View Full Version : Ultra sound results - HELP!
Hi I'm back again - this time with a new problem - which is scaring me to death!
For almost 2 years now, I have had problems with a slight pain that comes and goes - usually just under my ribs on the right side. This sometimes goes through to my back, and produces a burning or tingling sensation below my right shoulder blade. I also suffer from bloating.
I had similar symptoms in the 1980s, which lasted a total of 5 years, with constant discomfort for 3, and occasional discomfort for the other 2. I saw consultants and had an endoscopy which did not reveal any issues. This eventually went away, and has not been back until recently.
My Dr sent me for another endoscopy about a year ago, mainly because I was reporting a "globus" type symptom when swallowing. I am now convinced that this was due to a medication I was on at the time (Amitryptiline) - whcih produced a very dry throat. Those symptoms did go away a couple of months after stopping the medication, but the endoscopy did detect gastritis, and H-Pylori infection. This was treated, and a recent test showed that it had been eliminated.
My Dr recently referred me for an ultrasound test as she was wondering about gall stones?
I was very anxious about this test, in case it showed anything really nasty which had been lurking undetected.....
I had the Ultrasound Scan today. I had a very sleepless night on Monday, imagining all sorts on nightmare outcomes, but managed to calm myself down last night before the scan today. I told myself it can't be anything serious because 1) I haven't lost any weight 2) it has not got significantly worse over the last 2 years and 3) I had symptoms like this before, and they eventually went away. I went into the test today with a reasonably calm attitude, expecting to be reassured....
But the US test today was alarming, and has sent me into a total panic! The US operator scanned all my upper abdominal organs, but seemed to focus on a point about an inch below my sternum (This wasn't the place which produced the most pain when he pressed down - that was actually about 3 inches to the right of this...)
At the end, he asked me if had had any blood tests and I said yes back in April 2017. He said "and have they previously been normal?" I said yes they were.....He told me to make an appointment to discuss the results with my Doctor, and that they will be available later today!
I am now panicking that I might have something really serious! His comment about the blood tests being "previously normal" was alarming, as was his suggestion to make a Drs Appointment.
My wife thinks I am being totally paranoid, and that my imagination is running away with me. However, my experience of these sort of tests is usually that the technician says something mildly reassuring, like: "everything looks normal" or "I don't see anything nasty" etc, but I got none of those reassurances!
I am now very worried I have got cancer, which has remained undetected for the last couple of years...
Any reassurance, or similar tales (preferably with positive outcomes!) would be welcome!
hannahc128
07-11-18, 10:58
I think the people who perform these tests have no idea what their words do. I had bloodwork done in a lab last week and of course the lab tech knows nothing about me at all, yet she commented why my doctor would choose certain tests and not others. It sent me into a panic spiral until my husband pointed out that my doctor is highly specialized and only runs tests she needs done at that time and the tech has no idea what she’s talking about.
I have also had experiences similar to yours with ultrasound techs. They try to make conversation and for a normal person it keeps their mind occupied but for someone with health anxiety it just blows up and you take every word to heart. I think you have to remember that they aren’t doctors and the questions they ask make zero difference in your results or care.
When they check your gallbladder via ultrasound they normally check your liver, pancreas, bile ducts, stomach aorta and kidneys at the same time, so the areas you describe that were scanned is perfectly normal.
The person doing the ultrasound was just making conversation as normally you would have blood tests to check your liver function as a gallbladder problem can throw out your liver function.
It's all std procedure, honestly.
When they check your gallbladder via ultrasound they normally check your liver, pancreas, bile ducts, stomach aorta and kidneys at the same time, so the areas you describe that were scanned is perfectly normal.
The person doing the ultrasound was just making conversation as normally you would have blood tests to check your liver function as a gallbladder problem can throw out your liver function.
It's all std procedure, honestly.
Yes I will endorse this - I was unfortunately in hospital at the end of last week and they did an ultrasound on my abdomen. Even though I was complaining of right side discomfort they scanned the whole area from ribs down to the waist.
Shadowhawk
07-11-18, 12:24
When they check your gallbladder via ultrasound they normally check your liver, pancreas, bile ducts, stomach aorta and kidneys at the same time, so the areas you describe that were scanned is perfectly normal.
