Preparing for your Radiology Study

Your physician has requested that you have a radiology study. Instructions to prepare for the exam are included below. It is important that these instructions are followed carefully to make sure that the study is as accurate as possible. If you have any questions, please call 800.758.5545, and press 4 when prompted to reach the office where the exam is scheduled. We will be happy to help you.

Upper GI, Upper GI & Small Bowel, and/or Small Bowel Series

Nothing by mouth after midnight. No smoking or chewing gum. If you take medication, please consult with your physician to see if these need to be taken on the morning of the exam. If so, take with 8 ounces or less of water at least 2 hours prior to the exam.

Esophagram

Nothing by mouth after midnight. If you take medication, please consult with your physician to see if these need to be taken on the morning of the exam. If so, take with 8 ounces or less of water at least 2 hours prior to the exam.

Hysterosalpingogram

This exam must be scheduled during the first 10 days after your menstrual period starts. The exam also must be done after your menstrual flow has stopped. For most women, this means that the exam will be performed on days 5 through 10 after the period begins. Do not have sexual intercourse from the beginning of your period until at least 2 days after the exam is completed.

• Use Fleet's enema kit according to the package instructions.
• Nothing by mouth for 3 hours before the exam except your usual medications. 1-hour prior to the procedure, we recommend that you take an anti-inflammatory agent such as Advil, Motrin or Nuprin according to package instructions. Check with your physician if you are uncertain about taking this medication.

IVP (Intravenous Pyelogram or Intravenous Urogram)

The colon needs to be empty so that we can see the kidneys clearly for this exam. Please be aware that the Dulcolax tablets and the Magnesium Citrate may result in an increased number of bowel movements the evening and night prior to your exam. The items underlined should be purchased at your pharmacy.

• Follow a low residue diet:
  • No vegetables, fruit, high-fiber bread or cereal.
  • You may eat eggs, white bread, lean meat or dairy products.
• For lunch and dinner, only eat/drink clear liquids like Jello gelatin, soda, lear broth, powdered juices or plain ice pops.
• Between 4 pm and 12 midnight, drink 6 to 8 eight ounce glasses of water.

• At 4 pm, take 3 Dulcolax tablets.
• At 6 pm, drink 10 ounces of Magnesium Citrate.

Day of the exam
No food in the morning. You may drink less than 12 ounces of tea, coffee, or juice. Take your morning medications, if you normally do so at this time.

Barium Enema

Please note that you will need to begin preparing for this study 2 days before your exam. The items underlined should be purchased at your pharmacy.

Also, please be aware that the Dulcolax tablets and the Magnesium Citrate will cleanse the colon in preparation for the barium enema by increasing the number of bowel movements the evening and night prior to the exam.

• Follow a low residue diet:
  • No vegetables, fruit, high-fiber bread or cereal.
  • You may eat eggs, white bread, lean meat, dairy products, or pasta with plain sauces.

• For lunch and dinner, only eat/drink clear liquids like Jello gelatin, soda, clear broth, powdered juices or plain ice pops.
• Between 4 pm and 12 midnight, drink 6 to 8 eight ounce glasses of water.

• At 4 pm, take 3 Dulcolax tablets.
• At 6 pm, drink 10 ounces of Magnesium Citrate.

• Insert 1 Dulcolax suppository into rectum upon rising in the morning.
• You may eat a breakfast of clear fruit juice, tea or coffee. No milk or milk products!
• You may take your morning medications, if you normally do so.

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