Once a medical imaging procedure has been scheduled, it’s time to prepare.
Don’t wear jewelry. Leave rings, watches, necklaces and bracelets at home. Jewelry can cause problems with medical imaging and it could become lost. It’s best to leave it at home but a second best option would be to tuck jewelry into a purse or bag. Or, jewelry could be left with someone who accompanies you to the procedure.
Make sure questions have been answered before the test begins. Patients about to undergo medical imaging should be aware of what to expect. Know how long the test will take and understand if more than one test might be required.
If the doctor provided preparation instructions, follow them to the letter. Ask for the instructions in writing if they’re not provided to have something to go by. It’s too easy to forget vital points. If a patient isn’t supposed to have eaten but has breakfast before a test, the test will need to be rescheduled. If the patient didn’t mention having breakfasted, it might affect the results which, in addition to the potential for unnecessary stress, will again lead to another session. If written instructions weren’t provided, call and ask for them. These can be mailed, faxed, or even e-mailed.
Don’t wear clothing with metal. This would include jeans with metal snaps, zippers, and trim.
Although most patients will don a hospital gown for medical imaging, there are easy dressing suggestions that can make things go more smoothly. Ladies should choose a sports bra over a standard one because most traditional bras have metal hooks. Wear regular, plain underwear – no thongs. Men should wear briefs – not boxers with metal snappers.
Wear comfortable easy to remove clothing like cotton sweatpants and sweatshirt. A cotton T-shirt also works. Wear white socks and athletic shoes unless a barium procedure is planned. In that case, dark socks are a better choice in case of unexpected accidents.