Re: Looking for answers re: ultrasound

March 3, 2001

Hi, I had an ultrasound done a couple of weeks ago and they didn't tell me to

have my bladder full. Perhaps the way they do the procedure nowadays has

changed. The examination was over before I knew it and there was nothing to

it.

Kir

March 3, 2001

Hi, I had an ultrasound done a couple of weeks ago and they didn't tell me to

have my bladder full. Perhaps the way they do the procedure nowadays has

changed. The examination was over before I knew it and there was nothing to

it.

Kir

March 3, 2001

Sorry. Ultrasound still requires a full bladder. You should not avoid this

necessary diagnostic test. When I get to the radiologist's office I remind

the receptionist that I have a full bladder because I am having ultra sound

and I insist on going first. I even say, " I am about to burst. " Also discuss

your concerns with the technician. Perhaps if you are that concerned about

peeing on yourself you should bring Depends and place them underneath you on

the table.

I know it is uncomfortable but don't avoid it. Ultrasound is necessary. Good

luck to you.

March 3, 2001

Sorry. Ultrasound still requires a full bladder. You should not avoid this

necessary diagnostic test. When I get to the radiologist's office I remind

the receptionist that I have a full bladder because I am having ultra sound

and I insist on going first. I even say, " I am about to burst. " Also discuss

your concerns with the technician. Perhaps if you are that concerned about

peeing on yourself you should bring Depends and place them underneath you on

the table.

I know it is uncomfortable but don't avoid it. Ultrasound is necessary. Good

luck to you.

March 3, 2001

Dawn, I just had transvaginal ultrasound this week and they made me empty my

bladder before they started. The procedure wasn't bad, except when she

tried to move my fibroid out of the way to see if she could find my left

ovary. I had expected that they would run something over my stomach

like you see in all the tv shows when they do ultrasounds for

pregnancies, so I was startled that it was a vaginal and even more so

when I saw the probe until the technician told me they don't use the

whole length.

On another note, I'm very glad I found this mailing list. The

technician at my ultrasound Wednesday diagnosed me with " a big honkin

fibroid " , but I haven't been back to see my doctor yet, so I don't know

exactly how big it is or what we are going to do about it. It's very

nice to know there are others out there to talk to about it.

-

March 3, 2001

Dawn, I just had transvaginal ultrasound this week and they made me empty my

bladder before they started. The procedure wasn't bad, except when she

tried to move my fibroid out of the way to see if she could find my left

ovary. I had expected that they would run something over my stomach

like you see in all the tv shows when they do ultrasounds for

pregnancies, so I was startled that it was a vaginal and even more so

when I saw the probe until the technician told me they don't use the

whole length.

On another note, I'm very glad I found this mailing list. The

technician at my ultrasound Wednesday diagnosed me with " a big honkin

fibroid " , but I haven't been back to see my doctor yet, so I don't know

exactly how big it is or what we are going to do about it. It's very

nice to know there are others out there to talk to about it.

-

March 3, 2001

In a message dated 01-03-03 08:49:58 EST, you write:

<< Sorry. Ultrasound still requires a full bladder. You should not avoid this

necessary diagnostic test. When I get to the radiologist's office I remind

the receptionist that I have a full bladder because I am having ultra sound

and I insist on going first. I even say, " I am about to burst. " Also discuss

your concerns with the technician. Perhaps if you are that concerned about

peeing on yourself you should bring Depends and place them underneath you on

the table.

I know it is uncomfortable but don't avoid it. Ultrasound is necessary. Good

luck to you.

>>

I think it depends on what they're scanning and how. I've had transabdominal

ultrasounds for my fibroids, and didn't have to have full bladder. They even

asked me if I wanted to go to the bathroom first.

March 3, 2001

In a message dated 01-03-03 08:49:58 EST, you write:

<< Sorry. Ultrasound still requires a full bladder. You should not avoid this

necessary diagnostic test. When I get to the radiologist's office I remind

the receptionist that I have a full bladder because I am having ultra sound

and I insist on going first. I even say, " I am about to burst. " Also discuss

your concerns with the technician. Perhaps if you are that concerned about

peeing on yourself you should bring Depends and place them underneath you on

the table.

I know it is uncomfortable but don't avoid it. Ultrasound is necessary. Good

luck to you.

