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Posted 12/17/2014 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all. Scheduled for my takedown end of January - I am going for a barium enema at the end of this month. Please share your experiences and any warnings or tips ... TIA
Posted 12/17/2014 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
My takedown is scheduled for 1/23 and my barium enema is the week before (1/16) so will be interested to see what replies you get. I think I've read before on here that most people say it's no big deal. Just bring an extra bag with you cause apparently some of it can get in the bag (guess that has to do with the loop).

Vicki
Posted 12/17/2014 10:13 PM (GMT 0)
I have no idea what a barium enema is like through the stoma - but I can tell you a severely inflamed colon filled with barium is the most painful thing I think I have every experienced in my life.
Posted 12/17/2014 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hi! I am on almost the same schedule as you, so I'm glad you asked. The only tip I read somewhere was a person who said that they filled him too fast. He wished they knew more about pouches and would have asked them to go slower. Fwiw, I hope that helps.
Posted 12/19/2014 12:29 PM (GMT 0)
I have also heard of instances when the barium reaches the bag. Not sure how common it is?!
Posted 12/19/2014 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
The barium enema goes through the back end not the stoma...it's to check the J-pouch for potential leaks. Apparently with the loop ileo there can be some "backwash" into the bag (which is why they tell you to bring an extra bag?).

Vicki
Posted 12/19/2014 3:20 PM (GMT 0)

embersglow1 said...
I have no idea what a barium enema is like through the stoma - but I can tell you a severely inflamed colon filled with barium is the most painful thing I think I have every experienced in my life.

I had one 2 weeks after surgery and it was the most painful experience of my life too, and I was on pain killers.

I had another pouchogram at 12 weeks and it was no big deal(No pain), except the tech wasn't that familiar with how to do it, they had to do it 3 times. ugh.
Posted 12/22/2014 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
My barium enema prior to takedown was through the stoma. I had an ordinary colostomy, not iliostomy though, no pouch.

I had to bring a new bag because mine got taken off.

It didn't hurt at all. Stoma has no feeling. Just a bit embarrassing and messy.
Posted 12/22/2014 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
Barium Enema Hurts a lot. It feels like you have to Poo really bad but cant. It doesn't last long though and once it over you just feel a little sore.
Posted 12/30/2014 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
I go in for my barium enema in Friday. That will be about 6 weeks since j-pouch creation. Should I take pain killers before going in? If so, what would you recommend?
No one told me to bring an extra bag, btw. I'm so glad you guys said something. Thanks!
Posted 12/31/2014 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
The enema went ok. The liquid didn't make it up to the stoma or into bag. The two radiologists did a great job explaining what they were doing and going slow. It wasn't painful enough to need pain killers - at least not for me. The initial pressure of liquid isn't fun but I tolerated it. Then it was neat to see the live X-ray pictures and see the pouch.
Posted 12/31/2014 9:25 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the follow up, Kris". Glad it went well. :-)
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