Barium Memories

I was filling out a questioner on line regarding Barium tests and realized how pleasant the memories of those episodes were. So, I thought I'd share them here to see if any one else had similar experiences. My last one, a dual contrast air exam took place more than a decade ago, but looking back it seems like only yesterday.

It started with my asking the doctor that my test be a "dual contrast" enema as I had read they were a better diagnostic tool than the single contrast ones. To be truthful...I just wanted to experience the sensation of the air shooting in me. I wasn't to be disappointed.

On the day of the test, I donned the required open back gown and was ushered in to the lab by a very young, and pretty Blondie girl in her early 20's.

I can't say that I got an erection or anything close, but the butterflies in my belly were doing cart wheels as I watched her roll in the I.V. cart with the three liter, vinyl enema bag bulging full of the thick, white barium, the blue inflation nozzle hanging from one of the arms.

The insertion was everything I had hoped for. She was not the least bit tentative in lubing me and inserting the pipe. I was however a little surprised when she taped the tube to the back of my thigh before telling me that I could turn over on my back while waiting for the radiologist.

Ironically, the doctor was delayed for some time, leaving the two of us to chat amicably, me with the enema nozzle inserted and the full bag hanging pregnant over our heads. It was interesting, and a bit weird to say the least.

Finally, the doc showed up and the test performed. It was everything I hoped for and more. The best part was lying on my belly,watching my colon on the video screen as it filled up, and at the same time being able to look back to see the young woman squeezing multiple bulbs of air into my rectum as instructed by the doctor. For me, it was the best ride in the park (despite considerable cramping and flatulence). My only complaint was that it was over too soon, and never to be repeated.

Although I've had other tests for colon cancer, all received eagerly, my dual contrast Barium enema was one to remember.

Same here the only part that difers is i was in hospital any way there they flush you out after when back on ward

My Barium enema experiance was just about the same except I had a hell of a time expelling the stuff, the hospital did not do a rinse.However,when I went home after the procedure,I set up my enema stuff in a hurry.All was well after that.

It must be twenty years since my one and only barium enema. It was also the double contrast kind. They used a retention nozzle on me - the first time I had ever experienced one. That was exciting enough to make me vow I would manufacture my own some day; and I have.

But what I remember most was being strapped to the table of the X-ray machine and wondering why. I soon discovered that it was for the same reason a fighter pilot is strapped to his seat: the experience was thoroughly acrobatic. I was stood on my feet first, then on my head. I was laid flat and pumped up to bursting point. Then the table slowly rolled right over until I was hanging underneath it. From there it did a sort of Immelmann turn downwards and sideways. And every which way thereafter; head down, head up and rolling.

They had shot a whole bunch of antispasmodic stuff into me to stop the cramps from spoiling the pictures they were taking, so when they finally let me go and head off to the toilet (right there behind a flimsy sort of screen in the X-ray room), I couldn't get rid of my enema-and-air load at all. My colon, properly outraged by this assault, quit working. It was at least 15 mins before I could get the first fart off, and even to do that I had to get off the pot and assume the knee-chest position on the floor; which meant that the fart, a worthy opening salvo and loaded with barium, went just about everywhere. I spent the enext half hour squirting, trumpeting and mopping; all the while knowing that on the other side of my stall, the staff were listening to every grunt - and getting paid for it!

I decided I liked the feel of a 'thick' enema expulsion, and have become a connoisseur of thick enemma solutions amd semi-solid injections.

With today's colonoscopy, Barium enemas can and should be very rare now.

They are obsolete really!

My barium enema was some 40 years ago at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC.

The most memorable part of it was that it took three full bags to fill up my colon - which really amazed the nurses.

That;s when I found out I have a "redundant colon" - an extra loop. They also found a polyp the size of a large blackberry, which was soon later removed via a colonoscopy polypectomy by the famed Dr. Shina in NYC, who I believe was one of the innovators of the procedure - which was quite new at that time.