The person doing the ultrasound was just making conversation as normally you would have blood tests to check your liver function as a gallbladder problem can throw out your liver function.
It's all std procedure, honestly.
I second this statement, when checking for things like this, bloodwork is almost always ordered alongside to get a complete understanding of what is happening at the time.
Additionally, the guy may have been asking about previous bloodwork, because he didn't see anything, and was surprised you were sent in. That said, this quote:
"I think the people who perform these tests have no idea what their words do."
Hits it right on the nose. Keep in mind that even non HA people get very nervous when they are ordered to do additional testing, and are just as keen to take innocent questions out of context. The techs seem to forget that these tests make EVERYONE anxious, and so will ask stupid crap that is easily taken the wrong way.
Seriously, don't sweat it.
Thanks for all the replies!
I hope you are all correct, and that there is nothing too serious to worry about! I can see how careless use of words (together with what he didn't say...) may have fueled my already anxious state of mind....
Reading my original post - it does look a little hysterical - but that was how I was feeling when I came back (and still am to some extent!).
I think my alarm was caused by several factors:
1) The detailed examination and note taking whilst scanning areas where I didn't expect there to be a problem
2) The comment about previous blood tests - which I took to mean he was surprised that whatever problem he could see hadn't caused a bad blood test result
and finally
3) The lack of any reassurance - i.e. he could have said "there is nothing I can see which looks serious, but there are some minor issues you need to discuss with your GP"...or words to that effect!
Hopefully it is just my paranoia - I will have to man-up and make that GP appointment to find our for sure!
ScaredBBOY
07-11-18, 13:58
Samething happen to me last week I was actually started well back pain had subsided I didn’t recognize it at all for two days then went to get the ultrasound he was going over my right rib with such an awkard face he was done I said so I’m I okay he said Umm I’ll give your result to your GP when I said I was scared and now I still am but my results came back with Gallstones but everything else LOOKED fine so now I’m jus trying to trust the US result ...
Shadowhawk
07-11-18, 14:38
3) The lack of any reassurance - i.e. he could have said "there is nothing I can see which looks serious, but there are some minor issues you need to discuss with your GP"...or words to that effect!
Hopefully it is just my paranoia - I will have to man-up and make that GP appointment to find our for sure!
Specifically about #3, they are not allowed to do that, because they are not trained in interpreting the results. A licensed doctor, almost always a radiology specialist (but at least a GP), is the one that looks at the results and knows what is normal or not. The technician is highly trained in TAKING the images, and over the course of their profession gain a general understanding of how things can look, but they do not have medical degrees.
As much as we want to know, be glad that its not a technician giving your results.
(All that said, trained doctors CAN perform US testing themselves, but this is not common outside of a few specific practices).
In my experience, some radiographers/sonographers do comment on what they see. Some say they can't tell you anything and that's usually when it's abdominal . My spiral into HA was in part caused (I suspect) when I had a pelvic ultrasound for a minor matter and the sonographer said she could see a large ovarian cyst and that I should have a gynae referral. She scared the life out of me when she said my doctor should do a blood test to see if it was serious! She then went on to list symptoms of ovarian cancer. When I eventually saw the gynaecologist I was a nervous wreck and he and his nurse went mad when I told him what the stupid woman said and also said her list of symptoms was incorrect. Needless to say it was a harmless simple cyst but I had a week or two of sheer terror. These people should think before they speak. How would they feel if it was them or their family?
Shadowhawk
07-11-18, 16:13
In my experience, some radiographers/sonographers do comment on what they see. Some say they can't tell you anything and that's usually when it's abdominal . My spiral into HA was in part caused (I suspect) when I had a pelvic ultrasound for a minor matter and the sonographer said she could see a large ovarian cyst and that I should have a gynae referral. She scared the life out of me when she said my doctor should do a blood test to see if it was serious! She then went on to list symptoms of ovarian cancer. When I eventually saw the gynaecologist I was a nervous wreck and he and his nurse went mad when I told him what the stupid woman said and also said her list of symptoms was incorrect. Needless to say it was a harmless simple cyst but I had a week or two of sheer terror. These people should think before they speak. How would they feel if it was them or their family?
