(403) 527-7334

EXAM PREPARATION

Proper exam preparation helps us take the best possible images for diagnosis. In fact, some exams may need to be rescheduled if not properly prepared for.

Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time to help us stay on schedule.

Some exams have specific preparation requirements which can be be found below.  If you're still not sure call us at 403-527-7334, or 403-794-4330 if your appointment is in Brooks

ULTRASOUND

Pelvic (Uterus and Ovaries) – FULL Bladder is Needed

  • Drink and eat normally throughout the day.
  • Empty bladder 1.5 hours before exam.
  • Within the next 15 minutes, drink and FINISH, four (4) 8 oz.  glasses of water. (1000 mL)
  • Do not drink any other liquids.
  • Do not empty bladder.
  • If the bladder is not full the examination will be rescheduled.

Renal (Kidneys and Bladder) – FULL Bladder is Needed

  • Drink and eat normally throughout the day.
  • Empty bladder 1.5 hours before exam.
  • Within the next 15 minutes, drink and FINISH, four (4) 8 oz. glasses of water. (1000 mL)
  • Do not drink any other liquids.
  • Do not empty bladder.
  • If the bladder is not full the examination will be rescheduled.

Obstetrical (Pregnancy) – FULL Bladder is Needed

  • Drink and eat normally throughout the day.
  • Empty bladder 1.5 hours before exam.
  • Within the next 15 minutes, drink and FINISH, four (4) 8 oz. glasses of water. (1000 mL)
  • Do not drink any other liquids.
  • Do not empty bladder.
  • If the bladder is not full, the examination will be rescheduled.

Abdomen – Fasting is required

  • The evening before your exam, eat a low-fat supper. You may have a fat-free snack after supper but do not eat or drink anything other than water after midnight.
  • 30 minutes prior to your exam, drink and FINISH, two (2) 8 oz. glasses of water. (500 mL)  (This gets rid of gas in the bowel that builds up while you sleep).
  • Do not drink any other liquid.
  • You may use the washroom, since a full bladder is not required.
  • If you eat anything before the exam, it will be rescheduled.

Renal Duplex Doppler Ultrasound – An EMPTY Bladder is Required

  • The evening before your exam eat a low fat supper. You may have a fat-free snack after supper, but do not eat anything 12 hours before your exam.
  • You may have a glass of water in the morning.
  • You are able to take AM medications
  • If you eat before the exam it will be rescheduled.

Combination exams:

Abdomen/Pelvic, or Abdomen/Pelvic/Renal, or Abdomen/Renal – Fasting AND a FULL Bladder is Needed

  • The evening before your exam, eat a low-fat supper. You may have a fat-free snack after supper but do not eat or drink anything other than water after midnight.
  • On the morning of your exam, empty your bladder 1 ½ hours before the exam.
  • Within the next 15 minutes, drink and FINISH, four (4) 8 oz. glasses of water. (1000 mL)
  • Do not drink any other liquid.
  • Do not empty the bladder.
  • If the bladder is not full, the examination will be rescheduled.

Other Ultrasound Examinations (Breast, Scrotal, Carotid Doppler, Thyroid, Venous Doppler, and Musculoskeletal), do not require any preparation.

Pelvic (Uterus and Ovaries) or Renal (Kidneys and Bladder) – FULL Bladder is Preferred

  • Under 2 years of age – No preparation is necessary
  • 2-6 years of age
    • Eat and drink normally throughout the day.
    • One hour before the appointment, drink and Finish one (1) 8 oz. glass of water. (250 mL)
    • Do not drink any other liquid.
    • Try not to empty the bladder, as this makes for a clearer image.
  • 7-14 years of age
    • Eat and drink normally throughout the day.
    • One hour before the appointment, drink and Finish two (2) 8 oz. glasses of water. (500 mL)
    • Do not drink any other liquid.
    • Try not to empty the bladder, as this makes for a clearer image.

