Freaking Out!!

skrb88 · 10-02-2009, 05:29 AM

I have had one appointment with a Endocrinologist after being referred by my GP. I have since been for blood tests, 24 hour urine test and a 2 hour GT test. I assume I get my results at my next appointment on 21/10. Today I received a letter announcing that I have a appointment at Radiology for a US Genito Urinary Pelvic Scan on the 16/10 i'm fine this scan idea BUT the I noticed at the bottom of the letter a note saying "To obtain a closer look at the pelvic organs, a TRANSVAGINAL SCAN may also be performed by placing a small ultrasound tranducer inside the vagina instead of on the abdomen". Then it continues onto say "This examination may be performed by a MALE doctor or sonographer, always with the assistance of a female chaperone".

I am very overweight at the moment and therefore are freaking out that the abdominal scan will be unsuccessful and that I will there for be required to have the transvaginal one. I've never had sex, or had a smear and I don't even use tampons - I am feeling like "NO, I don't want ANYONE touching me down there". What I really want to know is how common is the Transvaginal Scan among fellow Soul Cysters?

kentbird · 10-02-2009, 10:21 AM

VERY COMMON!!!
Dont panic, you can explain to them that your nervous and have never had sex and they will explain to you how the scan works, but take it frm someone who has had to have it done many times, it doesnt hurt, its very embarrasing yes but all you have to remember is the person doing the scan does it every day so your going to be no different to the hundreds of other ladies he/she may have seen. Just relax and it will be over before you know it!!!! If your that worried they may even have a female one on hand to do your scan for you!!!! Good luck xxxx

jazzibee · 10-02-2009, 10:30 AM

This scan is not painful. You are completely covered up and the probe is small. the man/woman doesnt look 'down there' just lubricates it and slips it in. Its over in 10 mins. Better than pelvic scan you can see more and its less uncomfortable. No full bladder either. Good Luck!

sjr · 10-02-2009, 02:00 PM

I have had it done twice. It is completely embarrassing, uncomfortable, and humiliating. That being said, I am happy I got it done. The regular abdominal scan they couldn't see anything (because of my fat belly). Like the other poster said, it is over very quickly. It is important to get done so that your doctor knows what's exactly going on with your ovaries.

SMC · 10-02-2009, 04:09 PM

Yep, I have also had one. When I had mine done, I had never had sex nor ever worn a tampon. It didn't hurt at all, and it is over very quickly. Don't stress about it too much. It really isn't a big deal.

skrb88 · 10-03-2009, 03:48 AM

Hi Ladies, your information has me more at ease now though I am still hoping that my belly isn't too fat that I would have to go through with the Transvaginal Scan. I am very greatful for all your responses.

Aims80 · 10-07-2009, 08:50 AM

Hi skrb, i've been reading through this board and came across your post and thought i might be able to ease your mind with my experience...

My doctor sent me off for a transvaginal ultrasound last week due to suspected PCOS and i too was petrified, but the whole thing was not as horrible as i was expecting.

The ultrasound room will probably have dim lighting on, not the stark fluorescents of a doctor's surgery, i found this immediately put me at ease. The sonographer might ask you if you have ever been pregnant or what contraception you use which could be a good time to tell them that you're not sexually active. You will then have the external ultrasound. During this ultrasound you remain fully clothed but with your pants lowered and your shirt pulled up just above your belly button. They will measure the size of your ovaries and the thickness of your endometrium, among other things.

After the external ultrasound is finished the sonographer will probably tell you that the gold standard for diagnosing PCOS is by transvaginal ultrasound and they will ask you if you want to have it done or not. It's your body - you can always say no. Perhaps you can ask them at this point if they have the information they need from the external?

If you agree to have the internal ultrasound they will ask you to sign the consent form and then get you to go and empty your bladder. The sonographer will then leave you in the room to remove your pants and underpants and put a gown on over your other clothes. Once they return to the room you will lie down again with a sheet covering you. The sonographer won't insert the transducer, they should ask you to insert it yourself under the sheet. If there is a female chaperone they will be sitting in the corner, they won't be watching or examining you. Once you have inserted the transducer the sonographer will put their hand under the sheet and hold it. They won't see anything. Perhaps you could ask them at this time to leave you in the room for a moment while you insert it?

The sonographer will then move the transducer around gently and measure everything again. The internal ultrasound for me lasted less than two minutes. Once the sonographer is finished they will remove the transducer, pass you some tissue and leave you alone in the room again to clean up and get dressed.

I hope by having a more information about the procedure you will find the process a little easier,

Good luck!

Shayefish · 10-07-2009, 11:29 AM

I am very overweight as well i do not use tampons either. I did have that test done by a man before and he told me to place it inside myself by myself i guess to make me feel more comfortable. All will be ok do not panic. The test does not last but about 5 mins. I was also covered up with a blanket after i inserted the "wand." So he was not looking all he did was move it around and look at the computer and hit buttons to take pictures. I hope i could be of some help as i am new to this site. Shaye

trucarol · 10-09-2009, 04:01 PM

Everyone is right. My doctor misdiagnosed me for 15 years. The biggest thing you can do is educate yourself, particularly on diet and exercise. My doctor gave me metformin and never said a word about nutrition. However, on a low GI diet and regular exercise, my skin is finally clearing up and even excess hair has a slight improvement. Dont let a lack of insurance stand in your way. Some of the best options for treatment dont come from the MD. Hang in there.

TiggersMom · 10-09-2009, 04:06 PM

Funny story about mine actually. I went in knowing I was gonna have an ultrasound. So my DH sat down in the chair and picked up a kids book and started thumbing through it. I laid down pulled down my pants and she stuck the wand on my stomach and said, "Yep, you're too far back, I'm not going to be able to see anything this way." So me, naive I asked, "Then what other way is there?" She replied, "Oh...they didn't tell you? (shaking my head with a quizzical expression) Ok well I'll have to do it internally." She handed me a blanket, told me to clean off my stomach, empty my bladder across the hall and told me to take my bottoms off and she'd be back in 5.

So I did as I was told, all the while my DH was sitting there only vaguely aware of what was going on. So she comes back, snaps a condom over the wand, rubs some lube on it and my DH looks up at me as she's inserting the wand. The look on his face was

just about like that and he immediately burried his face in the little cardboard farm animal book he'd had in his hand. I started cracking up and said, "Hey hunny, how's that book?" The doc turned and looked at him and we both were chuckling. He finally got over his embarassment (even tho it should have been my own) and came up to look at the monitor as she moved it around to see stuff. I couldn't see anything and couldn't tell what I was looking at, and he was all over it and interested. Definitely an embarassing moment but over very quickly! And as Aims80 said she handed me some tissue and said to me with a knowing nod, "I'm sure you'll want to clean yourself up" I grabbed the tissue and regained my modesty and nodded back as she walked out the door.

Ah the unforgettable moments of life!

Anonykat · 10-09-2009, 04:26 PM

You'll be okay.

The first time I had to have a TV u/s, when I was first getting diagnosed, I was a virgin, had never used tampons, etc, either, and was mortified. It ended up being ok though. I won't say it's all fun and games, but it will give the best look at what's going on in there so you can receive proper diagnosis and treatment. And there are a lot more female sonographers out there than male, so hopefully you'll get one.