Transvaginal ultrasound AIBU to be close to tears?

[AnyWalls]

I have an infection in my vagina, a stinging in there, and when I sit down, I feel like a painful football is bouncing around my insides - not my vagina, my uterus area, inside my tummy.
I also have an issue internally (bleeding and pelvic pain) which is why I'm being referred for US.
AIBU to be doing the female equivalent of my balls shrinking into my scrotum at the thoughts of anything going up my vagina?
Is there any way I can make a probe up my vagina tomorrow possible? I want to find out what's going on clearly, but the thoughts of the pain is upsetting me. Plus I'm not sure whether they'll manage to get anything up there.
Any advice?

Plus if they hurt me down there, I will have a strong instinct to kick. Not a reflex, just an instinct I suppose. Clearly I don't want to be kicking anyone! I'm absolutely shitting it over this.

I had one during pregnancy. It was absolutely fine - less uncomfortable than a smear test. It was obviously awkward and not exactly a spa treatment but it really wasn't at all horrific. Good luck OP.

I found it less awkward and less painful than any other vaginal exam and I’ve sadly had to have many types.

The wand is smooth and covered. Imagine a gloved finger, but larger.

I’m not saying that it won’t irritate already sensitive skin, but it won’t be anywhere as bad as a speculum.

I have had a few of these when pregnant and they were very gentle and pain free. I wasn't suffering from pelvic pain though.
Is there anything you could take before hand like painkillers or a sedative?
DH is having a sigmoidoscopy in a few weeks and can have either sedation or gas and air. I wonder if anything like that would be possible for you.

Whatever pain relief works for you, take some before the scan.

The sonographers are experienced at performing t-v scans on women with pelvic pain. Explain that you are in pain before they start and say where the pain is worst.

They use lubricating gel to make things easier.

They may ask you to make a fist under your lower back / bum to push your tummy higher; this is to get a better angle to view the uterus.

I had to have one a few years back to look for cysts, it was nowhere near as bad as i had imagined.

They put a condom over the probe and covered with copius amounts of lube.

Knees up, heels together and a sheet for modesty.

I didnt find it painful at all and there wasnt any forceful wiggling around or shoving of the prob e.

Whole experience took about 5 minutes.

You need to do this, so you will do it. Then afterwards do something nice for you, a coffee cake and book session or home for a bubblebath or a good film.

Have you had one before? I had one for early bleeding in pregnancy. It was MUCH better than I expected. If you're already in pain, I would take a couple of painkillers half an hour before the exam. But I do have to say, I was dreading it, expecting it to feel sharp somehow but it was more of a pressure sensation than anything else.

It's not at all unreasonable to feel anxious! Try and think positive though.

Tell the HCPs that you are afraid of reflex kicking- say you are really worrying about it. I'm sure they'll reassure you that they can stop you!

Graphic detail warning!!!!!!!!

I feel like the insides of my vagina is completely swollen. I'm just terrified they're going to try to put something in there that will hurt me.

I was just coming to say it is less uncomfortable than a smear test. When I had one it was like a fat plastic pen going up there. It wasn't traumatic at all. Admittedly I was having it for something in my uterus (turned out to be polyps) but I think even if it had been for my vagina it would have been ok.

i had this last weeks week after my smear.....much easier than a smear ...it was to look at my ovaries

got to have something else tomorrow, been told to take ibuprofen an hour beforehand so im anticipating discomfort.....might end up with biopsy

It will be fine, honestly. It's not that large, it's covered, and well lubricated. Easier than any pap smear I've ever had.

I had a lot of these during IVF. They are fine and so gentle, the thought of it is much worse than the reality. Hope it goes ok

I feel like a painful football is bouncing around my insides
I have adenomyosis and this is a good description of one of types of pain I get.

I've had a few. Didnt hurt as loads of gel used. Smears are worse imo.

Had one done honestly not as bad as I thought it would be. Maybe take some paracetamol an hour before just incase you feel it may be too uncomfortable

You poor thing, you must be in so much pain and discomfort. I promise you the thought of the ultrasound is far worse than the reality, what you are enduring now is so much worse. Just keep thinking that once this is done they will be able to diagnose and treat the cause of your current symptoms.

Don't worry, as someone who has been through many an ultrasound due to stage 4 PCOS, I can say you will definitely be ok. If you do have an infection, it might be slightly uncomfortable, but otherwise they do put so much lube on that I strongly advise a panty liner.

Even if you're still a virgin, they have a specially thin probe that they can use.

I understand that this, on top of pain due to infection, pain and uncertainty of bleeding can be a very uncomfortable experience on it's own, but I do assure you it is a very quick and easy procedure. It has ways of making you feel easier, and the more relaxed you go in, the smoother it'll go.

You can always pop a paracetamol an hour before hand if you think it'll help.

I think you’ll be surprised by how small it is. It feels strange but you can ask them to stop at any time. The thought of mine was very difficult but the reality was not so bad. I discussed my concerns with the sonographer beforehand and said that if I made X sign then she would have to remove it immediately. I didn’t have to ask her because it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, and having the chat beforehand made me feel more in control.

Yes, I've had them several times. Never had an issue, utterly painless.

Last one about 10 days ago, I actually screamed in pain. Now I know they're going to bloody want to do this tomorrow. If they can't manage it, what do I do?

When she picked up the massive dildo looking thing to put in my vagina, I just admit I braced myself. My husband was looking at me like WTF SHES ABOUT TO JAM YOU WITH THE DILDO 9000.
But meh, wasn’t even that bad. It was shaped so it wasn’t even that obvious it was even there. I really didn’t even feel much and zero discomfort.

I've had lots and lots and lots of them, including while heavily bleeding, and while they aren't fun they're never actually painful.

They're lubricated and the nurses are always incredibly gentle. There'll be a big sheet of tissue to cover up with, but if you wear a skirt or something it might be even less weird for you.

Without being graphic, do you own a vibrator or a human chap? It's MUCH less invasive than that. Perhaps try it yourself at home, lie down, flop your knees to the side and have a gentle prod with one finger.

I would definitely take some pain relief an hour before. Talk to the sonographer. Ask her to insert it very slowly and use extra lube.

These are nobody’s idea of a good time but for various reasons I’ve had many. I’ve never found the painful or particularly uncomfortable although appreciate I don’t have your issues.

I honestly didn’t feel it , ask for lots of lube
Deep breaths maybe ask fir a Valium ?

Well that’s a bit of important information you didn’t mention.

Again talk to the sonographer. Ask if they can look externally first and see whether an internal is needed.