Abdomen – Fasting is required

  • Under 2 years of age – No preparation is necessary
  • 2-14 years of age
    • The evening before the exam, provide a low-fat supper. Your child may have a fat-free snack after supper but do not eat or drink anything other than water after 11:00pm.
    • 30 minutes prior to exam, drink and finish one (1) 8 oz. glass of water. (250 mL)
    • Do not drink any other liquid.
    • They may use the washroom, since a full bladder is not required.

Abdomen/Renal or Abdomen/Pelvic – Fasting AND a FULL Bladder is Preferred

  • Under 2 years of age – No preparation is necessary
  • 2-6 years of age
    • The evening before the exam, provide a low-fat supper. Your child may have a fat-free snack after supper but do not eat or drink anything other than water after 11:00pm.
    • On the morning of the exam, empty the bladder 1 hour before the exam.
    • Within the next 15 minutes, drink and finish one (1) 8 oz. glass of water. (250 mL)
    • Do not drink any other liquid.
    • Try not to empty the bladder, as this makes for a clearer image.
  • 7-14 years of age
    • The evening before the exam, provide a low-fat supper. Your child may have a fat-free snack after supper but do not eat or drink anything other than water after 11:00pm.
    • On the morning of the exam, empty the bladder 1 hour before the exam.
    • Within the next 15 minutes, drink and finish, two (2) 8 oz. glasses of water. (500 mL)
    • Do not drink any other liquid.
    • Try not to empty the bladder, as this makes for a clearer image.

PAIN MANAGEMENT

Medications – Prior to your appointment, decrease any pain medications you may be taking regularly to allow enough discomfort to verify if the procedure has been successful in relieving your symptoms.

For epidural procedures please discontinue the use of anticoagulation drugs (including ASA) for 7 days prior to the day of your scheduled appointment. As well suspend use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for 3 days.
Patients receiving any corticosteroid injection must be infection free and have completed any course of antibiotics 1 week prior to injection.
Please schedule all pain management appointments either two weeks before or after any vaccine appointment.
Two weeks before epidural appointments, a nurse will contact you to ensure that you are aware of all necessary restrictions. For any questions or concerns, our team is available any time Monday to Friday from 7:30am to 4:00pm to ensure you are prepared for your exam.
Transportation – If you are having an epidural, or an injection involving the neck or head, we require you to arrange for transportation. Driving is not permitted for 4-8 hours following these procedures due to the potential for numbness in limbs. Your appointment will be rescheduled if a driver is not present at the time of your appointment. Alternatively, public transportation may be utilized, if necessary.

MAMMOGRAPHY

On the day of your exam, please wash off all deodorant, powders or lotions from under your arms and across the chest.

The ideal time to perform a mammogram on women who have menstrual cycles is seven (7) to ten (10) days after the onset of their period, since the breasts will be less tender.

If able, please refrain from caffeine for 24-48 hours prior to your exam – this will make the exam more comfortable for you.

BONE DENSITOMETRY

Please come prepared with a list of your current medications.

Please allow 7 days after all Nuclear Medicine and Barium Studies.

Upon arrival, you will need to change into a patient gown, a private changing room is provided.

PLEASE NOTE: AHS will only pay for one Bone Density exam every 2 years, if you had an exam at another facility within the last 2 years please reschedule your appointment or you may have to pay for the exam.

GENERAL RADIOLOGY (X-Ray)

If a requisition was given to you by your primary care provider, you must bring it with you.

Children cannot be left unattended in our clinic, please arrange child care should you need it.

DEXA BODY COMPOSITION ANALYSIS

  • Avoid taking calcium and iron supplements on the day of the exam.
  • Please remove any jewelry and external medical devices (e.g., Insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors) if possible. If they cannot be removed, the effect on the results will be minimal.
  • We can still do your exam if you have artificial limb replacements or other surgical hardware.
  • Do not have Nuclear Medicine exams, or any CT or MRI exams where IV contrast was used within 1 week of the DEXA Scan. Those exams will interfere with the results of your DEXA scan. If you have, please call us to reschedule.

Do not have a barium exam within 2 weeks of the DEXA Scan. Those exams will interfere with the results of your DEXA scan. If you have, please call us to reschedule.