Preparing for you Colon Study (the week before your appointment)
Please carefully follow the procedure prep instructions, which are necessary for the quality of your procedure. If you have any questions, please call (406) 731-8400.
One Week Before Your Procedure:
Discontinue all fiber supplements (i.e. Metamucil, Citrucel, Fibercon), iron supplements, over-the-counter herbal products, and Vitamin E.
Purchase Over-the-Counter Supplies
- One 64 ounce or two 32ounce bottles of Gatorade, Propel, Crystal Lite or other noncarbonated clear liquid drink. If you have diabetes, you may use sugar-free options. Refrigerate if you prefer to drink it cold.
- Dulcolax: 6 laxative tablets (not suppository or stool softener).
- MiraLAX: 238 grams (8.3 ounces) powder or generic polyethylene glycol 3350 (in laxative section).
- One bottle infant’s Mylicon Liquid. Ask a pharmacist if this brand is not available. You will need 6 full droppers.
- Baby Wipes (instead of toilet paper), Vaseline, and/or Desitin as desired.
Two Days Before Your Procedure:
Eat a low residue Diet, including food such as soup, fish, chicken, eggs, white rice, bread, crackers, plain yogurt, pasta, potatoes with no skin, gelatin, broth, and bouillon.
Avoid eating foods such as fresh and dried fruit, vegetable, raisins, nuts, seeds, cloves, any meat aside from what is listed in the group of foods above.
The Day Before Your Procedure:
Drink only clear liquids. Consumption of anything other than clear liquids will impair the quality of your exam. Clear liquids include water, coffee and tea with no cream/milk, clear fruit juice, clear soda, Gatorade and Jell-o.
Avoid all solid foods, milk, and milk-based products.
If you are diabetic, use sugar-free drinks while you are taking the prep solution. Monitor your blood sugar closely to prevent low blood sugar, and use an insulin sliding scale if needed for high values.
The Morning Before Your Procedure:
The morning before your procedure, mix 8.3 oz of MiraLAX with 64 oz. of Gatorade and 6 full droppers of the Mylicon in a pitcher. Stir/shake the contents until entire contents of MiraLAX is dissolved. Chill if desired.
At 1 p.m., take 3 Dulcolax laxative tablets by mouth with water.
At 3 p.m., drink half of the Gatorade/MiraLAX/Mylicon solution as follows:
- Drink one, 8 ounce glass every 15 minutes. You may drink it directly or through a straw.
- Some people may develop nausea with vomiting during the prep. The best remedy is to take a break from drinking the solution for about 30 minutes, and then resume drinking at a slower rate. It is important to drink the entire contents of the solution.
At 9 p.m., drink the other half of the solution as follows:
- Drink one, 8ounce glass every 15 minutes until finished with the solution.
At 10 p.m., take the other 3 tablets of Dulcolax.
At 12a.m., Please do not ingest any water, food, or medications beyond this point until your procedure is complete.
The Day of Your Procedure:
Do not take anything by mouth after midnight until your procedure is complete. This includes water, medications, mints, and gum. If there are medications that you MUST take, then please only use the minimum amount of water.
About Barium Enema with Air Contrast
Barium enema with air contrast may be used to examine the colon to assess symptoms, including: a recent change in bowel habits, abdominal pain or rectal bleeding. Compared to a barium enema, the air contrast examination offers increased sensitivity for the detection of polyps and small masses.
Before Your Procedure:
For a satisfactory exam, your colon must be empty. You will need to follow a restricted diet and to take a laxative the night before your exam.
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your exam. (If you are diabetic, please consult your physician about the preparation for this exam.)
If your doctor gave you an order, please bring it with you.
During Your Procedure:
The technologist will explain your procedure and answer any questions you may have before your exam.
You will be asked to change into a gown and to lie on the exam table on your back with your arms at your side.
The technologist will take a "scout" film to see if your colon is clean.
Once the scout film has been reviewed by the imaging physician, the technologist will insert a lubricated enema tip into your rectum.
The imaging physician will start the exam by allowing liquid barium to flow through the enema tip, a little at a time. This material allows the visualization of your colon.
The imaging physician will watch the flow of the barium with a fluoroscope and will ask you to turn from side to side while taking pictures of your colon. Turning helps to coat the walls of your colon.
Following initial visualization of the colon with the liquid barium, the imaging physician will introduce air through the same enema tip. You may experience cramping or a sensation of being bloated.
It is important that you do not expel the air or the barium. The air is used to expand the walls of the colon for a more detailed look at the lining of your colon.
After the barium and air is in, the technologist will take a series of X-rays of your colon. You will be asked to hold your breath and remain still during the picture.
An imaging physician will review the images to make sure that they are sufficient to make a diagnosis. If they are not, more pictures may be taken.
Once the films are complete, the technologist will take you to the bathroom so that you can expel the barium.
Final pictures will be taken to assess if your colon is empty.
Your exam will take approximately 45 minutes. This may be longer if more images are required.
After Your Procedure:
Drink plenty of liquid for 24 to 48 hours.
The barium may make your stool white for several days.
If you experience constipation, your physician may recommend a mild laxative.
Your study will be read by the imaging physician and results sent to your physician, usually within 48 hours. Your physician will discuss these results with you and explain what they mean in relation to your health.