Cancel pelvic ultrasound or keep it - WWYD?

[nervousnell]

So, as I've posted, my doc ordered a pelvic ultrasound to check out an episode of slight spotting after 4 years of premature ovarian failure. She also ordered blood hormone tests, which - in a departure from the last 2 years - came out fine. My FSH and LH had been extremely high, while my estrogen had been low. This time, all the values were in normal range. That seems to me a logical explanation for the PMS symptoms and subsequent spotting...right?

My dilemma is, do I still go for the ultrasound on Thursday, or spare myself a lot of anxiety and cancel it? What would you do? I really, really don't want to go through it because I am still terrified of what might be lurking in there. But I also would kick myself if it turned out that something else truly is wrong and I didn't catch it when I had the chance.

What would you do?

[mpamommyto3]

Definitely keep the appointment if for no other reason than peace of mind. If everything comes back fine, that's great. That gives you the peace of mind you need to settle your nerves!!!!!!!!!!

[potternut]

Hi,
I am in the same boat!  I have a pelvic us scheduled for Monday because my doc felt some "fullness" on one side while doing an internal exam.  She said she's not even slightly worried about it (then why send me for the test??)

Either way, if I go through with it or if I cancel, the "what if" thinking is going to do me in if I let it.  So, I think I'd rather have some concrete data (hopefully, a crystal clean scan) rather than spend the next 12 months worrying.

i recommend you go for the scan and then assure yourself that WHEN it comes back clean, you will tuck this info away and not worry about it.   

[NeedToChillOut]

Hey, wasn't I the one who guessed that you had ovarian irregular functioning and not "premature ovarian failure" in reality?  Looks like I was right, LOL, with the normal test values!  Doesn't that make you feel better?

I'd bet that everything is fine structurally and you simply had a hormonal glitch going on for a long time and it's getting better.  I would get the ultrasound just so you know it's all fine.

[nervousnell]

Haha...yes, I think that was you! My dr. didn't call me about the bloodwork results; I just got a letter in the mail that said everything was normal. So as far as I know, she has not suggested that I cancel the ultrasound. I guess I'll go ahead with it and try to calm down the little voice that is telling me they are going to discover some sort of rare, symptom-free uterine or ovarian tumor. If nothing else, this helps take the focus off the mammogram that I have scheduled for the same day...oh, the fun of it all. 

[nervousnell]

I decided to go ahead with the ultrasound. It's tomorrow...I am really, really freaked out. Not about the procedure itself, but about whatever they may see in there. Breathing deeply... 

[Chantelle]

Good for you! Face the fear and do it anyway. You are taking charge of your health and no matter how anxiety producing it is I promise you will feel so much better when you get a clean bill of health. 

On a personal note,  I have dealt with spotting issues for years and have gone for not one but two pelvic ultrasounds in the past. I was anxious too so to alleviate some of my nerves I let the tech know I have anxiety and I also chose not to look at the screen or at the techs face (bc you know how much we read into facial expressions!). You will do great and it will be over before you know it! Sending you positive vibes 

[nervousnell]

Thanks for the encouragement! I will definitely be asking the tech to please not make any "Hmmmm" noises.

[Chantelle]

Yes, no anxiety sufferer appreciates the hmmm noises lol! Or a serious and inquisitive expression!

[potternut]

Good luck tomorrow (although you won't need it...everything's gonna be fine!). Just close your eyes, mind your breathing, visualze yourself at the beach on a beautiful day, and it'll be all over within minutes.

Sending positive vibes your way! 

[nervousnell]

Thanks so much for all the support! The u/s and mammo are both over with. I told the tech I was nervous, but I don't think she expected me to be so nervous that my feet were almost shaking out of the stirrups.  Anyway, it was really quick and only slightly uncomfortable - I felt mild tenderness as she was pressing against my ovaries, but nothing out of the ordinary for pushing on an organ (at least I don't think so). She had the screen tilted where I couldn't see it, but I couldn't help sneaking a peek at her face - it looked pretty expressionless. I hope that's good. She said I should hear something within a week.

Just a question, is it routine for them to type things while they are doing the ultrasound? It didn't sound like furious excessive typing - but I wondered if she was marking a suspicious area or typing something simple like "right ovary view." Too nervous to ask, and I doubt she would have been allowed to tell me anyway.

The mammo tech was very very nice and took pains to tell me that it is quite common for younger women to get a callback for additional views because our breast tissue is so dense, so not to let it frighten me. I really appreciated that.

So...now begins the pins and needles waiting for results...but at least step 1 is over.

[potternut]

is it routine for them to type things while they are doing the ultrasound?

YES!  I'm not sure exactly what they're typing but it most definitely is the norm. 

Glad it's over...the wait will be difficult but the relief you will feel when both come back normal will be worth it!!   

[NeedToChillOut]

Yes, it's fine if they type a lot!  Recently I took my son for an echocardiogram, and I was a little nervous that his orthopedic doctor had ordered it,  just because I started thinking he wouldn't have ordered it if he didn't suspect anything (even though he said it was just a precaution.) 

I started getting nervous when the technician was quiet and typed so much.  She even left the room, took a long time, came back, and did more views and typed a lot more.  By this time I thought I was going to pass out but didn't want my son to know it.  I worked myself up into being afraid there was a Big Problem.

I found out a few days later from the doctor that it was "normal."  Phew!  I think you'll find out the same.  I'd bet money on it if I could.

[nervousnell]

The wait continues. I couldn't stand the anxiety and called first thing yesterday to see if results were in. As of midday today I am still waiting for a call back. I don't know whether to take that as a good or a bad sign. I jump like a nervous cat every time my phone rings...sigh! 

[potternut]

   Any good news yet?  To me it is absolutely ridiculous that you should have to wait a week for results.  My imaging center called me the same night with results of my mammogram (all clear, thank goodness), but even then I almost passed out when I saw that it was them calling!  I think I hyperventilate every time the phone rings when I am awaiting results!

Sending you calming thoughts....please keep us posted!   

[beth0277]

I hope you have got the good results by now but just wanted to say that I have had TONS of ultrasounds and watched them as they type. They are just usually typing what anatomy they are looking at. So, they may type, Right Ovary, Left Ovary, things like that. They also measure and will put measurements in. Completely normal and necessary. Nothing to be concerned about.

[beth0277]

Oh, and also, I am not sure of your age, but I got a mammogram recently. Luckily they gave me the results right away but because I am only 27, my breast tissue was far too dense to get a good look. They didn't see anything suspicious but could not rule out something small "hiding". They recommended a breast MRI, which I had and it was all normal. Just to give you some relief incase they want to repeat the test or do something more diagnostic, like an MRI. Doesn't mean something is wrong. I actually had a surgeon look at my mammogram slides and he said "Looks like a typical 27 year old, which means I can't see much of anything". He agreed an MRI, although not really necessary, would be needed to get a completely clear reading.

[nervousnell]

Thanks so much for the good wishes! Still nothing on the ultrasound, but I did get a letter from the doctor saying that the mammogram was normal.  :big smile: At least that's a relief. I can't fathom what is taking so long with the u/s results.

[nervousnell]

Just thought I would post a long-overdue update on this thread...the u/s came back perfectly normal. What a relief!! Thanks to you all for talking me off the cliff!

[losing_life]

Good for you