Preparing For Your Test

Preparation

Because of the potentially harmful effects associated with all metallic objects in a magnetic field, you should check with your physician or MRI Technologist if you have:

• Pacemaker
• Ear implants
• Surgical staples
• Neuro-stimulator
• Aneurysm clip(s)
• Implanted drug infusion devices
• Worked as a welder or grinder of metal
• Loop recorders
• Dermal piercings
• Magnetic eyelashes
• Magnetic mascara
• Eye piercings
• Insulin pumps
• Colonoscopy clips
• Detached retina clips
• Defibrillators
• Medication patches
• Penile implants/implanted birth control devices

Do not wear any exercise or sports clothing containing copper fibers or other metallic fibers.

With some examinations, an injection into a vein is required. The MRI technologist will explain the procedure further is your exam requires this.

Preparation

In advance of your exam, please inform your radiologist or technologist if you:

• Have had a previous adverse reaction to iodine contrast injection
• Have renal disease
• Are over 60
• Have asthma and use an inhaler 2 or more times per day
• Are diabetic and taking glucOphage

If you are or think you may be pregnant, please tell your doctor or a patient representative before your test.

Patients receiving injections: clear liquids 4 hrs. prior to the exam.

Preparation

For Pregnancy or Pelvic Examinations:

• Please make sure you eat before your exam.
• Your bladder must be full for this examination. Drink at least 32 ounces of liquid one hour prior to your examination. We recommend you avoid caffeinated beverages.
• Please do not urinate until after your examination is completed. If you are very uncomfortable, please notify our staff when you arrive.
• Allow 45-50 minutes for the examination.

Abdominal Examinations:

• Nothing by mouth after midnight.
• Allow 45-60 minutes for the examination.

Kidney Examination

• Drink 20 ounces of water one full hour before your examination.

Examination of any other part of the body:

• • No special preparation is required.

Preparation

For most X-rays, no special preparation is required, however the following tests also use x-ray and do require you to follow the preparation instructions prior to your test:

An Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP) is an x-ray of the kidneys, ureters and bladder taken after a dye is injected into a vein.

Special instructions:

• Drink four 8-ounce glasses of water between 1:00 pm and 10:00 pm the day BEFORE your exam
• NPO after midnight or only clear liquids 4 hrs. prior to test.
• You may also take medication with water, as prescribed by your physician.

A Barium Enema is a special x-ray of the large intestine, which includes the colon and rectum. During this procedure, barium sulfate is injected into the colon.

Special instructions:

• DAY BEFORE EXAM:  Clear liquid diet 24 hrs. prior to exam. At 5:00 pm drink Citrate of Magnesia (10 oz).  NPO after midnight.
• DAY OF EXAM: Clear liquids only. Take (2) enemas one (1) hr. apart prior to exam.
• If you have a colostomy or ileostomy bag then just 24 hrs. liquid diet, no Citrate of Magnesia or enemas.
• The exam cannot be done for 48 hrs. after an incomplete colonoscopy and has a history of polyps or biopsy done during colonoscopy.

Upper GI Series and Esophagrams are a series of x-rays of the esophagus. The x-rays are taken after the patient drinks a barium solution.

Special instructions:

• DAY BEFORE EXAM: Nothing to eat or drink after midnight.

If you are or think you may be pregnant, please tell your doctor or a patient representative before your test.

Preparation

When preparing for a PET examination:

• Do not consumer anything except water for 6 hours prior to exam.
• Generally, you should limit the amount of sugar and caffeine on the day before the scan.
• Please inform us if you are or think you may be pregnant or are a diabetic.

I 123 Thyroid Scan/Uptake

• For 4 weeks before exam, no radiology contrast agents.
  (CT)
• For 4 weeks before exam, no Synthetic Thyroid Hormone.
  (Thyroxin, Triodothyronine, Levothyroxime (Synthroid, Levothroid, Unithyroid), Liothyronine (Cytomel), Conbination Products (Euthyroid, Proloid, Thyrolar))
• For 2 weeks before exam, no iodine containing products.
  (Kelp, Agar, Carageen, Lugol’s Solution, SSKI, Topical Iodine)
• For 3 days before exam, no anti-thyroid medications.
  (Propylthiouracil (PTU), Methimazole (Tapozole), Carbimazole)

Hepatobilary Scan

• Patient to have fatty meal the night before the exam.
• No food or drink 6 hours before the exam.
• No opiates for 6-8 hours before the exam.

Stress (Nuclear) Test

• No food after midnight the day of the test.
• No coffee 12 hours before the test.
• Take medication by ordering doctors recommendation.

Bone and other scans

• No special instructions.

If you are or think you may be pregnant, please tell your doctor or a patient representative before your test.