To embarrassed to have abdominal ultrasound

[Sunny757]

I’ve been referred to the hospital for slightly abnormal liver blood test and some general pains in abdominal area but I’m not embarrassed to attend. I’m a few stone over weight and have a c section pouch. I really don’t want them to see me and have to lay there with my stomach out. Aibu

Too embarrassed!*

They really have seen it all before and will just be concentrating on getting the images they need, not your body shape. Besides, most of the population is overweight, many by more than just a few stone. Don't let a bit of embarrassment stop you from accessing the healthcare you clearly need,

I’ve had a couple of these over the years for the same reason and am a few stone overweight too with scars from abdominal surgery, it’s honestly fine they are not bothered at all and it’s pretty quick and easy. Just don’t do what I did a wear a bulky jumper then try to roll it up because it got covered in the jelly stuff!

trust Me they do not care. They’ve seen fat people they’ve seen thin people. They are there to look at whatever they need to look at and send them on the way.

I'm not going to sugar coat it. I am fat. I also have much fluid retention which makes me look even bigger, especially round my lower belly. I had "insane" liver levels last year and had to have a liver ultrasound scan. They whipped me onto the table. Pulled my skirt down to the top of my pants. Tucked some tissue into the top of my skirt. Squirted the jelly goop on my belly and pressed about a bit with a wand gadget thing. It was a touch uncomfortable at times. A few beeps, followed by a few clicks (I think camera images but not certain). All in dim lighting and quiet. Very private feeling where I was (NHS) and respectful. Over in less than ten minutes. Wipe off the goop. Leave. Never see them again. It was fine. No lasting embarrassment. Nothing traumatic.

I was a bit cold and I was shaky with nerves but that was more the terror of them finding something nasty.

It's not the most dignified you will ever feel but if you got through pregnancy and a cesarean, you can get through this. Try to tell yourself it's just skin to medics. Everyone has it and they've all seen worse.

I've had to have a jelly scan on my heart too, 3 times. One of them in A&E, one in the scan room, one on a full ward while breakfast was being served (that one I didn't appreciate to be honest). That's full on tits out. The liver one was easier and quicker. It's not as bad as you imagine It's going to be.

Honestly, they won't care what you look like, and as a pp said they have seen it all before. There really is nothing to it.

I'm just recovering from an appendectomy. I'm fat with a c section overhang and no boobs due to a bilateral mastectomy (yes, I've had my money's worth from the NHS!). They really don't care, a body is just a body!

You’re not trying to get them to fancy you. You will be one of a dozen bodies a day they see day in day out. The vast majority of them will not look like supermodels. They will not reject you for having a wobbly tummy and a c-section scar. If anything, that’s probably the body type they see most often.

I’m scheduled to have one Thursday morning. I have had a c section and a stomach. They really have seen it all. As pp have said, they dim the lights and are busy looking at the monitor screen for most of it.

They have seen it all, trust me. They are only interested in getting the appropriate, best quality ultrasound images they can.

First of all, they really really don’t care. But secondly, they don’t really look at you, they’re looking at the screen pretty much 100% of the time, they look at you to just put the gel on, and then they move it around while looking at the screen.

But honestly, there is no way on earth you are going to be of any interest to them compared to all of the different body shapes and sizes they see.

Please go and have the scan. They aren't looking at you, they see hundreds of people a week, they aren't bothered.

My mum died of something treatable because she was too embarrassed to see a doctor. She would still be here now enjoying her grandchildren if she had gone. I'm not trying to frighten you, just give you some perspective.

There’s two sisters on American tv and one of them weighed 53.5 stone before she lost 500 pounds.
Trust me when I say they’ve seen everything, @Sunny757— you won’t even raise an eyebrow.
Please don’t neglect your health or anything because you’re embarrassed.
My thing is I have no breasts and it’s mortifying to go in for a mammogram.
🎶But I do it.🎶

Had 4 u/s - abdomen for gallstones and a bladder one which was unpleasant as needed a very full bladder - the radiologist allowed me to have a little wee (she asked if I can stop myself- which some people can’t) to make myself a little more comfortable.

Then two on my neck.

You're being ridiculous

I do functional assessments for a living. People are literally getting naked in front of me and take a shower. I can honestly say I cannot recall any of my client’s bodies no matter how hard I try. I am there to do a job and I find it a bit baffling that you think we are doing anything other than assessing our relevant bit, whether it is looking at a monitor or at a specific activity you are doing. It’s a medical appointment, not a date.

Please go. Because of an abdominal ultrasound they found I had cancer. They weren't even looking for cancer but it was discovered. Thanks to that ultrasound, I'm still here ten years later, watching my children grow up.

Apart from obesity related illness and a few patients so large we’ve had to rent specialist beds to treat them, I don’t think any of us have ever even really given any thought as to whether a patient is fat or not. If you are going for an ultrasound they’re interested in looking at your insides not your outsides. Don’t forget we look at bodies of all shapes and sizes every day, so nobody is judging anyone.

What IS a bit embarrassing is if you work in maternity and have children, or gynae and have had any need for procedures, many of your colleagues will have seen you naked, and from angles you’ve never even seen your own body at that! :)

Please don’t worry - we are there to fix your body not judge it! And I doubt any of the doctors, nurses or HCAs you see on the day will have a body like a Love Island contestant either.

Honestly as a Dr we a) don't really notice anymore as the vast majority of the population is over weight b) really don't care

The but they aren't scanning will be covered in a large paper towel anyway to protect your clothes from the jelly

Honestly, you are one in a long line of appointments.

They will not judge your c section scar, pouch and a few extra stones.

Well they'd see you on a mortuary slab.
Just go. I've just lost a friend to bowel cancer because she was too embarrassed to do the NHS bowel test and visit her doctor. Stage 4 eventually diagnosed and dead 2 weeks later.

You’re in a dark room anyway, so they won’t really see you /judge you that way. I couldn’t see properly- you are in and out. One nurse did the scan, there wasn’t anyone else there and I never saw her again anyway.

They won't react or say anything at all, they will have seen every shape and size and will just do the ultrasound.

I'm more than a few pounds overweight, I'm firmly in the obese category and had to go into A&E at the weekend, wearing a dress and they needed to do an ECG as part of the triage process, so ended up laying on a bed with my dress tucked under my chin(s) just covered by my knickers (not my nice ones) with leads attached all over my torso. I felt embarrassed, I hated it, but it needed doing.

Wear trousers or shorts that are easy to just shunt down a little and a top that's loose enough to just lift up a bit so you are mainly covered. Close your eyes and think about being somewhere else for those few minutes.