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Barium X-ray of the stomach and bowel
barium swallow · barium meal · upper GI series · barium follow-through
You drink a white liquid with barium, and the X-ray shows your food pipe, stomach, and bowel. Barium is not absorbed and leaves with your stool.
For trouble swallowing, belly pain, or a suspected narrowing, hiatal hernia, or problem with food passing through.
⏱ Duration: usually 20 to 40 minutes; if the small bowel is checked, images are taken over several hours
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Food. Usually nothing to eat for 8 to 12 hours before the test, most often from the evening before. Your clinic will give you the exact time.
- The day before. A light dinner with no fizzy drinks, beans, cabbage, or dark rye bread.
- In the morning. Do not drink, smoke, or chew gum. This affects the images.
- Medicines. Tell your doctor what you take regularly. They will decide what to take in the morning.
What to bring
- Your referral
- Past images and reports
- Water to drink after the test
How it goes
- You take off jewelry and clothes above the waist and put on a gown
- You stand at the X-ray machine
- You drink the barium liquid in sips when the doctor tells you
- The doctor watches on a screen how it moves and takes images
- You are asked to turn, lie down, or hold your breath
- If the bowel is checked, images are repeated after some time
What you'll feel
- The liquid is thick and tastes like chalk
- Sometimes mild bloating
Afterwards
- Usually you can eat right away
- Drink more water for 1 to 2 days. This helps the barium leave faster
- Your stool will be pale or white for 1 to 3 days. This is normal
- The report is usually ready the same day
Contact a doctor straight away if
- No bowel movement for more than 2 to 3 days, with a bloated, painful belly
- Severe belly pain or vomiting: see a doctor right away or call emergency services
Common questions
Why is my stool white after a barium X-ray?
That is the barium leaving your body. It is normal and passes in 1 to 3 days. Drink more water.
Is this the same as a barium enema?
No. In a barium enema, barium is put in through the rectum to look at the large bowel. The preparation is different.