Instructions for CT scan

[thubler]

So I have a follow up CT scan with contrast tomorrow but cant find the instructions for fasting and drinking the two bottles of contrast. Does anyone remember their instructions? Thanks.

[Utwo]

As far as I remember:
1. Do not eat anything 4 hours prior to CT scan
2. Drink ... caps of water ... hours prior to CT scan.

They will provide oral or/and IV contrast.

[Lee]

Ditto to what Utwo wrote.

Good luck with your up coming CT scan

Lee

[Steph20021]

I wonder why here in Ontario, we have to drink two cups of salty broth before and after the scan to protect our kidneys from the dye, but you guys don't have to?

[MissMolly]

Stephanie:'
The recommendation to drink a salty broth pre- and post- CY scan with oral contrast would have the benefit of facilitating the "flushing" of the contrast out of the body in a timely manner.

Individuals can and do have late effects to CT and MRI contrasts. The symptoms can be mild and annoying (headache, diarrhea) to more serious consequences (vascular leaking, aka subcutaneous capillar hemorrhage; moderate muscle and joint pain; flu-like sumptoms; body-wide rash).

I am very sensitive to the Omnipaque used for CT scans. I break out with thousands of pin point red spots on my torso (capillary leaking) that looks like miniature Chicken Pox. I have to have MD orders for prednisone and Benadryl pre contrast.

Your MDs are being proactive in minimizing potential after effects of the contrast medium. Give your MDs credit for caring to prevent any undue after CT miseries.
- K -

[LeonW]

My last two scans were *without* oral contrast!
When I asked, CT staff explained that technology has progressed to the stage where contrast is no longer required.
Only remaining requirement is empty bowels / no eating or other fluids other than water, prior to the scan.
Leon

Added in edit:
1) that my last scans were w/o oral contrast. While on the CT-table, IV contrast was applied, as usual)
2) interesting indeed, the differences noted by LPL, above . . .

[LPL]

Well.. It is Interesting how the instructions can differ.

I have felt, since reading here on Colon Club that maybe DH & I had not gotten correct info how to prepare for a CT?
No one has said to us "no food or drink x hours before"
Last time DH had a CT we had to leave our house very early (it is a 2hour drive) to get to the hospital for the CT Scan. So instead of having breakfast at home we brought a thermos with coffee and some sandwishes to eat in the waiting room when we had arrived.
Hubby had almost finished his breakfast (he was actually taking his last bite on the sandwich) when the nurse came and told him it was time.

Now I tried to find info if the instructions differ among countries? We live in France. I found this:
"Data from a multinational survey they conducted found that in the United States, most facilities require patients to fast 4 hours with regard to solids, and 2 to 4 hours for fluids. Interestingly, in Germany and France, there are no requirements for fasting for fluids or solids." http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/772026

Isn't this odd ??