How do I prepare for this examination?
It is important that you do not eat or drink ANYTHING from midnight the night before your exam.  Do not eat or drink the morning of your exam.  If your stomach is not empty the study will not be satisfactory or may have to be postponed.  Do not smoke cigarettes, chew gum, or eat mints or lozenges on the morning of the exam prior to your study.

Can I take my usual medications?
Essential medication may be taken with a sip of water but must be done at least three hours before the exam time.  If you are diabetic, please consult your doctor before taking any medication on the morning of your exam.  Insulin injections should be withheld until after the examination is complete.

What will happen in the fluoroscopy room?
A radiologist and a technologist will be present.  You will be asked to swallow effervescent gas crystals and a mildly flavored barium drink.  The barium and gas mixture fills your stomach and small intestine so that they can be seen on x-rays.  The radiologist will watch this on a special x-ray television screen.  Periodically, the radiologist will ask you to change your position or hold your breath so that spot films may be taken.  Do not burp or belch until the exam is completed.  Swallow if you feel the air coming up.

Will it be painful?
No.

How long will the exam take?
The exam of your esophagus and stomach may take up to thirty or forty minutes.  An exam involving your small intestine may take longer than two hours.  This is unpredictable since it depends on how fast the barium moves through the small intestine.  We will take an x-ray every fifteen minutes to one half hour to observe the movement of barium throughout the small intestine until complete.

When may I eat?
You may eat as soon as 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 to prevent constipation.