Barium Enema

[lelet]

What is Phospho-soda? How can I take this without hardship? I am a very sensitive what I put in my mouth.I will have my test on May 09/08.Please help....Lelet

[ggreg]

It's just a milky substance that lines the digestive tract and shows up as white on an X-ray, so they can see if you've got any irregularities.  It doesn't hurt you in any way.  They mix it with flavoring and sweeteners so it doesn't taste so bland.

If you don't like the taste, just hold your nose when you drink it.  That keeps you from tasting it.  If you notice an after-taste, it's like pepto bismal or tums, sort of chalky, no big deal.

[Jaybay]

ggreg, I think you're talking about the barium preparation that is taken orally.  

lelet- Phsopho soda is is available at most pharmacies, and is used to prepare the intestines for examination like colonoscopy or barium enema.  It is a strong laxative and you will feel the effects for several hours, so don't leave the house!  The taste is kind of weird - a bit oily.  I have a tough time getting it down even when mixed with something I like, and still have to just hold my nose and gulp it.  There are pills you can get that will do the same thing if you think you'd do better with those.  Ask your doctor them.  They're pretty big, and you have to take a whole lot of them along with a lot of water, but for me they're better than the phospha soda or colyte drinks.

As for the BE itself, I'm not going to lie.  It's one of the more humiliating and uncomfortable tests you can have done.  A technician will put you on a table and place the tip of the enema hose in your rectum, along with another hose that is used to add air into your colon towards the end of the test.  The air is used for contrast on the films, and it does NOT feel good.

A radiologist comes in and they run the barium and air inside you.  They'll tilt the table up and down and have you roll side to side to spread the barium around better.  The whole time, the radiologist is looking at pictures under fluoroscopy.  Once he gets all the views he needs, you're done.  Make sure they tell you BEFORE the test where the bathroom is.  All that barium and air will make a fast reappearance.  I strongly advise you to bring an adult diaper with you - particularly if your drive home is longer than 15 minutes.  Having another person to drive you is also a good thing, because all that air can cause some pretty bad cramping - just like severe gas pains.  You might feel better laying down or putting the seat back down.  Plan on taking it easy the rest of the day and staying near your bathroom.  Drink as much water as you can to flush the barium out of your intestines.

Best of luck on your test.  I hope you get some answers from it and that the radiologist goes easy on the air contrast.  :-)

[ggreg]

Thanks, Jaybay.
I don't know what I was thinking.  I had a CT scan of abdomen with contrast and drank the stuff in the office right before the exam.  I had a colonoscopy and drank that stuff at home the day before.  They both tasted similar to me.  I didn't think about the enema part becuz his concern was bad taste in his mouth.
GG