drinking it.

On the way, I got hungry and ate some udon, but then I noticed barium stuck to my mouth and felt disgusted all over again.

I drank barium for the first time yesterday. Since my first experience is over, I think I will pay the extra fee for a gastric endoscopy next year.