Procedure: |  | If you are a woman of childbearing age and there is a chance you may be pregnant, please consult your physician before scheduling this exam. Medications can be taken prior to your test. Pills should be taken early in the morning, with just a small amount of water.
If you take insulin, you must consult your doctor about adjusting your dose. You should not take insulin if you are fasting for your exam. However, you should bring your insulin with you so you can take it after the exam. Also, when making an appointment, tell the scheduler if you are diabetic and request an appointment time early in the day.
Preparing the colon: It needs to be free of waste matter or feces which could give rise to misleading x-ray appearances similar to those of a tumor. The patient will be given a Lo-So prep from the X-ray department or doctor’s office. Direction will be give to the patient to explain how to take the Lo-So prep.
On the day before your examination: ONLY clear liquids may be taken (water, clear apple juice, cranberry juice, bouillon soup, tea or coffee without milk or sugar, Jell-O). Be sure to drink a sufficient amount of fluid.
On the day of the examination: NOTHING further may be taken by mouth. In Radiology, you will be asked to change into a hospital gown. A parent or guardian must accompany patients less than 18 years old. Please do not bring children with you to the appointment. Be sure that your doctor’s office has sent an x-ray request form to the department or you can bring one with you.
The examination: You will be asked to lie on the x-ray table. A tube will be inserted into the rectum. The radiologist will allow liquid contrast to flow gently into your rectum and this may be followed by the introduction air. You will be asked to turn several times on the table in order to outline and examine all parts of the colon.
Should you have any difficulty in holding the barium you will find ease in taking deep slow breaths. Do not hesitate to tell the radiologist should you feel unduly uncomfortable, as he may be able to give you relief.
After the images have been taken you will be free to go to the bathroom and evacuate the barium. Sometimes additional images are required following evacuation.
The radiologist’s report of the results will be sent to your doctor. Your doctor will discuss the results of the test with you.  |