PET Scan Prep
 

I just got back to Boston today after an 8 day trip. I'm having a PET/CT scan tomorrow morning. I forgot to go pick up the information sheet on how to prepare for it. I looked for one online. My hospital has an alleged link to the instructions, but it is empty.

So then I went out to the Intertubes, and boy did I find a lot of variation! How long to avoid carbs, whether or not you can have caffeine or alcohol, whether or not you can exercise, what kind of exercise--LOTS of variation.

My hospital prohibits all veggies, but after reading a number of other sets of instructions I figure they just don't trust me to avoid a short list of starchy and/or sweet ones. I can't remember if it's just dinner the night before or 24 hours before that they want me to avoid carbs, so I'm making it 24 hours.

The big difference is I distinctly remember being told to have a high protein, high fat dinner. (In the past I've had bacon and pork chops). None of the other cancer centers that posted instructions said anything about "high fat."

How about you? What have you been told to do to be ready for a good PET scan?

Re: PET Scan Prep
 

I just came from having a PET scan. They told me to avoid breads, pastas, potatoes for 24 hours beforehand (and to have a high protien diet). So, for dinner last night, I had chicken breast and broccoli. For lunch, I had eggs and sausage. I skipped my exercise class yesterday (said not to exercise for 24 hours...I have been told in the past that light exercise such as walking is okay). Nobody has ever told me not to have alcohol, so I did not skip my nightly glass of wine last night. And they also told me to drink lots of water prior to and after the scan (I think to help flush the radioactive stuff out of my system). Hope this helps.

Re: PET Scan Prep
 

Thanks, Colleen.

I was reading your signature. That's quite a history. Any updates since August 2011?