Although I had taken occasional enemas prior to that time, after that I began taking enemas on a frequent and regular basis and I believe as a result have NOT had a recurrence of polyps - but many, many pleasureable enemas! 😁

Has anyone ever heard of a jar apparatus used in the 1950s for administering a barium enema? I purchased such an item a few years ago. Phneumocolon. It’s a jar attached to a screw on lid. The solution is pumped in by using a hand bulb to pressurize the jar.

I have had 2 or 3 Barium enemas and 12 or 13 Colonoscopies , i flat out loved the barium enemas and they were in 1979 and if i recall 2 in 1981 , to me it was heaven and i remember soaking the bed sheet and gown because my pussy was like a faucet it did make 1 tech smile , only issue i had and disappointed me was the prep it was a modern at home colon prep and i was so so hoping for an old fashion hospital multi enema prep

These do sound like wonderful memories. Tell me, you pussy was flooding while the nurses were administering your barium and you obviously couldn’t hide your arousal.

Were you the least bit embarrassed or did you just go with it and enjoy the exposure and sensations?

Did you normally enjoy enemas before the barium? What about after? Did you or do you have friends you enjoy enemas with?

I was hospitalized several years ago for a bleeding ulcer and also received a barium enema to make sure there weren’t tumors in addition to the ulcer. I hated every second. It was medically essential to be sure, but it was 10 minutes of sheer misery.

I have never had a barium enema nor do I have any desire to have one. I have a sister, who is a nurse and worked in X-ray when she was going to grad school. She claims that the "Barium Tests" are rough. To me, x-rays are difficult enough. The surface is so hard and the positions that they put you in are uncomfortable. I can't comprehend how difficult it would be with a colon full of chalky liquid and there is bound to be cramping. Yuck! No, thank you.

I have had several colon scopes and they get easier every time. The first one, the prep was horrible. While the prep is still not fun, it has gotten better with time.

I had an old fashioned barium enema when I was 26, back in 1974, when I was having some intestinal issues. I will describe my procedure, as I remember it, for those who are interested. The afternoon before, I drank the usual prep liquids AND a good dose of castor oil, too! Needless to say, I was strapped onto my home toilet for a massive clean out for what seemed like days! And, at 5 AM upon awakening the following morning, I had a Fleet type enema at home before leaving for the 7 AM procedure at the OLD St. Vincent’s Hospital near downtown Indianapolis. The discharge was absolutely clear when I expelled that Fleet, indicating my colon was “ready” for exploration! Upon arrival at the hospital, I was stripped of all clothing and put into one of those lovely gowns which fully exposes your backside. I was first led into a procedure room where I was given a rigid sigmoidoscopy. This was very uncomfortable as I was bent over a table while the doctor had his way with his probe deep into my hiney hole. Once this was done, I was put on a large X-ray table where a large nozzle was inserted into my hiney hole and the barium enema was then administered. This took several minutes which was rather enjoyable at first….BUT THEY KEPT FILLING ME with more…and more…and more. I felt like I was going to bust, but was told I HAD TO HOLD IT IN as I was rotated into MANY various positions on the X-ray table “for pictures”! It was not fun at this point. I actually warned them I was about to explode, but somehow managed to hold it in! Finally, it was over! Fortunately, they had a beautiful (yes, beautiful!) toilet right next to the X-ray table which I was very grateful for! I absolutely painted the insides of that toilet with my barium explosion for the next 5-10 minutes as everyone watched me get some REAL relief! The barium splatter thoroughly covered my hiney cheeks which necessitated a cleanup of massive proportions! The diagnosis? I had an intestinal infection which was quickly cleared up with meds.

