CARDIOLOGY INSTRUCTIONS FOR SARCOID SCANS:

  • We will call you between 9am and 12pm the business day before your scan. It is required that we speak with you so that we can order your special medication for your scan.  If you miss our call, you must call us back before the end of the day. If we do not speak with you, we will not be able to perform your scan. 

  • Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment time.

  • If you have any questions about these instructions, please call our office at the number above.

  • Click here to print the instructions on this page. [English]

  • Haga clic aquí para imprimir las instrucciones de esta página. [Español]

How to Prepare Before Your Appointment

  • No strenuous exercise for 24 hours before you arrive.

  • Dress warmly with clothes that preferably do not have any metal or zippers. You will need to remove all jewelry and hearing aids before your scan. We have small trays to keep those belongings in the room with you while you are being scanned.

  • Please bring a Photo ID and your insurance cards with you.

Food and Drink

  • The goal is to deprive your body of carbohydrates (i.e. sugars) long enough so that your body is using other sources of energy for fuel.

  • One day before your appointment, start following a no carbohydrate and high fat/protein diet. You are only allowed to eat foods from our approved list. This list does change periodically, so please contact our office for the most up-to-date information. (see list below)

  • 16 hours before your appointment time, start fasting. This means no food or drinks at all other than water.

  • Drink 3 glasses of water at home before you arrive, unless this is against medical advice.

  • List of foods you CAN eat:

    • Non-breaded Protein: beef, chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, fish, shellfish, eggs.

    • Vegetables: broccoli, spinach, green beans

    • Condiments: oil, white vinegar, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder.

    • Beverages: water, black unsweetened coffee or unsweetened tea

Medications

  • Take your morning medications at home with plenty of water.

  • If you have diabetes, DO NOT take your diabetic medication as normal. Instead, please call the office at least 48 hours before your scan for specific instructions.

What to expect while you are here

  • You will be scanned two times, receiving an injection before each scan:

    • You will have a small IV placed, and receive a small dose of medication. There are no side effects to this medication, you will not feel any different after receiving your dose.

    • You will wait in a comfortable room for about 30 min followed by a 15 min scan on a machine that is similar to a CT scanner.

    • You will receive a second medication injection and wait for 90 minutes followed by a second 30 min scan.

  • Plan to be here for about 4 hours total.

Visitors

  • You may bring one visitor with you into the private patient room.

  • Pregnant women are not allowed in the private patient room.

  • Children under the age of 18 must wait in the waiting room with a guardian.