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What to do after a CT scan of your bowel (easy read)

A person with an illustration of intestines over their abdomen.

This page gives you information about what to do after you have had a CT scan of your bowel called a CT colonoscopy.

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Smiling person sitting in a wheelchair, wearing a bright red outfit and glasses, holding a glass of water. Next to the glass are a mug of tea and a digestive biscuit, suggesting a drink break with fluids and a snack.

You can eat and drink normally after your scan.

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Healthcare staff member in uniform holding papers, standing beside a large notebook labelled “Report”.

Your doctor will get a report about your scan and will make an appointment with you to talk about it.

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Close-up of a patient’s hand with an intravenous cannula inserted and secured with a clear dressing. A healthcare professional wearing blue gloves is holding a syringe and connecting it to the cannula port.

Medicines during your scan

You might have had some or all of these during your scan:

• A gas called carbon dioxide into your bowel.

• A medicine called Buscopan to relax your muscles.

• A dye into your vein called contrast medium.

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Elderly person in grey shirt holding abdomen in discomfort.

Carbon Dioxide

Your body will absorb the gas, but you might have a bloated tummy for a couple of hours after your scan. You should contact your doctor if you have any of these things over the next 4 days after your scan.

• Very sore pains in your tummy.

• Pains in your tummy that are getting worse.

• Feeling sick and sweating.

• Feeling poorly.

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Red heart with an ECG line, with a cropped close-up of a person’s eyes positioned over part of the heart shape.

Buscopan

People do not usually feel anything different when they have Buscopan but you might feel your heart is beating fast or your eyes are blurry.

- This should go away in 30 minutes.

- You should not drive if your eyes are blurry.

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Two women on phone calls; one in a floral top smiling, the other in the background focused.

You should contact your doctor straight away if any of these things happen within 2 days of your scan.

• Your eyes get blurry.

• You can see rainbow coloured circles when you look at bright lights.

• Your eyes are red, or you have pains in your eyes or head.

• You have pains in your eyes, and you are being sick.

• Suddenly you cannot see.

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Close-up of one hand scratching the back of another hand, with visible redness and irritation.

Dye in your veins called contrast medium

Some people can be allergic to the dye. Contact your doctor if any of these things happen after your scan.

• Itchy rash on your body or where the injection went in.

• Being sick.

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Phone call 1

How to contact us

If you have any problems or questions, you can contact the Radiology Nurses: 0300 422 6245 Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm

Or you can contact your doctor or phone NHS 111

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Woman raising her arm with a speech bubble containing a question mark.

Ask 3 questions

If you are asked to make a choice about your health, you may have lots of questions you want to ask.

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Four people having a conversation with speech bubbles overhead.

You might want to talk to other people about your choices.

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Man in a red sweatshirt writing notes at a table with a pen and paper.

It can help if you make a list of your questions and take it with you to your appointment.

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Two men shaking hands with a speech bubble above them.

To begin with try to make sure you get the answers to these 3 questions, if you are asked to make a choice about your healthcare:


What are my choices?


What are the good things and not so good things about each choice?


How do I get help so I can make a choice that is right for me?

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Smartphone with a download icon next to a PDF document.

Download the leaflet

What to do after a CT scan of your bowel (easy read)

Review due: June 2029