> Dear Kate, or anyone who can help.
> I have been quite ill for the last few months and now I am going into
> hospital on Tuesday for 4 days for some test, one of which I believe is a
> barium enema. I have never had any of these tests done before and I am
> getting quite anxious. Please can some one let me know what to expect.
Kath,
A barium enema, while embarrassing, is really not terribly painful (or it wasn't for me). They will dress you in a hospital gown. Take two and use one backward to keep you a bit more comfortable.
You lay on a very cold, very hard table but the technician will arrange pillows under your knees and head to make it easier and you can have a blanket.
Before the procedure you will have taken a laxative and a Fleet enema or whatever has been prescribed as a prep for you. They hang a bag of white barium, insert a tube, and run it very slowly in. It is nowhere as uncomfortable as a regular enema.
If it is, ask to have to run in more slowly.
Before the barium, they'll do a couple of "flat plate" x-rays of your abdomen. As the barium goes in, you'll be asked to turn and the radiologist may press on your abdomen with a lead gloved hand. (This did hurt a bit, but not unbearably.)
You can watch the whole thing on TV if you can get your head lined up right.
I deal with anxiety by deep breathing: I just count breaths in and then again out 1-2-3-4-5-6. Sometimes I use a short prayer instead of the numbers, but numbers are good.
Everytime you start to worry, take a deep breath. No sense in rehearsing possible pain -- that only makes it much, much worse.
Kate
-- Kate Murphy katemm@mindspring.com