Smal Bowel Follow through

Were you requested to do a prep for this procedure? Will it make a difference if you are cleaned out or not?

Oh yes they did say that. I just didn't know if cleaning out the entire GI tract would speed up the motility?

I am really debating just doing a liquid diet and cleanout. I am having it done on Thursday at 7:45A.M. The barium is horrible. For my Defogram, I drank two huge cups and it was so gross.

I didn't have to drink anything for my defecography.  They just shot enough barium up me to see if I could expel it.  It didn't take long at all!  That was a breeze compared to my small bowel study.  On my small bowel study, I did drink 2 big cups of barium!!!  Horrible, and horrible trying to get a week's worth of stool and barium out of me that weekend.  For me, no prep, just nothing by mouth after midnight.  Also, they told me no laxatives for a couple days.  I think laxatives could speed up your system, so I think you should lay low from them for a couple days.  Better check with the doctor though! Good luck!

No, never had a prep. But beware, barium REALLY stops you up. I always had diarrhea so it never bothered me but if you have slow motility, a) you'll probably be there for many hours waiting for it to move through your system, so bring a book! b) be careful afterwards because of how constipated it could make you.

I always explain to the dr. that I won't be able to drink both cups of barium, and so far they've never forced me. I usually can manage about 1-1.5 cups, and they're usually fine with that. They'd rather have that than have you throw up and have to start over.