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Discussion

barium enema question?

I am scheduled for a barium enema to on tuesday. In the past when I have had an enema I have had trouble holding it. I am worried that I will not be able to hold the barium enema. I have a lot of anxiety about this. If I could not hold the enema it would be so embarassing.

Featured Replies

  • Expert

The last time I had a BE the rig had a inflatable balloon in the tip that held every thing in place, kiddo. The enema tube wasn't removed until the x-rays were completed. Unless times have changed, they still use the same set up, so there are no "accidents" on the X-ray table. Let me see if I can find some patient teaching sheets that address this.

  • Author

what do you mean by inflatable balloon (sorry I'm not good with medical terms)

where does this thing go and would it hurt when its inflated?

  • Expert

It's a small balloon that is at the end of the tip of the enema tube that gets inflated (blown up) with a harmless water solution enough to hold it inside your rectum, but not large enough to be uncomfortable. No, it doesn't hurt. Then, the x-ray technicians allow the warmed Barium solution to go into your colon and have you turn left and right so the solution moves around and they can get pictures. You will have done cleansing enemas at home before having this at an x-ray department.

  • Author

is there any way it could leak through the balloon? i am so worried because i always seem to 'leak' whenever i have to hold fluids in

and the balloon is placed inside or outside my butt (sorry for lack of a better term)

  • Expert

is there any way it could leak through the balloon? i am so worried because i always seem to 'leak' whenever i have to hold fluids in and the balloon is placed inside or outside my butt (sorry for lack of a better term)

these balloons do not break and if anything does "leak" around them it would be the barium solution which is a milky white color. that is not likely to happen because the balloon acts as a plug to prevent leakage.

before you even show up in x-ray for the test, you will have done a cleansing prep at home to empty your bowels, so they will be clean and empty for the technicians. when you go into the x-ray room for the be (barium enema) you will have changed into a patient gown first. the technicians will place protective linens on the x-ray table to protect their equipment and they will also cover you with a warm blanket so you are comfortable and as little of your rump as possible is exposed. this procedure is done a lot and they have it down to a science so they can get you in and out with practically no muss or fuss. honestly. you are going to be surprised at how neatly and rapidly it works. when they are all done taking pictures, they allow the barium to flow back into the enema bag (it's simply done by lowering the bag below the level of the table) which allows almost all the solution to run back into the enema bag before the balloon is deflated and the balloon is deflated and the tube is finally removed from your rectum. there will be a bathroom there if you need to use it.

you should make a list of these questions and either go to the place where this is going to be done and ask them now or on the day of the procedure. get them answered to your satisfaction. i tried to find video of a be, but this was all i could find:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/barium-enema/mm00366

i had colon cancer and i have to have colonoscopies done on a regular basis. these require colon cleansing and then being put into a twilight sleep while a doctor moves a flexible scope with a camera on it up through what is left of my colon since part of it has been removed. the worst is the cleansing prep which i have to do at home the day before.

  • Author

well i just had it done yesterday and it was really difficult to hold but none leaked as you stated

it was just hard because i wanted it out but they couldn't remove it til the procedure was finished

its weird though, whenever i go poo now its white in colour. and also after the procedure...lets just say its super embarassing with the 'noise' that comes out :down:

  • Expert

How nice of you to post again. The white color is due to the barium. It has a tendency to cling to the walls of the colon. It will pass over the next day or two as the barium gets out of your colon. I hope everything turns out OK. You did the right thing in having the test.

  • Author

also after the procedure the nurse placed something into my bottom again which was like a tube and i had to wait in the post-procedure area while i farted my brains out

whats the purpose of that?

  • Expert

I have no idea.

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