Ahem.. OP.. Please re-read this story as many times as needed to remember why technicians are not supposed to diagnose....
Katie - I am so sorry to hear you were put through that, it really is awful. Not only was she wrong making any determination in the first place, but she was doubly wrong in trying to advise on symptoms which she was not qualified to advise on. Very glad you are ok, and I hope you can put trust in others later despite that setback. Stay strong!
Ahem.. OP.. Please re-read this story as many times as needed to remember why technicians are not supposed to diagnose....
Katie - I am so sorry to hear you were put through that, it really is awful. Not only was she wrong making any determination in the first place, but she was doubly wrong in trying to advise on symptoms which she was not qualified to advise on. Very glad you are ok, and I hope you can put trust in others later despite that setback. Stay strong!
Yes - I can see that now!....although I have been given an indication in the past by a tech, I can see that they are not supposed to do this, so he was probably breaking the rules!
I have been in touch with the GP, and can't get an appointment for another week! However, the receptionist DID confirm that the US report was in, and said that there were "no notes or comments with it". I take this as a positive sign that there cannot be anything too serious wrong, otherwise it would say "URGENT"!
Looking back, I think all the evidence of a serious problem was in my head! When I look at it rationally, a lot of it was me interpreting what was going on, or what was said (or unsaid!).
I am more positive now that the result will be OK (or at least not serious?) Thanks for the much needed help from everybody to help me get this back in perspective! HA can be a real bugger, I think.....
Thanks Shadowhawk. I remember too that she wrote on her report that there were features of malignancy but fortunately I didn't know that until the lovely nurse told me and said that wasn't true. Looking back I should have made a complaint to stop this woman doing this to anyone else but I was just so happy to be ok that I didn't think to.
OP- yes sounds like there is nothing serious to report so hopefully you can relax.
I’ve had so many ultrasounds. Techs cannot give you results or reassurances. I’ve had techs scare the lights out of me multiple times with their comments or questions (or facial expressions). The last time the tech abruptly excused herself from the room to get a doctor when I was being screened for a breast issue. That was scary. Each time the results have been normal.
I think my alarm was caused by several factors:
1) The detailed examination and note taking whilst scanning areas where I didn't expect there to be a problem
2) The comment about previous blood tests - which I took to mean he was surprised that whatever problem he could see hadn't caused a bad blood test result
and finally
3) The lack of any reassurance - i.e. he could have said "there is nothing I can see which looks serious, but there are some minor issues you need to discuss with your GP"...or words to that effect!
I just had an ultrasound on my abdomen completed almost two weeks ago (was worried about liver/pancreatic cancer).
I went through the exact same range of emotions as you. The tech didn't say much, or say anything about my results, but she often stopped for long periods on certain spots and took notes, which naturally, made me think she found a bunch of tumors etc. I even asked her straight up to tell me if she seen anything wrong, and she wouldn't give anything up.
I went in to see the doc about a week later, and it was all clear except for a simple cyst on my right kidney (which isnt anything to worry about... although I'm sure that'll change lol).
Point being, as hypochondriacs, we bring in a certain "foregone conclusion" when seeing a doc or having tests done, so we're on high alert for gestures, mannerisms, etc and it leads to us overanalyzing everything, usually incorrectly leading to "confirmation" of our worst fear. Also, to your last point, techs aren't supposed to provide any reassurance or news about your scan at all, so the fact that the tech didn't tell it was normal, doesn't mean anything.
added me to list. I have had at least 3 sonograms and every time I try to read the tech. Always been a waste of my time.
This last time I was sure something was wrong, she stoped talking, and other cues. Everything was fine, maybe she was (no, no maybes) concentrating and trying to get her job done.
I would not try to read the tech.
I just had an ultrasound on my abdomen completed almost two weeks ago (was worried about liver/pancreatic cancer).
I went through the exact same range of emotions as you. The tech didn't say much, or say anything about my results, but she often stopped for long periods on certain spots and took notes, which naturally, made me think she found a bunch of tumors etc. I even asked her straight up to tell me if she seen anything wrong, and she wouldn't give anything up.
