Pelvic Ultrasound Scan - What to expect?

[GRnads]

I've been woken up with abdominal pain each night for almost a month now. Normally around 2am, sometimes it wakes me at 2am and 5am, sometimes earlier around 12am. I went to Dr's two weeks ago and we done tests for Ulcerative Collitis as it runs in my family... all normal so onto a pelvic scan.

Who has had one?

What can I expect?

What do they normally look for?

Can I take someone with me?

As a general rule i hate hospitals... I'm incredibly anxious about this all and the lack of sleep does not help.

[Mary-intussuception]

Are you male or female?

I think it's one of the simplest scans so please be assured that you have no need to be anxious.

It's the same technique as pelvic scan of pregnancy.

Haven't you had an Ultrasound scan of your abdomen yet?

[Mary-intussuception in reply to Mary-intussuception]

ps

Of course you can take someone with you. You can take someone with you to all hospital or GP appoinments.

If you want them to stay with you all the time while having scan just make sure they go in with you.

[GRnads in reply to Mary-intussuception]

I'm female. (24yrs).

I've not had any scans. The plan was bloods, then if they indicated Ulcerative Collitis to have a colonoscopy. As they don't indicate UC we're going to do the ultrasound scan.

Good to know I can take someone with me. I'm not good at hospitals so my OH comes with me to anything like that.

[Mary-intussuception in reply to GRnads]

They rub the gel over your tummy then scan it while looking on the screen.

Hope you find out what's causing the pain and get it sorted soon.

I went in with my husband. Also my Mum for theirs.

My husband doesn't like hospitals either. I've been on my own for my Ultrasound scans. It was fine, the radiographers were usually lovely.

xx🐥

[GRnads in reply to Mary-intussuception]

Thank you. I'm mainly worried they won't find anything and will just tell me it's "female things" despite me being on contraception that stops all periods and signs of periods.

[Mary-intussuception in reply to GRnads]

They may not find anything. Then you ask your doctor what the next step is. Ask for further investigations.

I had an Ultrasound of my abdomen. She showed me some of my Gallstones on the screen! They looked like three peas in a pod! So I just need to be careful with diet.

Nothing much was ever found on my Pelvic Ultrasounds. I had the Internal scan, much later in life, which revealed a Fibroid outside the womb.

x🐥

[GRnads in reply to Mary-intussuception]

Thank you for sharing. I will definately discuss with my Dr if the results come back clear.

I have suspected for a long time that I may have cysts on my ovaries or similar...

I hope you're doing well x

[Joanne1972]

I've had a pelvic scan

First they did the typical ultrasound scan that pregnant women have over the stomach and then when I had it I also had an internal ultrasound which is how they diagnosed cysts on my overies

The internal ultrasound wasn't painful and was not as uncomfortable as a smear test.

Because of the internal exam you might want to be choosy who you ask to go with you or have them wait outside

It was all very professional and really there isn't anything to worry about

Good luck in finding out what's wrong

Jo

[GRnads in reply to Joanne1972]

Thank you.

I'll be taking my partner with me so no concerns there if I need the internal one.

I've never had a smear test so not sure how uncomfortable they are, but going by stories I'll assume the ultrasound was hardly noticeable.

Everyone says you need to have a really full bladder for the scans.... is that correct?

[cyberbarn]

Yes. you will get instructions from the hospital of how much water to drink before hand. When I had one they did the part they need to do with the full bladder, then they let me go to the toilet before doing the rest.

Good luck!

[GRnads in reply to cyberbarn]

Thank you.

It'll be interesting having to drink a lot. I can only get to 1L before I get headaches.

[cyberbarn]

If you don't drink enough and they can't see everything, they might have to ask you to drink more and wait a bit to have a second go, or to go home and come in for a second appointment. So as uncomfortable as it is, it is worth doing.

I had a meeting to go to before having to drive 30 minutes to get to the appointment. I was desperate by the end of the meeting, but I made it to the appointment before any accidents!

[Hope264]

Hi, good luck with your scan. I have had such a scan come back clear and then had severe endometriosis found in a subsequent pelvic surgery for something else. If any of your symptoms - pelvic / bowel are cyclical in nature , you may want to consider endometriosis as possible cause with your doctors. There is a helpful group on this site for endo if that sounds like it may be you. Good luck with getting a diagnosis and treatment.

[GRnads]

Just to update - I have my scan within the first couple days of March.

A very detailed letter explaining everything they will be doing, what they're checking and what I need to do for the scans to be completed.

OH will be coming with me as there is a possibility they will be doing an internal scan at the appointment too.

[Hidden in reply to GRnads]

Ive has problems with my overies for over ten years and generally with pains there they prefer to do an internal one as you can see more and get around the overview better. It’s uncomfortable but just hold your OH hand and breath and it will be fine.

Good luck with your scan and try not to worry

[GRnads in reply to Hidden]

I'm sorry to read you've had problems with your ovaries.

I've had many people tell me the internal one isn't that bad, but I've a very bad history surrounding that area so they may decide to give me Diazepam to make it more manageable.

We have noticed a link between the type of meals I eat during the day, and the type of pains I get at night so I'll be making my Dr aware of this.

[Hidden in reply to GRnads]

That sounds more bowels related then so they will probably find more with an external. It’s a very small rod it’s not the size of the external ones.

That’s a good thing making a food diary , is it things like bread dairy or fried foods that seem to set it off at night?

X

[GRnads in reply to Hidden]

It's any food with a high fat content really so we've upped the number of vegan meals we eat a week and reduced any fatty foods I like to snack on.

I find it odd as week done bowel tests and they came back pretty clear - mild inflammation but that was put down to my pain relief which has now stopped.

OH thinks it's likely my liver or pancreas causing problems so hopefully the scan will show something.

[Hidden in reply to GRnads]

If it was your liver/kidney it would show in blood tests and you would have pain in your back not your stomach. With things like that you need more than just a simple ultrasound you need proper bloods and urine tests etc. If your doing the whole vegan thing you need to make sure your getting all the right vitamins still, you can eat meat without it being fattyGood luck with finding a diagnosis though hope all goes well x

[GRnads in reply to Hidden]

I said Liver / Pancreas which would be at the front. Dr has already confirmed this for me.

I've had full bloods, full urine analysis and a stool sample check which all came back normal, Dr told me the pancreas may not show on the bloods.

We eat vegan 4 times a week for dinner, the rest of the time I eat meat.

[Hidden in reply to GRnads]

That’s fair enough well I hope something shows up for you