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To investigate slow transit constipation, which will help the doctor understand your condition, and give the appropriate treatment.
On arrival you will be given a drink of radioactive tracer in water. You will also be given a pot and yellow bag to collect stools produced over that first night. You then re-attend mornings and afternoons for the rest of the working week, having front and back pictures of your abdomen (total time less than 30mins) taken each time.
If you are pregnant, or you think you might be pregnant, you need to inform your doctor or the Nuclear Medicine staff before attending your appointment. In general, exposure to radiation during pregnancy should be kept to a minimum and it may be necessary to postpone your scan. The present guidelines recommend that breast-feeding need not be interrupted if the mother is undergoing this test; however, it is advisable to feed the baby before drinking the radioactive water and to express and discard any milk secreted over the first 3 hours following ingestion of the dose.
We would prefer that you do not bring more than one person with you. It is advisable not to have a pregnant woman or a small child with you. This is to avoid exposing them to unnecessary radiation. It is also preferable to avoid prolonged close contact (hugging a child / sitting a child on your knee for more than half an hour) for the rest of the day.
You may eat and drink as normal. The referring doctor has requested that you do not take your laxative medication 24 hrs prior to and for the duration of the test. At the end of the week, you will be encouraged to take your usual laxative to clear bowel.
Stopping your laxative medication can sometimes causes discomfort, but there are no side-effects as such. Our doctors will be available during your stay in the department to answer any queries.
The amount of radioactivity given in this study is strictly within the recommended national level. At this level, the benefit to you from a diagnosis of your condition outweighs the risk (negligible) of any harm associated with the radiation you will receive.
You may eat and drink as normal. No extra precautions need to be taken when passing urine. Resume taking laxative to remove tracer no longer needed for the study.
The Nuclear Medicine doctor will report on the study and the result will be sent to the doctor who requested the study. He/she may be able to discuss the results with you in relation to other tests you may have had.