PCOS help

[smoopy-bitch.livejournal.com]

So next week I'm going for my ultrasound&blood tests to determine if I have PCOS. I'm about 95% sure I do have it, given that the only symptom I DON'T have is acne, and my aunt had it. What should I expect? I've never had an ultrasound before.

I know it isn't a big deal, and very treatable and common, but I'm still nervous :/

Advice?

Comments

[malantha.livejournal.com]

I can't tell you exactly because I haven't had one for PCOS but I did have one when I had kidney stones.

Basically they just had me lay on a table, on my side with my shirt pulled up and my pants pulled down just a bit (not even exposing anything). They smeared some jelly lube on my side, and rubbed their little ultrasound probe thing all over the place. At some points I had to take a deep breath and hold it, so they could get a better image of what they needed. Then I turned over while they did the other side.

I imagine it'd be about the same with the one you're getting, but in a different location. The ultrasound itself is a total piece of cake. To be honest, I nearly fell asleep a few times during it, because the room was dark and cool, and it was nice to lay down and relax. :P You will be fine! :)

Good luck and I hope that everything goes well with the testing.

[groupieforhire.livejournal.com]

I'm not totally sure, but I/google would imagine that they'll give you a vaginal ultrasound to check ovaries. I had one to make sure that I didn't have endometriosis, so I'd just be prepared for it. It's a pretty long probe that they put in your vagina and poke around with, but they should be good about not doing anything that's painful as long as you tell them if it hurts. Oh, and they have to see things through liquid, so you'll probably need to have a really full bladder. Other than that... I guess it just depends on your comfort level with things of that nature. Mine was fine, and I didn't have any ill aftereffects or anything. Good luck with everything!

[geminigirl]

They may use transvaginal ultrasound, pelvic ultrasound, or a combination of the two to see things. The transvaginal ultrasound is a long probe ("the dildocam") which is covered with a plastic or latex sheath, like a condom, and inserted into the vagina. The pelvic ultrasound is on your abdomen-they squirt a little jelly on there (if you're lucky, they've even warmed it-my doctor keeps it on a heating pad) and use a different shaped probe over your abdomen to see things. I've usually needed to have a full bladder for the pelvic ultrasound (they'll tell you to drink a certain amount of liquid before the ultrasound) to see where your bladder is, and differentiate it from other things. My doctor does the pelvic first, which I lift my shirt and unfasten my pant for, then has me empty my bladder, then come back into the room, take my pants off, and does the transvaginal ultrasound.

The ultrasounds don't hurt-for me, the transvaginal is mildly uncomfortable, because my right ovary (which grows larger cysts that rupture less frequently than the ones on the left side) likes to hide behind my uterus, and they have to put the probe at a strange angle to see things. It's not painful, it's just uncomfortable for a moment.

It may sound odd, but I was thrilled when I was finally diagnosed with PCOS and went on metformin...I felt better than I had in a long time, within a matter of days. I would suggest writing down all the questions you have before you go to the appointment, because it helps you to not forget them.

Hope this helps.

[smoopy-bitch.livejournal.com]

That was extremely helpful.

Yes, when I scheduled they advised that it would be transvaginal and pelvic, and I would need to drink 40 oz w/in 30 minutes before the exam, and if I messed up they wouldnt be able to see anything right.

I'm glad to hear that the treatments can be successful...I have really terrible cramps/no periods/all the symptoms. And I have been thinking I've had it for years but no doctor would actually aprove the diagnostics. I hope to just be able to confirm it and move on :)

[geminigirl]

I'd pretty much known for a while that I had it, but I was on the pill, and that's often the first treatment, so rather than screen for it, my NP advised me to just stay on the pill. This year some other things happened that made it more important to screen for it, and the doctor I see prefers metformin as a primary treatment, rather than the pill-he feels that metformin addresses more of the issues, rather than just treating the reproductive related symptoms. My doctor, knowing that my intention is to get pregnant soon, advised going off the pill, and staying on only the metformin, but different health care providers will analyze what your health situation is, and what the PCOS actually affects and how it does so, and help guide you to decisions that best suit you.

Good luck.

[realserendipity.livejournal.com]

You perfectly described everything I would have told the op. Ive also had better luck on the metformin than the pill.

[bronwe.livejournal.com]

My ultrasounds have been rather uncomfortable, just because I wasn't allowed to pee for an hour beforehand, and they were pressing on my bladder the whole time. And the transvaginal was uncomfortable because I had never had anything up there before, but it wasn't too bad.