Ultrasound???

[SClementson]

Hi all - I've been lurking for a long time on this board and have never posted until today. I found out today that I have to have an ultrasound (no, I'm not pregnant!). I've never had one before, and I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who's had one, regardless of the reason. I'm nervous about it, (for several reasons) and I just need to know what to expect.

Thanks in advance
Sarah

[slknight]

Sarah,

It depends a little bit what you're having the ultrasound for. You don't need to share, but let's just say they do different types for different problems. During a regular ultrasound, they put a jelly on your stomach (or wherever they are trying to look) and rub the ultrasound wand on it. It is very painless, although the jelly can be kind of cold. Depending on what they are trying to see, they could do a vaginal ultrasound. *Blush* Let's just say they insert a wand to get a better picture. I found this to be uncomfortable, but mainly because I was very nervous and didn't know what was going to happen.

Five years ago, I had both an abdominal and vaginal ultrasound to diagnose an ovarian tumor. Last year I also had both to diagnose a failed pregnancy. The situations were bad in both cases, but the vaginal ultrasound was not as bad the second time because I knew what to expect. The first time, I was like "You're going to do what with that???!!!"

Good luck, and try to relax.

-Susan


[This message has been edited by slknight (edited 04-26-2001).]

[SusanT]

I had an ultrasound for a suspicious mass a few years ago. It's a completely painless procedure. Like the other poster said, they put some jelly on and wag the wand around. I talked to the radiologist a few minutes later and discussed the results.

The hardest part is waiting for diagnosis. Hope it goes well for you.

[Grace]

I've just gone through a whole bunch of infertility treatments, and was getting the "internal" ultrasounds every week. They were mildly "uncomfortable" to me, because I have large fibroids and that wand thing would rub up against them, and it would be somewhat uncomfortable (but not painful). If I didn't have the fibroids, though, it would have been no problem whatsoever. Don't worry at all. Getting your blood pressure taken or blood taken is WAY worse in my opinion (blood pressure because that cuff squeezes so hard, and blood taken, well, because ANYTHING that involves a needle is horrible to me!). You have absolutely nothing to fear or worry about (from the test, anyway). Kind of like getting your temperature taken. Hope everything turns out well for you.

[SClementson]

Susan (slknight), thanks so much for your reply - I hope after all that you're doing well now. I appreciate the details you gave me. I think I'm getting an abdominal one (I just found out today, and I'll be getting information in the mail in a couple of days - I hope!). My doctor asked for it because I've been having some weird symptoms and he doesn't know yet what's going on. I think most of my nervousness is coming from the fear of the unknown - both the test itself and not knowing what it will turn up.

SusanT and Grace, thanks to you too, for your info. Do any of you remember having to drink a lot of water before the test? My mom says that was the hardest part for her!

Thanks again. It's wonderful to be able to log on and ask questions like this, and know that you all are out there, willing to help. I feel so much better already!

Sarah

[funnybone]

Drinking lots of water is required when you are pregnant, but I am not sure if it is required for other ultrasounds. It was diffucult not to empty you bladder when necessary - it was a relief oce I could. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

By the way, welcome to the board!!

[funnybone]

Oops, just noticed it was a double post. Must have been when this board was going down again.

[This message has been edited by funnybone (edited 04-27-2001).]

[SusieO]

I had an ultrasound a couple of years ago after I discovered a lump in my left breast (at age 29) and the mammogram didn't show anything. Just a cyst; I think ultrasound is fairly common for these. I recall that it was not unpleasant. The jelly was a little cold, as Susan said, but otherwise it was painless. Now, the mammogram on the other hand, OUCH! Glad I won't have to do that again for a few years.

I hope everything turns out well for you.

[mb]

for the 2 OB ultrasounds I've had so far, they told me to drink 32 oz of fluids in the hour before my appointment. when you are pregnant, this is especially difficult, since you already have to pee so much!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif i asked why this 'torture' was necessary - i thought maybe the increased fluid volume somehow helped carry the ultrasound's sound waves better...??? they said you need to fill your bladder so that they can see your cervix. after they saw that and got the info they needed, i was allowed to use the restroom, and then we continued to look at the baby! good luck! hope it's nothing serious!!

