Exam Prep Instructions
Patient Instructions
Instructions for adults. Please call for instructions for patients under the age of 18. Click subject to reveal instructions.
Exam lasts approximately 45 minutes. Prep kit with instructions should be obtained at any SimonMed Imaging location at least two days prior to exam.
Exam lasts approximately 30-45 minutes. No food or drink except medications 4 hours prior to exam unless a non-contrast study is ordered.
Patient must drink at least 32oz of clear fluids starting 4 hours prior to exam. Fasting no solid food 4 hours prior to exam. 50 mg of metoprolol the evening before exam, and 50 mg metoprolol 1 hour prior to exam. This is prescribed by referring physician, and is needed to obtain best results. The target heart rate for the exam is below 60 bpm.
Exam lasts approximately 45 minutes. No food or drink except medications 4 hours prior to exam.
You may eat and drink as usual and take all necessary medications. However, it is important that you do NOT wear any deodorants, powders, lotions, creams, or perfumes on your chest or under the arm the day of your exam. Wearing a two-piece outfit is suggested.
No food or drink 30 minutes prior to exam unless contrast study is ordered. Please check when you schedule for further instructions.
Please use two enemas prior to exam.
Use one, one hour prior to table time and second use just before leaving to come to the exam.
No food 4 hours prior to exam.
There is no prep prior to a bone scan. The patient may eat, drink and take medications.
Since the imaging room can be cold, please wear warm, comfortable clothes.
Leave all jewelry at home.
Please drink 32 ounces of water prior to the scan. You may empty your bladder as necessary.
Please fast for 4 hours prior to the scan.
*Please discontinue all ACE inhibitors for 48 hours prior to your exam (Ace Inhibitor Examples: Benazepril (Letensin), Captopril (Capoten), Enalapril/Enalaprilat (Vasotec), Lisinopril (Zestril and Prinvil), Perindopril (Aceon), Quinapril (Accupril), Ramipril (Altace))
Since the imaging room can be cold, please wear warm, comfortable clothes. Leave all jewelry at home.
15 weeks and under: Drink 32 oz. water 1 hour prior to exam and do not empty.
Patient is to have a full bladder upon arrival to adequately visualize the pelvic structures trans-abdominally.
The patient may continue a normal diet.
16-30 weeks: Drink 16 oz. water 1 hour prior to exam and do not empty.
Patient may continue a normal diet.
31+ weeks: No special preparation necessary.
Drink 32 oz. water 1 hour prior to exam time. Patient is to have a full bladder upon arrival for the exam to adequately visualize the pelvic organs trans-abdominally. The Patient may eat a normal diet. Do not empty bladder.
Drink 32 oz. water 1 hour prior to exam time so that a full bladder can be imaged if necessary. Patient may eat a normal diet.
Exam lasts approximately 1 hour for UGI. Small bowel exam lasts 1-3 hours. No food or drink except medications 6 hours prior to exam.
No food or drink except medications and sips of water after midnight for morning exams. For afternoon exams, no food or drink except medications and sips of water 8 hours prior to exam. No coffee, gum, or smoking.
Use two enemas (brand not important) prior to exam.
Use one, one hour prior to table time and second use just before leaving to come to the exam.
The patients will have 120 ml of ultrasound gel injected into the rectum prior to the start of exam. Female patients will have an additional 80 ml.
Discontinue the following medications for the length of time indicated:
- Ephedrine (Akovaz) – 1 Day
- Ketamine (Ketalar) – 1 Day
- Isoflurane (Forane, Terrell) – 1 Day
- Norephedrine (Phenylpropanolamine,
Sudafed PE) – 1 Day - Epinephrine – 1 Day
- Cocaine or Methylphenidate (Aptensio,
Concerta, Cotempla, Daytrana, Metadate,
Methylin, QuilliChew, Quillivant XR,
Ritalin) – 2 Days - Selegiline (Emsam, Zelepar, Eldepryl) – 2 Days
- Methamphetamine (Desoxyn) – 2 Days
- Mazindol (Mazanor, Sanorex) – 3 Days
- Modanifil (Provigil) – 3 Days
- Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva, Brisdelle) – 5 Days
- Memantine (Namenda) – 5 Days
- Benztropine(Cogentin) – 5 Days
- Fentanyl (Duragesic, Abstral, Subsys) – 5 Days
- Sertraline (Zoloft) – 6 Days
- Amoxapine (Asendin) – 6 Days
- Amphetamine or Dextroamphetamine
(Dexadrine Spansule, Liquaad, Zenzedi,
ProCentra) – 7 Days - Citalopram (Celexa) – 8 Days
- Escitalopram (Cipralex/Lexapro) – 8 Days
- Bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban, Forvivo,
Aplenzin, Bupopron, Amfebutamone) – 8 Days - Cannabidiol (CBD) – 8 Days
- Phentermine (Lomaira, Adipex-P,
Suprenza) or Phencyclidine (Sernyl,
Sernylan, PCP) – 14 Days
Since the imaging room can be cold, please wear warm, comfortable clothes.
