What to expect from a Small Bowel Series?

No, it's where you drink barium and you go in and you have the x-ray done, then you have to wait and go back in depending on how far the barium has got to your small intestine, it says it could take up to 4 hours to do, all it says is to not eat from midnight on the day of the procedure, I think this is also called a small bowel follow-through as well.

Would you please explain the procedure to me. I need to it but I am afraid to drink the barium. Beacuse I heard that it can block the intestance. And tell how do you drink it with food? What is its taste? Does it come in the bottle or the technician prepares it for you? And is it accurate like clonoscopy I mean can it show up the tumors, scars and polips?

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

Hi Cathy,

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.

Hi Jonathan

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.

Hi Cathy,

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.

colonoscopy is safe do not worry. I have dome it manytimes. so did my friends. You can only find your problem with colonoscopy.