Ultrasound investigation is a very informative and sensitive event, which is based on the ability to reflect or absorb ultrasonic waves. Have you thought about whether you can drink water before an ultrasound of the kidneys or abdomen? The answer to this question depends on many factors, for example, the diagnosis, symptoms and even individual characteristics of the body. You will find more information in this article.
The importance of preparing for an ultrasound
Some people have heard that you need to drink water before an ultrasound, because this affects the quality of the study. Such a statement is partly correct, but it all depends on the organ under investigation and the diagnosis. Therefore, you must carefully listen to the recommendations of a medical specialist and be sure to follow them. In addition to limiting or increasing the drinking regimen, the patient should also take certain preparatory measures:
- adjustment of the regimen of medication;
- complete cleansing of the gastrointestinal tract;
- refusal of bad habits for a certain period;
- adherence to a special diet (if necessary).
As for the last point, the diet before abdominal ultrasound should fully comply with the recommendations that the attending physician has left for you. In some cases, it may not be prescribed at all, especially if a change in the diet can lead to a deterioration in the patient’s well-being. However, for preventive purposes, it does not hurt anyone to refuse dinner on the eve of an ultrasound scan. As for the question of whether to drink water before an ultrasound, it deserves special attention. In the next section, you will find comprehensive information on this subject.
Can I drink water before the procedure?
Many patients are wondering if it is possible to drink water before an ultrasound of the gastrointestinal tract. Experts unanimously answer: right before the procedure, you can’t drink water, but if it has time to go from the beginning to the end, then there is nothing to worry about. In about an hour and a half, the liquid will be completely absorbed by the intestines, and the ultrasound examination will be as accurate as possible. Although in some cases, the doctor may specifically ask the patient to drink water, especially when diagnosing the bladder. If the organ is filled with liquid, this will help simplify the visualization of the picture. In other cases, the restriction of the drinking regime is strictly mandatory.
Of course, no one forces a person to give up water at all, because dry mouth is not a pleasant phenomenon. Therefore, to prevent this from happening, it is recommended to properly saturate your body with liquid. Drink a few liters of water for three to four hours, so that it has time to be absorbed by the body and get into all organs. Also, be sure to drink a few glasses immediately before the study, in order to completely eliminate the likelihood that you will want to drink. If you follow this method, you can survive without drinking fluid for several hours.
Why can water interfere with research?
So, now you know a lot about whether it is possible to drink water with ultrasound of the stomach or other organ from the gastrointestinal tract. Compliance with the drinking regime is extremely important for normal research.
But why is drinking water immediately before the study strongly discouraged even in small quantities? You will find the answer to this question in the list below:
- The echogenicity of water is quite low, respectively, it cannot normally pass ultrasound and practically does not reflect it, which does not allow to consider certain areas of the diseased organ and find various neoplasms or inflammations.
- The flow of fluid into the stomach immediately leads to the beginning of the digestive process, and also activates the work of internal organs.
- When water enters the gastrointestinal tract, there is a process of increased gas formation in the intestine, and the gas, as you know, has a fairly high technogenicity.
- In some cases, fluid intake leads to intestinal cramps, which also complicates the research process and leads to unpleasant symptoms.
For these reasons, most doctors strongly do not recommend drinking almost any liquid before an ultrasound scan. Otherwise, water or the resulting gas may prevent the specialist from conducting a normal diagnosis. Therefore, try to refrain from drinking fluids for one and a half hours before visiting the clinic.
What about tea?
Many people know whether it is possible to drink water before an ultrasound scan of the intestines or not, but few people think about whether black or green tea is included in the prohibition category. In fact, this drink is even recommended before the ultrasound procedure, since it removes most inflammatory processes, eliminates bloating and relieves cramping.
However, lovers of too strong tea are advised to refrain from drinking it or reduce their concentration. The same goes for tea with lots of sugar. All this can lead to spasms of the biliary tract and intestines, so you should abandon the use of saturated drinks. The best option would be a cup of hot tea (black or green) with one spoon of honey or no honey at all.
Last tea consumption should occur one hour before the ultrasound scan. In addition, the maximum volume of drink should not exceed 250 milliliters, since too much tea can lead to inaccurate results of the study. It is also not recommended to drink too hot a drink, as this can provoke spasms of the intestines or stomach.
Harm coffee for ultrasound
Now it’s clear whether it is possible to drink water before an ultrasound of the stomach, as well as how useful it is to drink a cup of tea one hour before the study. However, many people might think that since drinking tea is of great benefit, the same goes for coffee, although this is far from the case. This drink is not recommended for drinking for two to three days before the ultrasound procedure. In the following list you will find a detailed description of why this drink is contraindicated:
- Firstly, caffeine significantly increases the tone of blood vessels, which complicates the procedure. Secondly, coffee relaxes the smooth walls of the stomach and intestines, which can lead to the accumulation of gases.
