What Can I Expect if My Doctor Orders Barium X-rays?

Question: What Can I Expect if My Doctor Orders Barium X-rays?

Answer: Barium x-rays are usually done on an outpatient basis at the hospital, in the radiology department, and generally follow the process listed below.

• You will be asked not to eat or drink anything after midnight on the night before the exam.

• When it's time for the x-ray, you will stand against an upright x-ray table in front of a fluoroscope, a device that will immediately show a moving picture. You'll then drink the barium liquid and swallow baking soda crystals. The radiologist can watch the barium flow through the digestive tract. You may be asked to move into different positions while the x-rays are taken so the doctor can observe the barium from different angles as it travels down the GI tract.

• Since barium may cause constipation, you'll be advised to drink plenty of fluids and eat high-fiber foods for the next day or two until the barium passes from the body.

_{Sources:
Costas H. Kefalas, M.D., "GI Radiographic Tests." The American College of Gastroenterology. 4 Mar 2009}

"Heartburn? Could It Be GERD? Understanding Heartburn and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)" AN417/AGA/GERD/Booklet 12/3/03. American Gastroenterological Association. Accessed on 4 Mar 2009