Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Turkish delight on January 22, 2020, 10:28:35 AM
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Hia gals,
I'm a little anxious as it's my first ultrasound and transvaginal probing :'(
The letter sent from the clinic says my Doc has asked for a Pelvic US, TA and Transvaginal scan, not sure what a TA is...anyone?
I'm in the office at mo so can't check the letter but think it was that TA.
Any advice on how to hold on to 2 pints of water would be good, yikes, It's not my strong suit holding on to pee at the best of times.
Is it painful? Should I take pain meds before going?
I'm more worried for results I suppose as my aunt died young, age 35 of ovarian cancer and her daughter died age 49 of cancer but I never found out what the primary cause was. I know there is a link with breast and ovarian cancer through the BRACA1 and 2 gene and my mum died of breast cancer age 50 so you can see my concern. ::) I chose not to ask for the BRACA test at this time, rightly or wrongly.
I have fingers not legs crossed for ok results...wish me luck.
TD
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Hi TD,
I have had quiet a few of these, a scan of womb and ovaries, one external, the other internal using a small probe. For the external one you need a full bladder, then you have a pee and have the internal probe, it's slightly uncomfortable but nothing to worry about.
The radiologist will make a report and send it to your doctor or give you the results immediately if it's a private test.
Re holding the 2 pints of water, I've never managed that! I usually arrive early for the appointment, have a pee when I get there then keep drinking.
When is the appointment?
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Hia bloom,
Ah that's reassuring thank you.
My bladder has a mind of its own, if she wants to go she lets me know in no uncertain terms...tehe!
Apmnt on the 30th
TD
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Hi TD,
Haha! Yes the menopausal bladder...!
Good luck for the 30th, not too long to wait, let me know how you get on.
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Hi Turkish Delight
I've had these several times - I definitley can;t hold two pints - I struggle with one and that's always been sufficient. I'm usually absoutely bursting by the time I need to empty bladder for the TVS! No need for pain relief if you can cope with smear tests?
Good luck with your appt and let us know how you get on :)
Hurdity x
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Hi Turkish Delight
I've had these several times - I definitley can;t hold two pints - I struggle with one and that's always been sufficient. I'm usually absoutely bursting by the time I need to empty bladder for the TVS! No need for pain relief if you can cope with smear tests?
Good luck with your appt and let us know how you get on :)
Hurdity x
I drank 2 pints on my way there but was ticked off for not drinking enough! I had to sit and drink more. While waiting, another woman arrived. She had drunk plenty but so much that she couldn't wait. She had to use the loo and then started drinking all over again. So difficult to time it.
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Hey Turkish :)
TA is trans-abdominal, this is the bit you need a full bladder for. I'm not great at drinking huge amounts and each time I've had it done (twice) a couple of cups of water has been fine. The nurses then let you out to pee before coming back for the trans- vaginal one. It's not too bad, was a bit uncomfortable with some cramping after but absolutely nothing major.
My experience was very positive, the sonographers were really thorough and nurses considerate. I'm sure you'll be absolutely fine X
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Hi Turkish delight,
I've had 13 trans-abdominal in the last 3 years. They are easy and painless. The worst thing is drinking 2 litres of water. I have a small bladder. For myself I pee 2 hours before my appointment, only drink one hour before the appointment, and then only 600mls.
I've done 2 litres before they told me it was way too much for me. I had problems in the pass where I had to poo about half an hour before or pee because I just couldn't hold any longer. My friend told me just go to the toilet and drink more after. You will know if your bladder is full and how much water you can hold. If your really concerned do a practice run.
Good luck :bighug:
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Wow thanks girls, some great tips there that definitely helped me stop stressing as much.
:thankyou:
X
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I'm a real wimp when it comes to anything internal but over the last couple of years Ive had 4 or 5 of these and they were absolutely fine and I don't get anxious at all. The worst thing is drinking the water. I can't manage the amount they said and the last one they didn't even bother with the external one because previously they couldn't see my ovaries. Good luck
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Thanks shrosphirelass, that's good to know, 4 or 5 seems like a lot, but think that's bcz I'm only just having the 1st one now.
I do have another question. What size should my ovaries be? Is there a measurement that's classed as normal?
Reading another thread on endo thickness at mo it seems that 4.5mm-5mm is the goal here, although I'm having the test done in my most thick stage of the cycle so probably messed that one up already.
I haven't had any unscheduled bleeding, in fact I haven't had even scheduled ones most of the time, so goodness knows what they will see when they have a gander at my eggs. :)
My reason for going was to get a baseline and check ovaries as have a family history of ovarian cancer.
Thanks if anyone replies.
TD
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Hi TD, I don't know about the size of ovaries but they had problems seeing mine atall! Apparently they shrink when you reach menopause. The dr told me that was a good sign. I've never heard of a size stipulated, but someone with more knowledge may be able to advise. Yeah my lining was 4mm so having checked on here I know that is ok. Good to get the reassurance especially with your family history.
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Hi shrosphirelass, thanks for your help and reply.
I had also heard that the ovaries become the size of an almond at menopause. I had all my scans this morning and asked what the size of mine were lol, I'm very curious with medical stuff. The sonographer said that mine were both 1.3cm that the range when fertile is between 3 and 10cm, so mine are pretty much almond'ish size, cool huh!
The transvaginal scan was a piece of piss...tehe, see what I did there. Didn't hurt and was very quick. Holding on to my 2 pints of pee not such a piece of piss ;)
So my endometrium thickness after 1 year on varying amounts of estrogel max 2 pumps and 100mgx14 Utro is.....oh with only 2 bleeds to speak of in that whole year.....drum roll please....3.8, wallop!
I'm so pleased considering my family history of ovarian cancer ect. The male sonographer said it's a normal scan and that there was a fibroid but they are very common and he had no reason to worry at all. I asked several times and he confirmed it wasn't anything sus, so i'm haapy....yippeee!
TD
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Hi Turkish Delight
Thanks for the update and so pleased it all went well - and what an amazing thickness ( or rather thin-ness) of your lning! Do you know where in the cycle you were when the scan was done - was it just after the bleed or if you didn't have one - after progesterone withdrawal or what?
You can at least relax knowing that part is no problem ie the uterus. By the way I can't remember if you tolerate the utrogestan well or not? However it is doing the job....
Onwards and upwards eh?!
Hurdity x
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TD
Male sonographer?!! :o
So glad it was ok for you x
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Hia Hurdity, thanks for celebrating with me :cancan:
So my bleed ended on the 12th of January, scan done today 30th jan. Before this bleed I had none since May last year, whats that all about, it says something, but I'll be damned if I know what...haha!
I can tolerate the utro ok, don't love the stuff but it's good as a knockout(sleep-wise)but does make me cry and get somewhat unreasonable to deal with unless i'm taken in small doses lol!
I take it vaginally 100mg on the 1st to the 14th every month and haven't had regular bleeds just a couple. But then have been on low estrogen, low and slow, one pump for most of the year. I'm up to 2 pumps estrogel now but that's only been since September. Do you think maybe I'm on too much Utro? I would love to dial it down tbh, I have enough of it after a week but just keep chugging on.
Hi Mogster, Yes Tim was his name, a guy indeed, probably in his late 30's. He was all very above-board and above the belt in his approach, not looking down there much, "eyes up" so to say ::) There was a female nurse present the whole time so I couldn't be less bothered tbh, just glad to have it done and dusted. The information letter they sent me did say I may get a male or female, and if I wanted one sex over the other it could mean a longer wait for the scan. So no surprises really.
TD
TD
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Glad it went well TD. Two of my scans have been done by a man, didn't bother me at all.