Angiography

Tell Your Doctor If You:

• Are pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Are allergic to iodine dye, any medications, or ever had a serious allergic reaction to any substance (e.g., bee sting, shellfish, etc.).
• Have asthma.
• Have any bleeding problems or are taking blood thinners (including asprin).
• Are diabetic.
• Have a history of kidney problems.

Getting Ready:

• Get your blood work drawn prior to the day of your procedure.
• Do not eat any solid food after midnight.
• Take all your medicines on the day of your test, but ask the doctor before taking insulin, Coumadin, or other blood thinners.
• Bring your medicines with you if you are an outpatient.
• Bring someone to drive you home.
• Prepare to relax during the next 24 hours.

Bone scan

Tell Your Doctor If You:

• Are pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Had an X-ray using barium within the past 4 days.
• Had taken a medication that contains bismuth (e.g., Pepto-Bismol) within the past 4 days.

Getting Ready:

• There is no special preparation for a bone scan.
• Remove jewelry and other metal objects.

CT scan

Tell Your Doctor If You:

• Are pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Are allergic to any medications.
• Have a heart condition, diabetes, kidney problems, asthma, or thyroid problems.
• Get nervous in small spaces (a sedative may be provided to help you relax).

Getting Ready: (Depends on which part of the body is being scanned,but typically includes:)

• Avoid fluids or food 4 to 6 hours before the test.
• Wear loose clothing.
• Remove jewelry and other metal objects.

DEXA scan

Tell Your Doctor If You:

• Are pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Had an x-ray using barium recently.

Getting Ready:

• Stop taking your calcium supplements at least 48 hours before your procedure.
• Do not take any osteoporosis medications on the day of the procedure.
• Wear loose clothing.
• Remove jewelry and other metal objects.
• Tell the radiology technician if you are left-handed.

Fluoroscopy

Tell Your Doctor If You:

• Are pregnant.
• Have allergies to any kind of medications.
• Had a recent illness or other medical condition.

Getting Ready:

• The type of procedure being done will determine whether any special preparation is required. For some exams you should not eat or drink anything before the appointment. Ask the physician for any pre-procedure instructions.

MRI

Tell Your Doctor If You:

• Are pregnant.
• Have allergies of any kind including medications and food in case the procedure requires a contrast agent (dye).
• Any serious health problems and previous surgeries.
• Have metal objects (i.e. artificial joints, pacemaker) in the body.

Getting Ready:

• No special preparation is required, but remove jewelry and other metal objects.
• Unless specifically instructed by the physician, follow your regular daily routine and take medications as usual.

Mammography

Tell Your Doctor If You:

• Are pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Had any prior surgeries.
• Use hormones.
• Have a family history of breast cancer.

Getting Ready:

• Do not schedule your mammogram for the week before your period if your breasts are usually tender during this time. The best time is up to 10 days following your period.
• Take a shower the morning, but do not apply deodorant, perfume, or powder to underarms or breast area.
• Describe any breast symptoms or problems to the technologist performing the exam.
• Remove jewelry and other metal objects.

PET scans

Tell Your Doctor If You:

• Are pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Get nervous in small spaces (a sedative my be provided to help you relax).

Getting Ready:

• Have a blood pregnancy test prior to the scan.
• Do not exercise 24 hours prior to your exam.
• For 6-8 hours after the exam avoid pregnant women and children.
• Wear loose clothing.

Ultrasound

Getting Ready: No special preparation is needed.

X-rays

Tell Your Doctor If You:

• Are pregnant.

Getting Ready:

• No special preparation is required for most bone or chest x-rays, but remove jewelry and other metal objects.

For more details on the UH Geauga Medical Center Department of Radiology or to schedule an appointment please call 440-285-6381.