Leave all jewelry at home.
The patient must be NPO for a minimum of 8 hours prior to a Gastric Emptying Scan. Tell your doctor if you are diabetic, as special arrangements may be required.
Discontinue Reglan for 24 hours prior to your exam*. Sedatives and narcotics should be discontinued 12 hours prior to your exam.
Since the imaging room can be cold, please wear warm, comfortable clothes.
Leave all jewelry at home.
The patient must be fasting for 4 hours prior to a HIDA scan. No pain medication should be taken for 4 hours prior to a HIDA Scan.
Since the imaging room can be cold, please wear warm, comfortable clothes.
Leave all jewelry at home.
There is no prep for this exam.
Since the imaging room can be cold, please wear warm, comfortable clothes.
Leave all jewelry at home.
Please drink 32 ounces of water prior to the scan. You may empty your bladder as necessary.
*Please discontinue all diuretics 24 hours prior to your appointment.
Since the imaging room can be cold, please wear warm, comfortable clothes.
Leave all jewelry at home.
The patient must be NPO for 4 hours prior to your initial appointment.
* Discontinue the following medications for the length of time indicated:
One Week – Methimazole (Tapazole), Carbimazole, Multivitamins
Two Weeks – Triiodothronine (Cytomel), Prolthiouracil (PTU)
Three Weeks – Lougol’s Solution, Potassium Iodide Solution (SSKI), Topical Iodine (surgical skin prep)
Four Weeks – Synthroid (Levothyroxine), Thyroxine, Elctroxin, Levoxine, Iodinated Contrast Agents
Three Months – Amiodarone
Since the imaging room can be cold, please wear warm, comfortable clothes.
Leave all jewelry at home.
There is no prep for this exam.
Since the imaging room can be cold, please wear warm, comfortable clothes.
Leave all jewelry at home.
The patient must fast for 4 hours prior to the exam (water is ok).
Significant exercise should be avoided for at least 24 hours prior to the exam (running, jogging, sports, aerobics, weight lifting etc.).
If the patient has not avoided exercise for a minimum of 24 hours prior to the exam, the uptake of the tracer may be altered and may affect the results of the test.
Since the imaging room can be cold, please wear warm, comfortable clothes.
Leave all jewelry at home.
There is no prep for this exam.
Since the imaging room can be cold, please wear warm, comfortable clothes.
Leave all jewelry at home.
Drink plenty of water before and after exam. Scan should be performed prior to treatment with Long Acting Somatostatin Analog Medications
- Sandostatin LAR (Octreotide Long Acting Release)
- Signifor LAR (Pasireotide Long Acting Release)
Short Acting Somatostatin Analog Medications should be discontinued for 24 hours prior to scan
- Sandostatin (Octreotide)
- Signifor (Pasireotide)
- Somatuline (Lanreotide)
Since the imaging room can be cold, please wear warm, comfortable clothes.
Leave all jewelry at home.
Since a PET/CT scan is an imaging technique that observes metabolic processes inside the brain, we need the patient to be at baseline metabolic levels. To achieve this we ask the patient to do the following:
Fast for 6 hours prior to the exam. Water is ok.
Limit carbohydrate and sugar consumption for 24 hours prior to the exam. Try to eat meals high in protein and low in carbohydrates.
*Diabetic Patients – Try to schedule your appointment when your blood sugar is lowest. Morning appointments are often the best time.
You may take ½ to ¾ dose of Long Acting Insulin in the morning. Please do not take any normal or fast acting insulin prior to your appointment.
Since the imaging room can be cold, please wear warm, comfortable clothes.
Leave all jewelry at home.
Since a PET/CT scan is an imaging technique that observes metabolic processes inside the body, we need the patient to be at a baseline metabolic levels. To achieve this we ask the patient to do the following.
Fast for 6 hours prior to the exam. Water is ok.
Limit carbohydrate and sugar consumption for 24 hours prior to the exam. Try to eat meals high in protein and low in carbohydrates.
Limit strenuous exercise for 24 hours prior to the exam.
*Diabetic Patients – Try to schedule your appointment when your blood sugar is lowest. Morning appointments are often the best time. You may take ½ to ¾ dose of Long Acting Insulin in the morning. Please do not take any normal or fast acting insulin prior to your appointment.
Since the imaging room can be cold, please wear warm, comfortable clothes.
Leave all jewelry at home.
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