Do you often get stomach cramps? Or do you have a change in your bowel habits, such as blood in your stool? In such cases, your doctor may order a special test to see exactly what is going on inside your intestines . That is the test we are talking about today, the Barium Enema . You may feel a little scared when you hear this name. But it is actually nothing to be afraid of. Let's talk about this simply from the beginning.
What is a Barium Enema?
Simply put, a barium enema is a special X-ray test that examines the lower part of your digestive system, which is the colon and rectum. Doctors sometimes call this a 'lower GI tract' test.
Normally, an X-ray can show our body's bones and muscles clearly. However, it is difficult to see an organ with a cavity like the large intestine clearly with a regular X-ray. That is why this substance called barium is used as a solution.
Barium is a white substance that looks like chalk powder. It is mixed with water and passed through a small tube into your rectum. The barium solution then coats the inside of your colon. When you take an X-ray, the doctor can see any abnormalities, tumors, or ulcers in your colon very clearly. It's like drawing on a blackboard with a white chalk stick.
Why do you need to do this test?
If you have one or more of the symptoms below, your doctor may recommend this test to find the cause.
| Symptoms you may have |
|---|
| A change in bowel habits (e.g. constipation for a few days, then diarrhea). |
| Bleeding from the anus. |
| Long-lasting stomach pain. |
| Persistent diarrhea or constipation. |
| Weight loss without an obvious reason. |
Also, this test can accurately diagnose some medical conditions.
- Non-cancerous growths: These are like small fleshy growths ( polyps ).
- Cancer : Cancerous conditions that occur in the colon.
- Diverticulitis: Inflammation of small pouches in the wall of the intestine.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease: This includes conditions such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
- Hirschsprung's disease: A condition that causes a blockage in the large intestine, especially affecting young children.
- Volvulus: A blockage in which a section of the intestine twists around itself.
Are there any risks to this test?
As with any medical test, there are a few things we need to be aware of.
The most important thing is that pregnant women are not usually given X-rays because X-rays can be harmful to the baby in the womb. Therefore, if you are pregnant or suspect you may be pregnant, you should definitely inform your doctor and the radiologist.
Some people are also concerned about the radiation exposure from X-rays. However, the amount of radiation exposure from this test is very low. When compared to the benefit of diagnosing a disease, this risk is very small.
In addition, there are several complications that can occur very rarely:
- An allergic reaction to barium liquid.
- Stomach or intestinal obstruction.
- Inflammation of the tissues surrounding the colon.
- Tear in the colon wall.
Remember, the probability of these happening is very low. Doctors are well aware of this.
How do you prepare before the test?
This is the most important part. To get clear images from the test, your colon needs to be completely empty and clean. If there's anything left inside, like feces, it can show up on the X-ray as a disease.
Your doctor will give you the exact instructions you need for this. It is essential to follow those instructions exactly. If you are taking any other medications, ask your doctor if you can continue taking them as well.
| Preparatory steps | What to do |
|---|---|
| Special diet | The day before the test, you will be asked to completely avoid solid foods and only drink liquids such as soup, tea, and water. |
| Fasting | You should avoid eating or drinking anything after 12 midnight the day before the test. |
| Taking a laxative | You will be told to take a laxative, which comes in pill or liquid form, the night before to empty your bowels. |
| Colon cleansing | You may also be asked to completely cleanse your intestines using an enema kit, which you can buy at the pharmacy. |
What happens during the test?
This is usually a day test that you can take home. It is often done in the morning. It can take between 30 and 60 minutes.
There are two people who can help you at this time. They are the radiology technician and the radiologist.
Here's how the test works:
1. You will be turned on your side on a special table and a plain X-ray will be taken to see if your bowels are empty.
2. Next, the technologist will carefully insert a small tube (enema tube) into your rectum. This tube contains a bag that is connected to the barium solution. A small balloon-like part at the end of the tube stops the barium solution from coming back out.
3. As the barium liquid flows through your intestines, you may feel a slight stomach ache or the urge to have a bowel movement. This may be uncomfortable, but it is normal. Try to breathe deeply and stay calm.
4. Sometimes, a small amount of air may be pumped in to help the barium liquid spread throughout the intestine.
5. The specialist will ask you to turn in different directions and hold your breath. They will take X-ray images from different angles. They may also gently press on your abdomen to change the position of the bowel.
6. When the test is finished, some of the barium will flow back into the bag through the tube. You can go to the toilet to expel the rest, along with the air that was inhaled.
What happens after the test?
You may be given another laxative or enema to completely remove the barium from your body. After that, you can eat and drink normally.
Your stool may be white for a few days. This is because the barium is being eliminated from your body. This is normal, don't worry.
But remember this: If you become constipated, do not pass stool for two days after the test, or have difficulty passing air, call your doctor immediately.
After studying the X-ray images from the test, the radiologist will create a report and send it to your doctor. If the result is 'positive' (something abnormal was found), you may need to have another test, such as a ``colonoscopy'', to look into it further. If the result is 'negative' (everything is normal), it means that there is no major problem with your colon.
Take-Home Message
- A barium enema is a relatively safe X-ray test that examines your colon.
- To achieve the best results, it is essential to completely cleanse the intestines according to the doctor's instructions before the test.
- You may feel some discomfort during the test, but it is temporary. Don't worry about it.
- If you have any questions about the test, never hesitate to ask the doctor or radiology technologist.
- If you experience any unusual discomfort (such as severe constipation) after the test, notify your doctor immediately.
Barium Enema, Barium Enema, Colonoscopy, Stomach Pain, Blood in Stool, Colon X-ray, Digestive System
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