[Sara Emily]

I had a vaginal ultrasound last year (NOT for pregnancy!), and had to drink the massive amount of water anyway which, they said, enables them to get a better picture. Other than that, it was a breeze! I pray your results turn out as well as mine.

[SClementson]

Thanks everyone, for all the info. and your good wishes. I tried posting another reply yesterday and never could get back on the board. I wanted to clarify that I've been posting on the Great Food board for some time, but this is my first foray onto the Healthy Living side.

I'm sure not looking forward to the water torture part of all this! I think I have the world's smallest bladder - AND I drink tons of water everyday. Needless to say it makes my day that much more interesting! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Thanks again!
Sarah

[Susann]

Sarah-I have had about a jazillion (ok, slight exaggeration!) ultrasounds done in the last 10 months. It is really painless and the good part is (if it doesn't gross you out)you can see what everything looks like internally. Good luck!

[KarenW]

3 weeks ago, my doctor had asked me to get both pelvic and abdominal ultrasounds because I have alot of bloating and my abdomen gets unusually distended. I was required to fast (which really only meant no breakfast until after the test). An hour and a half before the test, I had to drink 36 oz of water so my bladder was full when I arrived. The other postings pretty much describe the process. They put some gel on your pelvis and abdomen and rub this thing over you. The pelvic was slightly uncomfortable (not painful though) because of the full bladder and her pressing on me. Once we had finished that part, she let me go to the bathroom before finishing the test. During both the abdominal and pelvics, she had me turning on my side and leaning over a little so she could get a good view of all the internal organs. I hadn't been scheduled for the internal (vaginal) ultrasound, so I was a little surprised when she pulled out the "magic wand" and explained the procedure. While it was not fun, it was definitely better than the annual gyn exam & pap. I think the wand looked scarier than anything...it looks really big!! At the end, she was kind enough to tell me she hadn't found anything unusual. This was especially helpful since when I called my doctor to get the results and talk about next steps I was told the doctor was on vacation and I would have to call back in 2 weeks to discuss. Grrrr....especially since there are 4 other doctors in that practice. You'd think they could have at least told me I wasn't going to die. Especially since the ultrasound was to rule out ovarian issues since the bloating is a sympton of ovarian cancer. Hope your test goes well. I was apprehensive before mine, but it was really a very simple procedure.

[KristaMB]

Sarah~I just wanted to second what Karen said about the "magic wand." While it looks quite scary, it wasn't nearly as bad as my annual exam.

Also, unless your doctor has mentioned to you that you need to drink a lot of water, you may not have to. For both of my pregnancy related ultrasounds, I wasn't told to drink a specific amount of water. For the last one, I even called to double check. Maybe you'll get as lucky as I did and not have to worry about that part of it.

Good luck!

~Krista

[BosunsWife]

Krista, I want to know who your doctor was for your pregnancy! That was the worst part of being preggers. Since I was "ahem" an older mom, I was subjected (by choice) to ultrasounds and amnio. When I had the amnio done at 5 months, I had to have a full bladder and I thought I was going to wet on the table LOL! Then they told me I could go and let some out before continuing the amnio part (after the ultrasound). Yeah, right telling a five month pregnant woman she can partially empty her bladder - what a joke!

Good luck, ultrasounds aren't bad, just the full bladder part!

[KristaMB]

BonusWife, I know I got lucky! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif After reading these posts I'm feeling really fortunate that I escaped that torture. Everybody has been so shocked that I got to skip the water part. I only know of one other person who got to skip it. When I called to see about the water, she said, "No, the ultrasound won't require that."

I hope to share my good fortune with the rest of you needing ultrasounds. Maybe you can have your doctors call mine, and she can talk them out of the water requirement! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

~Krista