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[Clovie]

Terrified that I have to have a scan on my womb lining.

Reason - I'm 61 and still having periods (Although I am told this cannot be the case despite my periods never having stopped, so must be post menopausal bleeding as it is ABNORMAL!)

Have those who have had scans get someone willing to talk through what they see, share findings etc?
2 years ago I had a scan for the same reason and had a lovely sonographer who took the time to tell me my lining was thin, no fibroids etc, ovaries Ok and that my womb was 'one of a menstruating woman'  (Due to size shape i presume)

However when I saw the gynaecologist at the follow up he did not reassure me in any way that all was well and was telling me my bleeding was post menopausal.
Had I not had the reassurance from the sonographer at the time I would not have been able to question the need for any other investigation etc and have Mirena coil.  (Can't use synthetic progesterone as I am intolerant and I did explain that but still was being pushed to have Mirena)

i am terrified that I will get a sonographer that won't tell me what thyey see and end up in the dark when it comes to the follow up gynae appointment.

(I do have what others may see as extreme health anxiety around all this, in fact I posted a thread at 4am this morning, not eaten all day yesterday, up all night in distress.)

Thank you so very much in advance for sharing your experience at the scan, if you reply. It would really help me prepare 

[DottyD68]

Hi Clovie,

I've had 3 scans and in my experience the sonographer has never volunteered any feedback so I had to wait. Two scans were fine and on the other I could sense the sonographer "saw something" as she seemed to be taking longer. When I asked she was VERY reluctant to feedback but could tell I was really anxious so told me but said she wasn't sure what it was. When I eventually saw the gynaecologist she seemed really annoyed as it was "nothing" and made me feel like I'd wasted her time. On the positive at least it got checked out, despite it being a worrying time.

I would suggest that, as hard as it is, you don't expect to be told anything. Some take longer than others so try not to read anything into that either.

Good luck. X

[sheila99]

The first time some years ago she told me everything was fine. The second time they wouldn't tell me anything at all. I think they changed policy in my area and it's someone different who looks at it afterwards and writes the report. If you can you should get it done immediately after a bleed. At other times the build up you get that's perfectly normal and expected in peri becomes a major panic when they think you're meno and you will probably be sent for a hysteroscopy. If the lining is even it's very unlikely to be anything dodgy. Even if it's a little lumpy it's far more likely to be polyps or fibroids than cancer but of course they have to rule it out.

[Clovie]

The first time some years ago she told me everything was fine. The second time they wouldn't tell me anything at all. I think they changed policy in my area and it's someone different who looks at it afterwards and writes the report. If you can you should get it done immediately after a bleed. At other times the build up you get that's perfectly normal and expected in peri becomes a major panic when they think you're meno and you will probably be sent for a hysteroscopy. If the lining is even it's very unlikely to be anything dodgy. Even if it's a little lumpy it's far more likely to be polyps or fibroids than cancer but of course they have to rule it out.

Oh gosh yeah, what if I'm mid cycle or just before I bleed or just started bleeding?? 
I only want to have a scan when I've just finished bleeding.

Can that be arranged do you, or anyone on here,  know?  Can you do that?  Rearrange for a few days or a week later?
I can give them a rough idea of when I would be next due but although I am 'regular', it can vary by a few days.

I REALLY REALLY DO NOT want to set all alarm bells ringing and be sent for tests I might not need just because I am scanned at the wrong time in a cycle!! 

[Clovie]

Sorry, I forgot to add - - - Thank you so much to those who have replied to me.

[Old Frumpy]

Clovie

It is really a very anxious time for you....but is it an MRI or a camera.

I had an MRI and they did not tell me anything.  Yet hubby had one and it was a bloke  - about  his age and he really was reassuring.

As for the prospect of a bleed.  If you have a gynie and maybe you could speak to his secretary or even the MRI dept that your appt letter and ask them.

Take care.

[sheila99]

I think you'll have to ask when you have a contact number for the appointment. They did arrange mine for what should have been right after a bleed only the bleed didn't materialise and they weren't keen to rearrange it. Hence the thickened lining panic. I thought 5.5mm 5 weeks after the last bleed was pretty good but they didn't agree...

[jillydoll]

Mine told me, BUT only after I’d asked.
Then she told me everything.

[Clovie]

Clovie

It is really a very anxious time for you....but is it an MRI or a camera.

I had an MRI and they did not tell me anything.  Yet hubby had one and it was a bloke  - about  his age and he really was reassuring.

As for the prospect of a bleed.  If you have a gynie and maybe you could speak to his secretary or even the MRI dept that your appt letter and ask them.

Take care.

Hi there, thanks for replying, its an ultrasound scan.
I do have a letter so my husband will call nearer to the time if I am going to be coming up to a bleed, as I work it out the scan would potentially be the day or two before I am due to bleed.

[Clovie]

The first time some years ago she told me everything was fine. The second time they wouldn't tell me anything at all. I think they changed policy in my area and it's someone different who looks at it afterwards and writes the report. If you can you should get it done immediately after a bleed. At other times the build up you get that's perfectly normal and expected in peri becomes a major panic when they think you're meno and you will probably be sent for a hysteroscopy. If the lining is even it's very unlikely to be anything dodgy. Even if it's a little lumpy it's far more likely to be polyps or fibroids than cancer but of course they have to rule it out.

Hi again Sheila, I do have the appointment letter, my husband will phone nearer to the time if I am just before my bleed. I'm regular but within a couple of days so as the calendar stands it is scheduled for the day or so before my expected bleed.

I will not stand for being referred for a hysteroscopy due to being scanned at the wrong time in my cycle. That's a waste of money for the NHS as well as being too traumatic if I could have been scanned when my lining should be thinnest.

[Clovie]

Mine told me, BUT only after I’d asked.
Then she told me everything.

I hope and pray to god that I get someone like this.
I had a lovely sonographer last time who was understanding of my very bad anxiety at the scan so explained what she saw.

[Samantha54]

Hi,

My sonographer talked me through absolutely everything she was doing and what she saw.

I do hope everything goes well for you.

[bombsh3ll]

I explain before any examination that I have a history of medical trauma and PTSD, with severe anxiety about having investigations.

Personally I don't deal well with hearing about findings during the exam, and have actually had to terminate procedures after hearing a throwaway comment that makes me panic.

So I ask not to be told anything until the imaging is over. This works best for me.

If you have a similar or different need, tell the person carrying out the scan before they start.

They want to put you at ease and will almost always work with you to help you get the best out of the procedure, but aren't mind readers.

Any important images will be captured and can be shown to you when it is over and you are dressed and comfortable.

[Nas]

Never. A sonographers job, in my experience, is to conduct the scan. It is then up to the appropriate medic, to interpret and report on the scan findings. That’s how they operate in cancer world, anyway. They don’t seem bothered if you have anxiety or not.

Maybe other types of imaging are different, I don’t know.

[Jules]

Everytime I've had an ultrasound scan the sonographer has talked to me about what she found.