How does one prepare for a barium enema exam?
Two days before the exam, do not eat any fruits, nuts, peas, beans, coarse cereals or fried foods.  On the day before the test, your diet should be only clear liquids such as clear broth, Jell-O, apple or cranberry juice, ginger ale, cola, tea or coffee.  Do not use cream or milk.  Drink as much water as possible throughout the day.  A bowel cleansing prep kit will be distributed to you to use in preparation for the examination.  Follow the instructions with the prep kit in addition to the above diet. On the morning of the test, you may drink clear liquids without cream or milk.  Do not eat any solid foods.  As the examination preparation may produce significant abdominal cramping and will produce large quantities of watery stool in order to cleanse the colon, Vaseline should be applied around the rectal opening at the initiation of the bowel preparation and following each passage of liquid stool.  A warm heating pad may be helpful in reducing abdominal cramps.

Special note:
If you have severe kidney disease, do not use the standard prep kit without consulting your physician first.

Can I take my usual medication?
Essential medication may be taken with a sip of water.  If you are diabetic, please consult your doctor before taking any medication on the morning of your exam.  Oral or injectable diabetic medications or insulin should be limited to 1/3 or ½ the usual dose on the day before your barium enema and withheld on the day of the enema until after completion of the study.

What will happen in the X-ray room?
Under the direction and supervision of a radiologist, a technologist will administer the barium enema.  The barium mixture fills the large intestine so that it can be seen on x-ray.  The technologist will watch the images of your intestine on a special x-ray television screen.  At times, the technologist will ask you to change your position or hold your breath so that spot films may be taken. After the spot films are taken, the technologist will take multiple larger films of your abdomen.

Will it be painful?
It will be mildly to moderately uncomfortable.  Sometimes there will be cramping.  Deep, slow breathing helps greatly to decrease the cramps.

How long will the exam last?
The enema will take about fifteen to twenty minutes.  However, you should allow extra time for preparation and for the x-rays of the colon to be taken by the technologist. About one hour in total should be allowed for the examination.

When may I eat?
You may eat as soon at the exam is over.  You should drink plenty of liquids to avoid constipation from the barium.  If instructed by the radiologist, you should take four tablespoons of a mild laxative such as Milk of Magnesia.  If intense cramping persists at the end of the examination, it is likely due to large quantities of retained air.  Inform the technologist before you leave the department and a soft rubber catheter may be inserted to remove excess gas and relieve the pressure.