This topic is about a person with a descending colostomy who is preparing for a CT scan that involves drinking oral barium sulfate contrast. They are concerned about whether this might cause their ostomy bag to overfill or even burst. They have had CT scans before without any contrast and those went smoothly, but this time they are seeking advice from others who might have had similar experiences.

Here are some helpful insights and advice shared by others:

1. Inform the imaging center about your ostomy. They often adjust the oral barium dose for people with ostomies to prevent any issues.

2. A reduced dose typically involves about 2 cups (approximately 16 ounces or 475 milliliters) of barium, which is given in smaller portions rather than large bottles.

3. People with descending colostomies generally report no problems or leaks when a reduced volume of barium is used.

4. Always carry a full change kit with you. One person with a temporary ostomy experienced the barium passing through quickly, causing their pouch to "explode" just before and after the scan. Having spare supplies allowed them to change immediately, and the situation was resolved within a few hours.

5. For colonoscopy preparation, some surgeons allow the use of polyethylene glycol 3350 (MiraLAX) instead of GoLYTELY. Many patients find MiraLAX easier to handle.