ISO: Information on PET Scans

[lisalee]

Good morning!
I am scheduled to have a PET Scan done on Friday and am getting to be a little nervous about the whole thing. Has anyone gone through one of these? What can you tell me about it? I'm going to call back the radiology department and ask some questions today, but wanted to know if anyone had experienced one.

I think I'm more nervous about the results it may show than the actual test, but the more I know the better prepared I will be. :(

Thanks
Lisa

[karen w]

Hi Lisa,
I can't answer your question at the moment, but I will try to gather up some info. for you and get back to you this evening. DH is a radiologist whose specialty is nuclear medicine/PET.

Hang in there,
Karen

[lisalee]

Thanks Karen!

[wallycat]

Best to you.
I only know what I remember from GE.
Positron Emission tomography..
machine looks like the MRI machines.
You're injected with a radioactive dye...
To the patient, it is very similar to a CT or MRI exam in terms of machines.

Wishing all turns out well.

[SandyM]

Hi Lisa,

My sister had a PET scan 2-3 years ago, along with CT scans, bone scans, etc. She said (as Ana mentioned) they were all pretty similar, but the PET scan took longer (the test itself).

In her opinion, the waiting was worse than the scan itself.

I'm sorry you have to go through this. :( My thoughts are with you.

[zippy478]

Hi Lisa,

My father went through many PET scans in the recent years. The only thing I really remember about them was how he hated the length of it (I think it took close to 2 hours) and how he had to stay completely still during it. The waiting after for the results was tough, too.

My thoughts are with you, too. Hope everything turns out okay for you.
Maura

[lisalee]

Thanks for the replies ladies! I also talked to the person who will be giving me the test and he helped a lot. He actually said the test wouldn't take too long based on my height and weight. I think it is just the anticipation leading up to the test, and the results coming back. I'm sure I will share the results on the board somewhere after I have processed them.

Unitl then it is just one day at a time. . . . .

Lisa

[karen w]

Talked to DH tonight about PET scans, Lisa. His opinion is that it is more similar to a CT scan than an MRI i.e. not quite as "claustrophopic" a test. His description was that it is a cross between a bone scan and a CT scan, if that is any help to you(or perhaps, it's as clear as mud now???) And as opposed to the MRI where you don't move, for the PET scan you are slowly advanced through the "donut" of the machine ~ every 10 min. as the machine takes pictures.

Sending good thoughts your way for an easy test!

Karen