I have had five barium enemas. The last one was in the late 1990's and gastrograffin was used as the contrast medium rather than barium sulfate. It was ordered by a colon and rectal surgeon as part of his evaluation of whether I was a suitable candidate for a MACE surgery to treat my chronic constipation. The gastrograffin enema was notable for two reasons. First, the tech who adminsitered it was a guy I knew from my gym. We were both a bit embarrased when he walked into the xray room. He offered to find another tech to do my enema but I told him I didn't mind. This enema was also notable because they ran out of enema solution. I am not sure how much they put in the bag but suspect it was somewhere between 1.5 and 2 liters. I remember the radiologist calling for more contrast solution and the tech telling him that the bag was empty. The tech had to go make more gastrograffin solution to add to the bag while I had to lay there on the table full of enema solution with the balloon tip inflated in my ass. I recall that it seemed to take forever, but it was probably no more than 10 minutes. The radiologist observed that I had a redundant and very dilated colon.

My first barium enema happened when I was 15 and was part of the first serious evaluation of my constipation problems by a gastroenterologist. Being so young, I was quite anxious about the procedure. I got really embarrased while I was sitting in the men's locker room just before they called me in. The nurse escorted a guy out of the xray suite who had obviously just had the same procedure I was about the undergo. I recognized him as a kid from my high school. He recognized me as well and we both turned several shades of red. It only got worse when the nurse told him that he still had a lot of barium in him and to take 4 tablespoons of milk of magnesia when he got home.

That first barium enema was memorble for a lot of other reasons. For example, while he was taking the scout film to check my preparation, the tech asked me a lot of detailed questions about my preparatory enemas, including the number, volume and what the results looked like. I remember telling him that I had taken five enemas - two the night before and three that monring - and that the results of the last one were clear. In addition, no one had prepared me for the balloon tip. When the tech inflated the balloon inside of me it hurt like hell. Also, like my last barium enema, they ran out of solution, prompting the radiologist to tell me that I had a huge colon. Then there was the difficult evacuation. I was on the toilet for a good 30 minutes trying to get rid of the barium. Afterwards, the post evacuation film showed I still had a lot of solution in my colon. So they sent me back to the bathroom for another 30 minutes to try to get rid of it. I remember the nurse telling me when I entered the bathroom the second time that they would have to give me something to help me evacuate if I could not get it out on my own. Fortunately, they did not do that and finally let me go home with my mom.

I never had a barium enema but did have to have a barium swallow for a throat issue. The cup of barium milkshake weighed a ton and the tech warned me that later that day and the next it might seem like I was having plaster BMs. The first one was really difficult so I had my wife give me a soapy enema to clear it all out, which it readily did. Interestingly the tech did not mention what I should do, but only what might happen.

Interestingly the tech did not mention what I should do, but only what might happen.

Tech is not a doctor, therefore is limited on what "medical advice" they can give.

Let’s see enema,cookie,milkshake ,cookie,cookie,enema,enema milk shake ,cookie .

Barium is high on the food pyramid here

Fun fact both my esophagus and my colon are labeled “as torturous “

I had a barium enema when I was very young age 5. I still remember it vividly. It was in the late 1970s I think. I remember being in a hospital robe and being in a dark cold room. I saw many machines and a clear bag of what looked like milk filled to the top with a tube running out of the bag. I knew what it was already. It was some type of enema. I was no stranger to enemas. Before going there I was totally flushed out with many large enemas at home. I by this time was sort of numb from it all and was beyond crying. I remember thinking oh yet another enema. When they put the tube in my bottom. It wasnt a big deal. It was just another enema and my butt being invaded yet again. Then I felt very full and I felt extreme pressure in my belly. I do not know if they put air in me or not but I am guessing they did as well. I felt like I might burst inside. The nurses were very nice and helped keep me calm and my mind off of this. When it was finished I had to go badly. The nurses got me to the bathroom but I did not make it. I felt my butt explode and white liquid ran down my little legs and puddled up on the floor. I was even at this age so embarrassed. The nurses told me this happens all the time. They said it is easy to clean up. I was crying and they said I was being such as brave boy. They got me on the potty and The barium gushed out of me. They kept saying how I was doing so great. I think they gave me a sucker or candy and said you did it....