3 Tips to Help You Prepare for a CT Scan

CT scans are a common examination that doctors recommend to help develop a better understanding of the internal body. While the examination is common, not many patients are aware of the procedure itself and how to prepare for it.

Stationary CTs and a mobile CT scanner use multiple x-rays to process a more in-depth image of the internal body. Unlike a typical x-ray, CT scans show organs and tissues along with the bones with numerous other benefits. Since a CT scanner is a powerful machine, there are certain measures individuals must take in preparing for it.

How to prepare for a CT scan

Before you go in for the exam, there are certain things you need to be aware of to prepare for it, such as what type of clothes to wear and whether you can eat before or not. The following tips will help you prepare for a CT scan.

Wear clothes you feel comfortable in

You want to make sure that you are comfortable during the CT scan so it is recommended you wear loose-fitted clothes so you don’t move around fixing them from time to time during the scan. The timeframe of the scan varies depending on if an oral contrast is used or not. Non-contrast scans take about 10 minutes while contrast scans can take anywhere between 10-30 minutes. Therefore, it is important that you wear clothes that allow you to lay in the CT scanner for a certain period of time comfortably without the need to move around.

You want to ensure that your clothes have no metal object on them. So no pants or jeans with a zipper or metal button. The technicians will ask you to remove all jewelry before going in for the scan. It is just smarter to not wear any metal to your scan appointment at all.

Fasting may be required

The need to fast depends on which type of CT scan your doctor has recommended. For an abdomen or pelvic CT exam, a Barium contrast is required. The contrast helps improve imaging by coating the intestines. For any scan that requires contrast, individuals are requested to fast for 6 hours prior to the examination. For non-contrast exams, there are no eating or drinking restrictions.

Be prepared, mentally

Preparing yourself mentally for the exam is important. While the exam isn’t remotely equivalent to surgery, it can still be hard for individuals to lay still for up to 30 minutes. Therefore, it is important that you are aware of the expected runtime of the scan and prepare accordingly for any anxiety you might have. If you have any issues with being stationary for long periods of time, try laying down without moving to get the hang of staying still.

Another concern for many individuals is the level of radiation they will be exposed to. While radiation level is higher than a regular x-ray, it is still fairly low. A single examination contains less radiation than what you are exposed from the sun and other sources during the course of a year. So you can rest assured that a single scan will not result in you possible developing cancer. After all, doctors wouldn’t recommend the examination if it wasn’t safe.

Scott has been working in the radiology field for over 30 years. He finds the biological phenomenons found in humankind fascinating and appreciates the incredible use that diagnostic imagery has to save lives.