- Caffeine promotes the secretion of gastric juice, which interferes with a high-quality diagnosis of the internal organ, especially if the drink was drunk on the eve of the study.
- Under the influence of caffeine, the process of absorption of intestinal contents is also significantly complicated, due to which digestion slows down for several hours, or even days.
As you can see, coffee is strictly forbidden to drink for several days before the ultrasound examination. Even if you really want to drink a cup of an invigorating drink, you should refrain from this, otherwise the doctor will have to prescribe a study for you the next day.
Preparation for the procedure
Can I drink water before an ultrasound of the kidneys? Of course, but no later than an hour and a half before the study. However, if it is also planned to examine the bladder, the doctor will most likely ask you to drink a glass of water half an hour before the procedure. And what else is the preparation for such an event? For example, the fact that before ultrasound it is recommended to refrain from eating for twelve hours before the procedure. In addition, it is advisable to drink at least one liter of water within four to five hours so that the body does not need fluid.
If you plan to examine the intestines, then it is necessary to "empty" it by making an enema. Cleaning can also be achieved by taking various medications, but only those medications prescribed by a medical specialist are allowed. Otherwise, it can lead to a complication of the disease.
With regard to bad habits, it is strongly recommended to abstain from smoking for two days before the study. It is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol two to three days before the diagnosis, especially if it is planned to carry out an ultrasound of the liver. This can not only complicate the holding of this event, but also adversely affect the patient’s health.
Features of the procedure
People often ask doctors about whether it is possible to drink water before an ultrasound of the liver or kidneys, but such questions will not arise for someone who knows about the features of this procedure. For example, the diagnosis is carried out exclusively in the supine position, although in some cases the doctor may ask the patient to turn to his side. Sometimes it becomes necessary to hold your breath so that a specialist can get a more detailed picture of what is happening inside the body. Diagnosis itself is carried out using a special sensor and contrast medium.
Many modern clinics have ultrasound machines that show a three- or even four-dimensional image of what happens to organs under a layer of soft tissue. Of course, such procedures are more expensive, but they provide a more detailed picture for the correct diagnosis. After the diagnosis, the doctor will provide a transcript of the analysis, based on which the course of taking medications or the diet will be adjusted.
Do I need to follow a diet before an ultrasound?
A very popular question, especially among the fair sex, who are constantly trying to monitor their figure with a balanced diet. However, before an ultrasound, any patient is advised to refrain from consuming the following products:
- juices, fruits, and raw vegetables;
- spicy, fatty and fried foods;
- carbonated drinks and coffee;
- confectionery;
- fatty meats;
- black bread;
- milk.
All of these products are not recommended for use within three to four days before the study. However, it is possible that after the procedure, the doctor will prescribe you a special diet, which will have to be followed. Proper nutrition should be not only balanced, but also fractional, so that the body has time to digest those products that have come into it.
Some important nuances
Before you go for an ultrasound examination in a clinic, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with some of the nuances of the procedure, which can be very important for patients of a certain category. For example, patients who suffer from increased gas formation should take a short course of taking medications designed to combat this ailment. As a medicine, Espumisan, activated charcoal, or some imported analogue, which helps to get rid of bloating, is usually prescribed. All medicines should be prescribed by a specialist who sends the patient for ultrasound.
In chronic pancreatitis, which is usually characterized by digestive disorders, you should also take a course of taking enzyme preparations. Most often, doctors prescribe the following medicines: Mezim, Digestal, Festal and others. They contribute not only to the normalization of the digestion process, but also to get rid of toxins. As in the previous case, all drugs should be prescribed by a qualified specialist. Otherwise, self-medication can lead to the inability to diagnose or distort the results of the study.
A few words in conclusion
Now it’s clear whether it is possible to drink water before an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity. Below is a short video in which a medical specialist talks about many of the nuances associated with this study. It also mentions the features of the procedure, so if your doctor has recently prescribed you an ultrasound, it is recommended that you watch this video until the end.
As you can see, preparation for an ultrasound procedure is very important for the results of the study. Particular attention should be paid to abstaining from the use of any liquid for one and a half hours before the procedure. However, in some cases, the doctor may intentionally ask you to drink a glass of water, for example, to examine the bladder in more detail. A mug of hot tea, drunk a few hours before an ultrasound scan, can even be very useful. In addition, the patient should also clear the intestines of toxins and refrain from eating junk food. If you follow all these recommendations, the results of the procedure will be as accurate as possible.