>>

I think it depends on what they're scanning and how. I've had transabdominal

ultrasounds for my fibroids, and didn't have to have full bladder. They even

asked me if I wanted to go to the bathroom first.

March 3, 2001

A trans-vaginal ultrasound does not require a full bladder - in fact, it

requires an empty one. The only down-side to this procedure is that one's

modesty is not preserved. The technician uses a long probe (outfitted with

a condom, no less!) placed inside the vagina and he/she must move it around

a lot to get the best views of ovaries & fibroids. Difficult to make

" small-talk " under these circumstances...

Cori

Re: Looking for answers re: ultrasound

Sorry. Ultrasound still requires a full bladder. You should not avoid this

necessary diagnostic test. When I get to the radiologist's office I remind

the receptionist that I have a full bladder because I am having ultra sound

and I insist on going first. I even say, " I am about to burst. " Also discuss

your concerns with the technician. Perhaps if you are that concerned about

peeing on yourself you should bring Depends and place them underneath you on

the table.

I know it is uncomfortable but don't avoid it. Ultrasound is necessary. Good

luck to you.

March 3, 2001

A trans-vaginal ultrasound does not require a full bladder - in fact, it

requires an empty one. The only down-side to this procedure is that one's

modesty is not preserved. The technician uses a long probe (outfitted with

a condom, no less!) placed inside the vagina and he/she must move it around

a lot to get the best views of ovaries & fibroids. Difficult to make

" small-talk " under these circumstances...

Cori

Re: Looking for answers re: ultrasound

Sorry. Ultrasound still requires a full bladder. You should not avoid this

necessary diagnostic test. When I get to the radiologist's office I remind

the receptionist that I have a full bladder because I am having ultra sound

and I insist on going first. I even say, " I am about to burst. " Also discuss

your concerns with the technician. Perhaps if you are that concerned about

peeing on yourself you should bring Depends and place them underneath you on

the table.

I know it is uncomfortable but don't avoid it. Ultrasound is necessary. Good

luck to you.

March 3, 2001

> A trans-vaginal ultrasound does not require a full bladder - in

fact, it

> requires an empty one. The only down-side to this procedure is

that one's

> modesty is not preserved. The technician uses a long probe

(outfitted with

> a condom, no less!) placed inside the vagina and he/she must move

it around

> a lot to get the best views of ovaries & fibroids. Difficult to

make

> " small-talk " under these circumstances...

>

> Cori

I agree with Cori about the lack of modesty with the vaginal

ultrasound but it also gives a better picture of whats going on. Its

not painful at all and does not require the full bladder. I had mine

done at a medical center. I don't know if most gynecologists have

this equipment.

>

> Re: Looking for answers re: ultrasound

>

> Sorry. Ultrasound still requires a full bladder. You should not

avoid this

> necessary diagnostic test. When I get to the radiologist's office I

remind

> the receptionist that I have a full bladder because I am having

ultra sound

> and I insist on going first. I even say, " I am about to burst. "

Also discuss

> your concerns with the technician. Perhaps if you are that

concerned about

> peeing on yourself you should bring Depends and place them

underneath you on

> the table.

>

> I know it is uncomfortable but don't avoid it. Ultrasound is

necessary. Good

> luck to you.

>

March 3, 2001

> A trans-vaginal ultrasound does not require a full bladder - in

fact, it

> requires an empty one. The only down-side to this procedure is

that one's

> modesty is not preserved. The technician uses a long probe

(outfitted with

> a condom, no less!) placed inside the vagina and he/she must move

it around

> a lot to get the best views of ovaries & fibroids. Difficult to

make

> " small-talk " under these circumstances...

>

> Cori

I agree with Cori about the lack of modesty with the vaginal

ultrasound but it also gives a better picture of whats going on. Its

not painful at all and does not require the full bladder. I had mine

done at a medical center. I don't know if most gynecologists have

this equipment.

>

> Re: Looking for answers re: ultrasound

>

> Sorry. Ultrasound still requires a full bladder. You should not

avoid this

> necessary diagnostic test. When I get to the radiologist's office I

remind

> the receptionist that I have a full bladder because I am having

ultra sound

> and I insist on going first. I even say, " I am about to burst. "

Also discuss

> your concerns with the technician. Perhaps if you are that

concerned about

> peeing on yourself you should bring Depends and place them

underneath you on

> the table.

