# I'm fasting for an ultrasound - can I have water? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 5, 2009, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-fasting-for-an-ultrasound-can-i-have-water/516366 "2009-11-05T01:00:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-fasting-for-an-ultrasound-can-i-have-water/516366/1 "2009-11-05T01:00:45Z")
After midnight, I mean. Will I turn into a Gremlin? I know I should ask my doctor’s office or the ultrasound place, but they’ve surely all gone home for the night. It’s my gallbladder getting sounded, and my doctor’s office just said “Are you okay for fasting after midnight?” She didn’t say anything about anything else. Can I have water in the morning, or should I take nothing at all? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-fasting-for-an-ultrasound-can-i-have-water/516366/2 "2009-11-05T01:26:49Z")
Normally you can have a couple sips of water to take your pills, if you take medication. IANAD, so I would bring along a bottle of water to the doctor. If they say okay, then you can quench your thirst before the procedure. Otherwise, wait until you’re done. ---
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-fasting-for-an-ultrasound-can-i-have-water/516366/3 "2009-11-05T01:45:51Z")
I’m not a doctor or ultrasound technician, but I think drinking water should be okay, especially if you pee regularly. I imagine the reason you’re fasting is so there’s no digesting food in your stomach and intestines to get in the way. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-fasting-for-an-ultrasound-can-i-have-water/516366/4 "2009-11-05T02:02:25Z")
> [@Electronic\_Chaos](#): > > I’m not a doctor or ultrasound technician, but I think drinking water should be okay, especially if you pee regularly. > > I imagine the reason you’re fasting is so there’s no digesting food in your stomach and intestines to get in the way. Actually, it’s to keep your gall bladder from contracting which it does almost any time you eat or drink anything. Especially anything with fats or oils which the bile helps you to digest. I would recommend against drinking anything, except enough sips to take any medications you may regularly be taking. USCDiver, MD ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-fasting-for-an-ultrasound-can-i-have-water/516366/5 "2009-11-05T03:08:01Z")
Okay, thanks. Wish they’d have been specific like that. It’s just annoying, because my appointment isn’t until 11 and I have to sit through half of Staff Ed Day first, where there’s all sorts of snacks and such - I thought I could at least have some water! Oh, well. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-fasting-for-an-ultrasound-can-i-have-water/516366/6 "2009-11-05T03:10:36Z")
Call and ask first thing in the morning. They may have different requirements depending on your sonographer. ---
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-fasting-for-an-ultrasound-can-i-have-water/516366/7 "2009-11-05T03:12:42Z")
I had an ultrasound to take a look at a couple of my internal organs a while back, and they told me not to eat or drink **anything**. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-fasting-for-an-ultrasound-can-i-have-water/516366/8 "2009-11-05T03:26:57Z")
> [@Todderbob](#): > > I had an ultrasound to take a look at a couple of my internal organs a while back, and they told me not to eat or drink **anything**. It can depend on what they’re looking at. I’m getting a uterine ultrasound next week, and I have to have a full bladder for the test. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-fasting-for-an-ultrasound-can-i-have-water/516366/9 "2009-11-05T03:34:57Z")
> [@USCDiver](#): > > Actually, it’s to keep your gall bladder from contracting which it does almost any time you eat or drink anything. Especially anything with fats or oils which the bile helps you to digest. I would recommend against drinking anything, except enough sips to take any medications you may regularly be taking. > > USCDiver, MD Well, I stand corrected. That makes sense, though. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-fasting-for-an-ultrasound-can-i-have-water/516366/10 "2009-11-06T00:57:45Z")
For the most part, medically, fasting means no food. Water doesn’t stimulate the gall bladder. I’ve assisted with gb ultrasounds and I’ve had one. Never have I seen a patient told not to drink water.