Barium Enema

Getting ready for a barium enema is a several-day process.

Three Days Before Your Procedure

Three days before your procedure, you change what you eat. This means, for example, if your procedure is on a Monday morning, you begin this part of your prep on the Friday morning before your test.

• Start eating foods that are easy to digest, like chicken, fish, potatoes, white bread, soup, Jell-O, tea or coffee.
• Avoid fruits, salad, cereal, bran, seeds and nuts. 

If You Take Diabetes Medication

Please contact the doctor who prescribes your diabetes medicine for advice about any adjustments you may need to make during prep for your barium enema and on the day of your procedure.  Note: If you feel nauseous when drinking magnesium citrate, add ice cubes to chill the solution and drink it though a straw.

One Day Before Your Procedure

The day before your procedure, you should have several over-the-counter items on hand. This means if your procedure is scheduled for Monday morning, you need these ready Sunday morning:

• One bisacodyl suppository (10 milligram)
• One bottle (10 ounces) magnesium citrate (lemon or original flavor)
• One packet of gelatin (any color except red or pink)
• Three large bottles (16 ounces each) of lemon-lime soda or lemon-lime sports drink
• Two bisacodyl tablets (5 milligrams)
• Vaseline jelly
• Vegetable, chicken or beef bouillon broth cubes

Bowel prep begins the day before your procedure. The prep empties your bowels, making it easier to get clear images.

• Start a clear liquid diet at breakfast and stay on it all day. Clear liquids include water, broth, gelatin, sports drinks, lemon-lime soda and clear juices. No coffee, milk or other dairy products.
• Drink plenty of fluid throughout the day.
• At 4 p.m., drink the bottle of magnesium citrate (10 ounces).
• Within two hours after the magnesium citrate, drink at least three, 8-ounce glasses of clear liquids.
• When you begin to have diarrhea, you may put Vaseline petroleum jelly around the outside of your rectum after each bowel movement to help prevent irritation. Using baby wipes instead of toilet paper can help as well.
• At 8 p.m., take the two bisacodyl tablets. 

The Day of Your Procedure

In the morning on the day of your procedure:

• Stop drinking fluids three hours before your appointment.
• At least two hours before the procedure, use the 10 milligram bisacodyl suppository.

You may take any usual morning medications with a small sip of water. Please follow your doctor’s advice regarding diabetes medicine on the day of your barium enema.

A radiologist and a technologist will give you your enema. They first fill your colon with the barium mixture. The radiologist watches the images of your intestine on a special X-ray television screen. At times, the radiologist will ask you to change your position or hold your breath. This enables us to take snapshots of specific areas. After taking these snapshots, the technologist will take several larger films of your abdomen.

The enema itself takes about 15 minutes. With preparation and time for the X-rays, expect to be at your exam for about an hour.

The test can be mildly to moderately uncomfortable. You might have some cramping. However, your radiologist may give you an injection of medication to relax your colon.

After your exam, take your usual medications unless we tell you otherwise. If you have questions about your medicines, please let us know or contact your primary care provider. You also can resume your usual diet.

If you have diabetes, it’s important to monitor your blood sugar levels carefully as you start eating normally again. If questions or problems arise, contact the provider who prescribes your diabetes medication.

Be sure to drink plenty of fluids for the next two days to replace fluids you lost during your bowel prep. This also helps you avoid constipation from the barium. To help you further, the radiologist may suggest you take a mild laxative. If you feel dizzy or faint, get help right away.