Most recent edit on 2007-03-19 10:40:15 by KathyFromEngland
Additions:
What is a Barium Enema?
What is a Barium Enema?
Deletions:
What is an Barium Enema?
What is an Barium Enema?
Oldest known version of this page was edited on 2007-03-19 10:35:01 by KathyFromEngland []
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About a Barium Enema
Contents
What is an Barium Enema?
Sources of information for this page
What is an Barium Enema?
This is an X-ray of the large bowel. For this test you have to have an empty bowel. You will be
* Given laxatives to take the day before
* Asked to drink lots of fluids the day before
* Asked not to eat solid food on the day before the test
* Asked not to eat and drink anything on the morning of the test
When you arrive at the hospital, the nurse or technician will ask you to change into a gown. You may also have paper trousers, with a hole cut out of the back, to wear under your gown. Before the test, you may have a bowel washout, although this isn't done so often now as the laxatives they give you work very well. A bowel washout is a bit like having an enema. A tube is passed into your rectum and water is passed through the tube. The water then drains out of the tube again into a bowl or bucket. As the water drains out, it washes out the inside of the bowel.
Barium is a white liquid which shows up on X-rays. A mixture of barium and water is passed into the rectum in the same way as the bowel washout. But you will be asked to try to hold the liquid in the rectum this time until all the X-rays have been taken.
The barium passes through the bowel and shows up any lumps or swellings. The doctor can watch on an X-ray screen.
The test can be uncomfortable and tiring. It is best to have someone to take you home afterwards. After the test
* You may be constipated
* Your first couple of stools will be white
You may want to ask the doctor for a mild laxative to take home with you after the test. Your stools will return to normal after the barium is out of your system.
Sources of information for this page
http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=3950∞
Categories
CategoryBowelTests