This topic is about preparing for a barium enema when you have a loop ileostomy. A loop ileostomy is a type of stoma with two closely-placed openings. The procedure involves inserting a tube into one of these openings to instill barium, which helps in examining the bowel. Here are some helpful points to consider:

- The night before the procedure, you will need to perform a cleansing enema at home.
- On the day of the test, the radiology staff will insert a tube into one of the stoma openings to administer the barium.
- If you have had trouble with this procedure before, such as difficulty passing the tube into the stoma, you might wonder:
1. Does it matter which of the two openings is used?
2. Is the procedure painful?
3. Are there any common difficulties?

- It's normal to be concerned about high liquid output after the procedure, so plan to bring extra pouches with you.

Additional considerations and questions include:

- Initially, there might have been some confusion about whether you have a colostomy or a loop ileostomy. Nurses clarified it as a loop ileostomy.
- A follow-up bowel study is scheduled a few days after the barium enema.
- If you experienced severe burning during the home prep with a generic Fleet-type enema and could only manage a small amount, you might wonder if this is common and if the partial prep is still okay.

Advice and insights for the procedure:

- Understanding your loop ileostomy: One opening leads to the functioning bowel that produces output, while the other connects to the inactive distal limb and the rectum.
- The radiology team will select the opening that provides access to the bowel segment they need to examine.
- If you have symptoms or pain in both segments, ask the radiologist to check each limb of the stoma during the study.
- Be prepared for a high-volume liquid discharge once the barium is introduced, and bring multiple replacement pouches.
- If you experience burning from the enema prep, discuss this with your doctor or the radiology team. They might suggest an alternative prep, such as warm saline or a contrast solution administered at the hospital.