>

> I know it is uncomfortable but don't avoid it. Ultrasound is

necessary. Good

> luck to you.

>

March 3, 2001

Dawn,

I had an abdominal ultrasound 3 weeks ago. I only had to drink a quart of

water starting one hour before the procedure. I was surprised that it

wasn't that bad at all.

Then I was able to empty my bladder and have the vaginal ultrasound which

was painless. I had a male technician with a radiology nurse in the room. I

was fully draped and he let me insert the probe, then took over. We all

talked during the procedure and it was fine, really!

Good Luck

Anita

Looking for answers re: ultrasound

> Hi,

> I'm Dawn and have been lurking on this list for awhile to find out more

> about fibriods and different treatments. I have researched Endometrial

> Ablation and that sounds like a viable alternative for me and after years

of

> very heavy periods (I'm 47), it seems like a dream come true that there

> would be procedure that could leave my uterus intact yet still decrease

the

> heavy bleeding. I have not actually been diagnosed with fibroids because

my

> biggest fear at this point, believe it or not, is the ultrasound... I know

> that sounds crazy, but I had an ultrasound 20 years ago and had to have my

> bladder so full that it was painful and I was petrified that I was going

to

> wet the table while the technician was doing the procedure. She allowed

me

> to go to the bathroom a few times but only to relieve " some " of the

> discomfort not to completely empty it. So I'm wondering if they have

> improved the ultrasound procedure enough that you don't need to have your

> bladder that full... .

>

> Dawn

>

March 3, 2001

Dawn,

You poor thing!!! A full bladder is requested for an abdominal ultrasound

but not a transvaginal ultrasound. I never drank the entire required amount

of water that was suggested (I got too full) and during the ultrasound the

tech mentioned that my bladder was not full but she had no problem doing the

scan.

Request a vaginal ultrasound only if this worries you still. Having an

ultrasound should be painless and relatively easy. It's nerve wracking in

and of itself having to have these scans done to note new fibroid growth and

worrying about peeing shouldn't be a part of it!

Amy

March 3, 2001

--- Poppet wrote:

>

> Dawn, I just had transvaginal ultrasound this week

> and they made me empty my

> bladder before they started. The procedure wasn't

> bad, except when she

> tried to move my fibroid out of the way to see if

> she could find my left

> ovary. I had expected that they would run something

> over my stomach

> like you see in all the tv shows when they do

> ultrasounds for

> pregnancies, so I was startled that it was a vaginal

> and even more so

> when I saw the probe until the technician told me

> they don't use the

> whole length.

>

> On another note, I'm very glad I found this mailing

> list. The

> technician at my ultrasound Wednesday diagnosed me

> with " a big honkin

> fibroid " , but I haven't been back to see my doctor

> yet, so I don't know

> exactly how big it is or what we are going to do

> about it. It's very

> nice to know there are others out there to talk to

> about it.

>

> -

>

Dawn &

Last year in May my ultrasound found 2 large

fibroids, they didn't start heavy bleeding till Dec

of

same year. What really made my abdomin get huge was

this shot called depo-provera. I later learned at the

website fibroids.net that depo-provera and provera

actually cause the fibroid to grow. It only slowed

down

the bleeding, which was helpful to my blood

hemoglobin.

I was getting up 3 and 4 X at night to pee, making the

following day so hard. I ended up staying home from

work taking naps. I found info at different websites

and had an UAE on Feb 13,2001. and I'm OK. Doc said

my bladder will be back to normal few more weeks.

the Doctor was so nice. If you need to know more I'd

be happy to give you more info.

In the meantime you just got to read this book titled

" What your doctor may not tell you about premenopause "

by Dr. JOHN LEE. Even if you are younger than 30

you should read it, due to the fact you have fibroids.

__________________________________________________

March 3, 2001

--- Poppet wrote:

>

> Dawn, I just had transvaginal ultrasound this week

> and they made me empty my

> bladder before they started. The procedure wasn't

> bad, except when she

> tried to move my fibroid out of the way to see if

> she could find my left

> ovary. I had expected that they would run something

> over my stomach

> like you see in all the tv shows when they do

> ultrasounds for

> pregnancies, so I was startled that it was a vaginal

> and even more so

> when I saw the probe until the technician told me

> they don't use the

> whole length.

