Going to the doctor and being prescribed a host of tests can create apprehension in the strongest of persons. The fact that a doctor has advised medical investigations creates a fear in us that there is something drastically wrong. The recommendation of an ultrasound unearths a feeling of doom that we are engulfed with a terrible disease within our bodies that is not visible to the eye.
While x-rays are used to determine bone structures and fractures, an ultrasound diagnosis is used to detect lesions within body mass. This is basically a photographic system that looks into the body and measures different organs to detect changes in size or abnormalities. Ultrasound is also known as ’sonography’.
An ultrasound is extremely effective in determining the size of the foetus, kidney or gall bladder stones, uterus abnormalities, abdominal tumours, etc. To put is simply, an ultrasound detects aberrations within our abdominal systems.
The technician/doctor rotates a camera (akin to a computer mouse) over the required portion of the abdomen. This camera records all details on a computer system. If there are any abnormalities visible, the doctor may inform you accordingly. However, all details are captured in a written report and sonography pictures for further evaluation.
Once you have been advised for a sonography by your medical practitioner, then the following steps must be taken:
- Secure an appointment before hand as the whole process will take at least half an hour (maybe longer in serious cases).
- Take an appointment for the time of day when you are least tense and have no other priorities. In fact, the first appointment of the day is always the best choice as there are no patients before you.
- If you have had any other tests done relating to the medical problem that is being investigated through sonography, please take these along as the doctor can refer to them while analyzing the sonography.
- For the sonography to be successful, you must have an enlarged bladder, i.e., you must drink lots of water to fill up your bladder completely. If the bladder is not completely full, you will be advised to drink more water and thereby wait longer for your test.
An ultrasound is the simplest of tests and there should be no cause for worry as there is no pain during the test.
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