Tagged As: Small Bowel
Question:
I have an ileostomy and am scheduled for a small bowel series. I have had barium enemas when I still had My colon but I have not had a small bowel with My ostomy. The nurse said I could get a blockage from the barium. That it can harden like cement! This is scary. Is this a real risk factor for an ileostomy? I am having the test because I may have a twisting of My small bowel or an adhesion. What is this test like? Is there pain? Will My ostomy pouch fill up fast?
Answer:
I've had quite a few with no trouble. I think as long as you drink a lot you probably wouldn't have a problem. JMO, but I've never had any problems and I've had lots of small bowel series. Have you had the barium enemas since getting the ostomy? I had a small bowel series last December. I was offered 2 ways to do it, one was to take a 'barium' meal/drink. The other way (which I opted for because it's supposed to be more accurate) was to put a tube through my nose, down to my stomach and into my small bowel. I don't like it at all, and I'm not brave but I wanted to know how much bowel I had left. I also had the procedure before so I kinda knew what to expect. Ironically, after going through that they still didn't/couldn't tell me how much bowel I had left! The procedure lasts well over an hour and it really s**t me off that they couldn't tell me what I really wanted to know. My bag didn't fill up until the procedure was over. If your had a nasal/gastric(sp?) tube you'll know what it's like, but in the hands of a reasonable Radiologist I don't think there's much danger involved. You can watch him track the tube down through your system on the tv screen. You do gag, but I've had so many nasal/gastric tubes I'm used to 'em. I hope I've helped and not frightened the living daylights out of you. If my gi said he'd guarantee to tell me how much bowel I had I'd do it again.
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