>

> On another note, I'm very glad I found this mailing

> list. The

> technician at my ultrasound Wednesday diagnosed me

> with " a big honkin

> fibroid " , but I haven't been back to see my doctor

> yet, so I don't know

> exactly how big it is or what we are going to do

> about it. It's very

> nice to know there are others out there to talk to

> about it.

>

> -

>

Dawn &

Last year in May my ultrasound found 2 large

fibroids, they didn't start heavy bleeding till Dec

of

same year. What really made my abdomin get huge was

this shot called depo-provera. I later learned at the

website fibroids.net that depo-provera and provera

actually cause the fibroid to grow. It only slowed

down

the bleeding, which was helpful to my blood

hemoglobin.

I was getting up 3 and 4 X at night to pee, making the

following day so hard. I ended up staying home from

work taking naps. I found info at different websites

and had an UAE on Feb 13,2001. and I'm OK. Doc said

my bladder will be back to normal few more weeks.

the Doctor was so nice. If you need to know more I'd

be happy to give you more info.

In the meantime you just got to read this book titled

" What your doctor may not tell you about premenopause "

by Dr. JOHN LEE. Even if you are younger than 30

you should read it, due to the fact you have fibroids.

__________________________________________________

March 3, 2001

Thanks for the news. I'll have to ask my radiologist to get this new

equipment.

March 3, 2001

--

OK I had to laugh out loud " Big honkin' fibroid " cracked me up, though I

was NOT laughing on wed. after my second vaginal probe. Seems I have

something(s) too and after a bout with cervical cancer 17 years ago and

my gradnmother dying of uterine cancer (when they used to place cobalt

in her!) I am totally freakin' -- sort of. This group and some

knowledge about mostly benign turmors/fibroids and other internet-

middle of the night excursions to the computer- have me a bit more

rational. A friend just had a polyp removed after losing 1/3 of her

blood! So, I don't feel too awful.

My story is that my FSHlevels are within normal (I'll be 50 in May) and

my period just stopped for 4 months until 3 days after my first

ultrasound and vaginal probe (for the men in my life I described THAT

as a pool cue to the gonads-- hunting for the elusive ovaries!)

I was lucky my sonographer (same one both times) told me the next dye

injected test coming up was " not too bad " as she had had one herself--

and I wonder if anyone else could be a bit more descriptive.

Friends have said the sonographer should nothave said anything--

unprofessional I said, " Yea, right. I should wait for two male doctors

who have never had the procedures done to just tell me where and when to

show up! I would much rather hear it from a woman.

That's it for now. Reassurance would be great. Honesty better, both

appreciated.

Lucy

March 3, 2001

Dawn, There is also the option of having an MRI instead, though the cost is

more, maybe you can ask your doctor about that option. I've had a pelvic

and transvaginal U/S, and also MRI's. For the U/S they may start out with a

pelvic outside your uterus and then do a transvaginal with the tranducer

inside your uterus, with an empty bladder, as I think Cori mentioned. You

may ask your doctor specifically what they were ordering. They can order

one way or the other or both. A pelvic U/S was ordered for me but they ended

up doing both because of what they saw, per the Radiologist, but I know

sometimes they can just do the transvaginal and not the pelvic. Carol

Looking for answers re: ultrasound

> Hi,

> I'm Dawn and have been lurking on this list for awhile to find out more

> about fibriods and different treatments. I have researched Endometrial

> Ablation and that sounds like a viable alternative for me and after years

of

> very heavy periods (I'm 47), it seems like a dream come true that there

> would be procedure that could leave my uterus intact yet still decrease

the

> heavy bleeding. I have not actually been diagnosed with fibroids because

my

> biggest fear at this point, believe it or not, is the ultrasound... I know

> that sounds crazy, but I had an ultrasound 20 years ago and had to have my

> bladder so full that it was painful and I was petrified that I was going

to

> wet the table while the technician was doing the procedure. She allowed

me

> to go to the bathroom a few times but only to relieve " some " of the

> discomfort not to completely empty it. So I'm wondering if they have

> improved the ultrasound procedure enough that you don't need to have your

> bladder that full... .

>

> Dawn

>

March 3, 2001