CT enterography

[Daunting]

Hi.

My Gi is sending me for a new test that the hospital has started its called a CT Enterography. Has anyone had this test before??

Is there anything I should expect, any side effects from any of the solutions or drink or anything?? Any laxative effects?

I am having the test 2 hours away from home and ont want any surprises.

Do they administer a water enema??

Sorry just really curious and a bit nervous.

Thanks

 

[DustyKat]

Matt had a CT Enterogram and the only difference between it and a normal CT is the contrast that you drink.

The contrast is designed to line the small bowel rather than be absorbed by it. He was required to drink about 1.5 litres of a clear sweet tasting fluid in the hour preceding the test. He was allowed to use the toilet and was told if he started to get diarrhoea to stop drinking the contrast. He didn't get diarrhoea then or afterwards but I don't know what other peoples experiences are. He did piddle himself senseless though! :lol:

There was no enema and since the test is designed specifically to visualise the small bowel there should be no need for one.

The test was very accurate at determining exactly the extent of disease in his small bowel.

Good luck!

Dusty. xxx

 

[outlier]

Contrast is disgusting but not undrinkable. It can have a laxative effect.
if it's through an iv it might make you feel funky for a moment and make your veins warm, in a not terrify but not comforting way

 

[chippy]

I have had a couple of these and found them no problem. The drink had a slight taste of pernod that i didn't mind and also had the injection during the test that makes you feel like you have wet yourself that always make me chuckle. All over really quickly and I found one of the most accurate tests that I have had.
One of the only tests that they let you keep a bit of dignaty which is always nice.
Please don't worry about it.

 

[Trysha]

The enterography I underwent was very easy and quite a new experience.
As well as drinking the prep I also had the injection which makes you feel you've pee'd but have not.
I found it all very straightforward and easy., nothing to worry about.
Trysha

 

[PsychoJane]

My experience was not as wonderful as other seems to have experienced so I hope it's gonna be great for you as well. I don't have a colon anymore so for me it has been like the worst laxative ever. It was worse than gastrolyte because I had to drink the whole 1,5L in 30 minutes. The product taste is totally acceptable, drinking it was not a problem either. The scanner part is easy as everyone mentioned, they also inject buscopan to reduce the bowel movement which helped me afterward with the diarrhea part.
I'm assuming that exam is more friendly when you have all your parts lol. I hope it won't be a problem for you but just allow yourself a certain time to be sure you don't have issue with the contrast (laxative effect) before you leave. The technician told me that people usually seem to know quickly about the diarrhea part (during the hour your are there) and then it's fine.

 

[Daunting]

Thanks All

Thanks all for your comments.

Its so scary going for new tests exspecially when you are not in your home town. I was hoping to do some shopping after the tests but knowing my luck the bathroom will become my friend.

I have had other CT scans and barium swallows and all other things and never experienced the laxative effect, I am so hoping this is will be the same.

I guess ever since they tried giving me a water enema here at my hospital for my last CT scan I've been nervous about CT scan's, they enema hurt and even my family doctor found it was odd why they of even considered giving me that when most of the problems are in my small intestines.

Does the Ct enterogragy show for the large and the small bowel or only for the small, and how accurate is it.

Thanks again.

 

[DustyKat]

It is specifically for the small bowel and that's what the contrast targets. In my son's case it was very accurate at pinpointing exactly how much of the small bowel was affected by disease.

Dusty. xxx

 

[Rebecca85]

From the sound of it, the CT scan I had was actually a Ct enterography, as I had the Pernod tasting contrast. It was Ok to drink, but that afternoon (several hours after the test) it was visiting time and I needed the bathroom, so I got up to go and the worst butt spasm I have ever had hit me, I couldn't do anything except stand there clenching and hope to god I didn't crap my pants! Eventually the spasm passed and I hotfooted it to the bathroom and had awful diarrhoea.

And the moral of the story is, just be aware that once the IV stuff wears off you may find the contrast had a laxative effect after all!