How To Prepare For Your Medical Imaging Appointment

If your doctor has decided that he or she is going to send you for an imaging appointment, at either a nearby clinic or hospital, you will want to make sure that you are well aware of everything you need to know about the procedure. This is to ensure that the results from the imaging test will be as accurate as possible. When accurate results are received, your doctor will have an easier time diagnosing any problems that you might be having. Also, you will be less likely to have to go back to have the imaging tests done all over again.

Determine If You Need To Fast

Depending on the type of imaging you are having done and the organ that they are looking at, you may need to fast before going in. You may have to refrain from eating or drinking anything after a certain hour the night before the imagining test. In some cases, you may be allowed a sip of water that is just enough to swallow any prescription medication that you must take in the morning because you cannot wait to take them later in the day without putting yourself at risk.

Have Someone Drive You To The Appointment

For many people, going without food and water can cause feelings of sickness, which can make it difficult for you to drive to in a safe manner. Therefore, you might want to see if you have a friend or family member that would be able to drive you to the appointment. If not, and if you believe that the fasting will not cause you too much trouble before the imaging appointment, you might want to at least have a cereal or granola bar, and a bottle of water in the car waiting for you for when you are finished with your appointment.

Stay Relaxed Prior To And During Your Appointment

Some imaging tests are completed fairly fast. Others can take much more time and will require you to keep your breathing slow and steady, inhaling and holding your breathe as directed, such as in an MRI. Keeping your nerves calm will help ensure that you are able to easily follow the instructions given by the imaging technician. This will help ensure that the images will be clear and that you can be in and out of there as quickly as possible.

If you have additional questions or concerns, you will want to take a few moments to call and talk with your doctor or imaging company, like DirectImaging.