What to expect from a Small Bowel Series?
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I have a small bowel series to undergo next Friday and I'm worried about it, I know that I could be there at the hospital for up to 4 hours, do I need to bring anything with me, it doesn't state on my letter what to bring but should I bring a dressing gown just in case I have to wait between going in and having to wait outside the room where I have to get my small bowel series done? I have had a barium meal exam so I know what to expect from this, all I know is that it's far longer than a barium meal exam, so could anyone give me a overview on what to expect from the small bowel series? Thanks.
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thi20955 jonathan58
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jonathan58 thi20955
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cathy_94688 jonathan58
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Does it show the large colon as well?
It's been two years that I am suffering from the large colon pain I did many stool and blood works but the only thing I couldn't do was colonoscopy. Then I was asked to do the barium test which scared me as well. But then I am still suffering of the pain. My head is full of what ifs. What if I have this or what if I have that.
Thank you Jonathan
jonathan58 cathy_94688
Posted
It's nothing to worry about, you'll go into a cubicle and you'll have to undress and change into a hospital gown, then the technician and radiologist will escort you into the room where the barium meal is done, you will be given the barium (it's in a cup) which you will take a sip and then you will need to hold it until they tell you to swallow, once you've swallowed the barium, they will give you a powder which will expand your stomach, they will tell you not to burp, once that's done, you need to drink the rest of the barium, think of it like a milkshake, there's no real flavour to it, it tastes very chalky, but it's not that bad, they will change the table into a lying position as you're standing up when you first go into the room, they will then ask you to get into different positions when you are lying down, then you will be returned to a standing position, that's all there is to it. They didn't find any tumors in my bowel but the general surgeon is worried that I might have a narrowing of my small bowel due to an ileostomy and the reversal when I was a baby. A barium meal only shows the oesophagus, stomach and small bowel, it doesn't really show the large bowel. And I've also read that the barium constipates you and turns your stool white but that never happened me.
I tried to explain the best I could and this is my own personal experience so I hope I could help you.
cathy_94688 jonathan58
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Thank you it was in detail and very helpful. But I have pain in the large colon if barium can not show the problem there then what's the point of doing the test. And if this test can not show the tumor or any scars so it's useless to go under the X-ray. Beacuse I was afraid of doing colonoscopy dr asked me to this test but I think I should do the scop finally.
jonathan58 cathy_94688
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You must be having the Barium enema which will show up the large bowel clearly, I'm still not sure whether tumours, polyps and scarring will show up on the barium enema because I haven't experienced it, the radiologist and technologist might be able to pinpoint any tumors, scarring and polyps, I had the barium meal which is only for the stomach, oesophagus and small bowel, you'll have a tube inserted into your anus and then barium will be flushed into it, so it's different that what I explained above, sorry abou that.
thi20955 cathy_94688
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astrozombie jonathan58
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