I went in to see the doc about a week later, and it was all clear except for a simple cyst on my right kidney (which isnt anything to worry about... although I'm sure that'll change lol).
Point being, as hypochondriacs, we bring in a certain "foregone conclusion" when seeing a doc or having tests done, so we're on high alert for gestures, mannerisms, etc and it leads to us overanalyzing everything, usually incorrectly leading to "confirmation" of our worst fear. Also, to your last point, techs aren't supposed to provide any reassurance or news about your scan at all, so the fact that the tech didn't tell it was normal, doesn't mean anything.
Thanks for this! It sounds like you know exactly where I am coming from on this! - This forum has helped me so many times in the past, and continues to do so! It is good to know I am not the only one who thinks the way I do!
My wife thinks I am a terrible hypochondriac* (and I guess she is right!) - but I think behind every hypochondriac, is someone who has felt unwell for a length of time in the past for one reason or another, and has carried on the habit of worrying, or perhaps someone who has experienced watching someone else get ill....I remember when I was quite young (about 9 or 10?) my friend's mother died suddenly. I asked my mother what had happened to her, and she explained that she had died of cancer. The doctors had examined her, but it was too late to do anything.... - I think I have carried that fear in the background all my life!
* But in a way, she is worse!...she ignores symptoms, and refuses to see a doctor to get anything checked out - basically because she is too scared! Her attitude is as long as she is breathing and has a pulse, she doesn't need to see a doctor!
I just had a chest xray this week to rule out pneumonia (I had a terrible cold with a cough and fever, which I'm just now getting over). The tech asked me questions that she was going to include in her notes to the radiology doctor, who looks at the images and writes the report for the doctor who ordered the xray. So she asked how high my fever was, what my symptoms were, any past surgeries, etc. This gives the person who reads the xray some context.
That's the way the question about the bloodwork sounds to me - like a note for the radiology doctor. "Patient had blood tests in 2017 that were within normal limits."
Thanks for this! It sounds like you know exactly where I am coming from on this! - This forum has helped me so many times in the past, and continues to do so! It is good to know I am not the only one who thinks the way I do!
My wife thinks I am a terrible hypochondriac* (and I guess she is right!) - but I think behind every hypochondriac, is someone who has felt unwell for a length of time in the past for one reason or another, and has carried on the habit of worrying, or perhaps someone who has experienced watching someone else get ill....I remember when I was quite young (about 9 or 10?) my friend's mother died suddenly. I asked my mother what had happened to her, and she explained that she had died of cancer. The doctors had examined her, but it was too late to do anything.... - I think I have carried that fear in the background all my life!
* But in a way, she is worse!...she ignores symptoms, and refuses to see a doctor to get anything checked out - basically because she is too scared! Her attitude is as long as she is breathing and has a pulse, she doesn't need to see a doctor!
I'm not sure where my hypochondria comes from. I'm generally a fairly anxious guy, but not overly so. I think for whatever reason, when my anxiety goes into overdrive it's manifested as HA. That's just a guess.
OK - hopefully my last comment on this!
I went to the Dr's today to pick up a regular prescription (a gout medicine...). While I was there, I asked for an appointment with my Dr to discuss the scan results, knowing that there is a couple of weeks wait at the moment. The receptionist looked at her screen and said "well he has a spot free in 10 minutes, other than that the next free slot is 20th November!"
Obviously I went for the slot today...
The upshot is - THE RESULTS WERE FINE! :yesyes:
Liver OK, Bile duct OK, No Gallstones, all other internal organs checked out fine!
I can't begin to tell you how relieved I am! I don't think I have ever been so scared in my life as I was after the scan on Wednesday......
It is amazing what you can talk yourself into! All because of placing too much focus on what was said/not said, the length of the examination etc, etc....and against this the backdrop of my own paranoid thoughts.....
Thanks to everyone for talking some sense into me! You reduced my anxiety levels considerably!
The Drs opinion is that it was mostly down to stress, and he thinks things will calm down now some other factors in my life have been resolved (I have had 18 months of stress due to my mother becoming ill, then major problems at work). I think this is likely, as I had identical symptoms in the mid 1980s whilst doing a very stressful job!
Thanks again everyone!
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