What should I do 24 hours before a PET scan?

Avoid exercising 24 hours before the scan. Follow a special diet for 12 to 24 hours before the scan. Don't drink or eat anything, except water, for 6 hours before the scan.


Can you drink coffee 24 hours before a PET scan?

Some may increase the risk of problems during your test. Your doctor will tell you if you should stop taking any of them before the test and how soon to do it. Don't drink caffeine for 24 hours before a PET scan of your heart. Don't do any exercise or other strenuous activity for at least 48 hours before this test.

What should you eat the day before a PET scan?

Before your exam
  • Follow a low carbohydrate diet for 48 hours.
  • Do not eat foods with more than 5g of carbohydrates per serving, no more than 15g of carbohydrates per meal and no more than 50g of carbohydrates per day.
  • Do not eat for 18 hours.


What can I drink 24 hours before a PET scan?

You will be asked to follow the Limited Carbohydrate diet for the previous 24 hours before the date of your appointment. Do not eat or drink anything, except water, for 6 hours before the exam. You may drink water, as much water as you can would be helpful, until arrival.

Why do you have to rest the day before a PET scan?

Because PET scans read your sugar metabolism, eating sugar could affect the results of your scan. It's also important that you don't exercise for 24 hours before your PET scan. That's because exercise affects the radiotracer's reading and could cause the results to be inaccurate.


PET Scan: A guide to How to Prepare for PET-CT Scan



Can I brush my teeth before a PET scan?

Can I brush my teeth before a PET/CT scan? Normal brushing without swallowing mouthwash or toothpaste within the four hour preparation timeframe will have no effect on the outcome of your PET/CT scan.

How long should you not eat or drink before a PET scan?

For all PET scan diets, you will be asked to stop eating 6 hours before your appointment; however, you may continue to drink water.

What should I do the night before a PET scan?

Avoid exercising 24 hours before the scan. Follow a special diet for 12 to 24 hours before the scan. Don't drink or eat anything, except water, for 6 hours before the scan.


What not to eat the day before a PET scan?

Day Prior to Your Appointment

Please avoid eating foods high in carbohydrates. These foods include potatoes, pasta, rice, breads, pretzels, cookies, candy, soda pop and alcoholic beverages.

What can throw off a PET scan?

Certain factors or conditions may interfere with the accuracy of a PET scan, including:
  • High blood glucose levels in diabetics.
  • Caffeine, alcohol, or tobacco consumed within 24 hours of the procedure.
  • Excessive anxiety (may affect brain function)
  • Medicines such as insulin, tranquilizers, and sedatives.


Can you wear regular clothes for a PET scan?

Specific protocols may vary, but generally a PET scan follows this process: You will be asked to remove any clothing, jewelry, or other objects that may interfere with the scan. If you are asked to remove clothing, you will be given a gown to wear.


Can you pee before a PET scan?

If you're having a brain PET-CT, it is important to limit brain activity before your scan. Your nurse may tell you not to read or listen to music while you're waiting for your scan. Your care team will ask you to urinate (pee) just before your scan.

How long does a PET scan take from start to finish?

From start to finish, the procedure takes about two hours to complete and typically does not require an overnight hospital stay. When you arrive for your scan, you may be asked to: Change into a hospital gown.

Should you rest after a PET scan?

In most cases, you will need to rest before and after the injection of the radioactive material. For example, if you are having a brain PET scan, you will lie quietly in a darkened room before and after the injection to make sure your brain remains relaxed and is not stimulated by light, noise or reading.


How long does a PET scan take full body?

The entire PET scan process takes about two hours. It can take up to 60 minutes for your body to absorb the injected radiotracer. During this time, you'll need to sit quietly and limit your movements.

Does caffeine affect a PET scan?

We prefer that you avoid anything with caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate, or soda) within 24 hours of the test. Caffeine alters the distribution of the radiopharmaceutical throughout your body, specifically to your heart.

What can you not do after a PET scan?

As a precaution, you may be advised to avoid close contact with pregnant women, babies and young children for a few hours after having a PET scan. This is because you'll be slightly radioactive during this time.


Can I eat a salad before a PET scan?

Vegetables: you may eat low-carbohydrate vegetables such as asparagus, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, chilies, cucumbers, green or wax beans, green peppers, lettuce, mushrooms, olives, onion, tomatoes, summer squash, spinach and turnips.

What happens if I eat carbs the day before a PET scan?

The radioisotope that is used in PET imaging, fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose or 18F-FDG, is a glucose transporter. This radioisotope will go to any metabolically active areas in the body. If the glucose levels are elevated from food or drink the patient consumed prior to the test, the level of insulin will increase.

Can I eat carbs a day before PET scan?

PET/CT SCAN DIET INSTRUCTIONS

Avoid food and drinks that contain sugar or carbohydrates for at least 24 hours before your scan. This will help to make sure that your images are of the best quality and help prevent having to reschedule your scan because of a blood sugar that is too high.


Can you eat fruit 24 hours before a PET scan?

Food that should be avoided Before PET Scan :

Fruits and Vegetables- All fruits, potatoes, corn, carrots, legumes (other beans), tomatoes, peas, squash, veggie burgers. Dairy Products- Milk, yogurt, high fat cheese.

What vegetables can you eat the day before a PET scan?

What should you eat before your PET Scan?
  • Protein-rich diet: Meat, chicken, fish, shellfish, crab, nuts, sunflower seeds, and eggs.
  • Non-starchy vegetables: Broccoli, spinach, green beans, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, and mushrooms.
  • Beverages: Diet soda and zero-calorie drinks.


Can I drive after PET scan?

After the PET-CT scan

You can do normal activities after the scan. This includes driving. The staff will tell you to drink several glasses of water. This helps wash the radioactive substance and dye out of your body.


Can you fall asleep during a PET scan?

Then, the patient will be asked to lie on a table that passes slowly through the scanner. The scanner resembles a CT scanner, but has a much larger opening. Some people fall asleep during the scan.

How do you flush your body after a PET scan?

After a PET scan

The radioactive material passes out of the body through urine or stool (feces). It may take a few hours or days to completely pass out of the body. Drink lots of fluids after the test to help flush it out.
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