ultrasound not well hydrated

[Greensheep242]

I have an ultrasound abdomon and pelvis at 4 PM today but am concerned that I am not well hydrated and don’t know how well it will work.

I was in hopspital on Saturday with abdo pain D&V and they sent me to a surgical ward for queeried appendicitis. As the pain resolved they discharged me on Monday with a follow-up scan this afternoon at 4. When I was in hospital I was being given IV medication for the vomiting, so was not really sick. They also treated for dehydration with IV fluids. However, I was not discharged with anything for the nausia, and when I asked about it I was told that I didn’t need any because my bloods were fine. I said that surely the IV meds and fluids were making a difference but they said that I would need to speak to my GP. I tried yesterday at 8 but after the required 200 calls there were predictably no appointments left. I can try the GP again today but wondering how well the US will go if I am dehydrated / not well hydrated. My wee is quite dark and yellow and I am generally going at least 10 hours without a wee. My plan was to have as much in my bladder as possible, and try regular sips of fluid. I will be seeing the surgeons after my scan so can reask about the medication but wondering if there is anything else I can do.

Didn't want to read and run. Roughly how many litres of water have you drunk since being discharged? I thought that if there are no underlying causes, then it's relatively fast and easy to rehydrate by drinking fluids.

Did they mention electrolytes? Milk, yoghurt, bananas, coconut water and a few other foods and drinks can help introduce more electrolytes into your diet.

I had around 2 L in little sips yesterday and also tried eating ice lollies melon and cucumber. I think it is relitively easy to rehydrate, the problem is that I am vomiting a lot. I know that the meds work but can’t get them OTC and worried that the ultrasound won’t be effective.

@ DianaT1969 The only thing that was mentioned about electrolytes was the walk in suggested using rehydration solution earlier in the week as had strong wee with ketones. Banana and yogurt have been the only things I have been able to stomach.

anyone with knowledge of ultrasound know how much I need in my bladder for US to be successful. There seems to be around 200 ML if I don’t go for 10 hours.

I would be concerned if I were still vomiting & had dark wee.
Try to continue with sips of fluid. Add a pinch of sugar & salt to them occasionally.
At least you are seeing the doctors today, whatever the quality of the scan. They will be able to assess your unwellness since discharge.
Hope you feel better. Dont hesitate to get medical advice in the day if worried.

Sonographer here
200mls in your bladder is a good amount. If you can’t fill your bladder then don’t worry yourself, plenty of patients are unable to fill their bladders. If it’s not full they it may just mean they can’t scan your bladder and have to do a transvaginal scan to look at your pelvic organs (depending on what they’re looking for)

@ Iheartbed Thanks for that. I think they are wanting to exclude anything with the appendix, but conscious its difficult to scan in any case. Potentially from a gynae perspective cysts and fibroids which I have had before,but I am sure there aren’t cysts. I think they may also want to look at kidneys and liver, as have had a liver with an odd US look on a previous scan and had blood in urine but no infection.

I am not sure the hospital I am going to does internal scans. Maternity and gynae are at a different hospital, and annoyingly have always been referred to there, which is further from my house if I need an internal.

Good to no 200 ml is likely to be a good amount. No wonder they were impressed when I was having difficulties weeing and a scan and promptly whent back to the ward and passed 950 ML.

@ jalopy Thanks appreciate your support. Yes am trying small sips little and often. Really weak full sugar Ribena or flat coak seem to be the best at staying down.agree it a good thing I am being seen, but not sure to what extent it will be a rule out appendicitis go back to GP thing.

You can buy anti emetics otc their called Buccastem they dissolve under your lip sold for use with migraine. Think you should talk to your Gp though. Hope you feel better soon.

You don't need a full bladder for an ultrasound - who has told you this?

If you're vomiting they'll likely be focussing the scan on your upper-mid abdomen and appendix not your pelvis anyway

A very full bladder actually can impede ultrasound scans by obstructing views of other organs.

It's unusual for the bladder to be completely empty so if you're producing urine there will be some in your bladder and they can use it as a landmark if needed

@Veterinari
You DO need a full bladder if the sonographer is assessing the bladder itself or using the bladder as an “acoustic window” to look at the uterus, endometrium and ovaries
I’ve been scanning for 12 years and have a masters degree in medical ultrasound so I do know what I’m talking about

[quote Iheartbed]@Veterinari
You DO need a full bladder if the sonographer is assessing the bladder itself or using the bladder as an “acoustic window” to look at the uterus, endometrium and ovaries
I’ve been scanning for 12 years and have a masters degree in medical ultrasound so I do know what I’m talking about[/quote]
Which is why I asked who told the OP that. The requirement for a full bladder will vary depending on what they're looking for.
Though I should have said you don't ALWAYS need a full bladder.

Additionally that generally means just not urinating in the period before the scan. If the OP is drinking 2 l of water a day it is unlikely that her bladder will be entirely empty. It generally isn't unless you've recently urinated and so there's not much for her to worry about.

If I'm wrong please do correct me. As you're going to have much more expertise than me it would be lovely if you could actually give the OP some reassurance or constructive advice?

@Veterinari
I did give the op advice, see further up thread

[quote Iheartbed]@Veterinari
I did give the op advice, see further up thread[/quote]
Yep sorry missed that. So 200mls in the bladder then. Not full...

I had an abdo ultrasound in January and the sonographer was unable to see my bladder because it wasn't "full enough". My scan was for gallbladder issues so wasn't that important in my case.

@Greensheep242 you shouldn’t need an appointment- just call your gp again and ask for a prescription for anti sickness tablets. You’re being investigated so the gp will have seen your discharge letter etc and even the practice nurse could probably write you up for cyclizine or similar over the phone.

@ Veterinari It was the surgeon who asked me to drink plenty of fluids before the appointment an come with a full bladder.

I am not sure if the ward bladder scanners are less accurate / less skilled opperators but I did have a couple of times on the ward / A&E a few hours after going to the toilet where I had less than 50 ml in the bladder. So the question was more should I hold off weeing to hopefully have enough built up to scan.
I think the thought is that if a full bladder is a problem its much easier to ask you to use the toilet then have to repeat with a full bladder.

@ Isadora2007 Thanks. The GP has a half day close on a Wednesday so probably too late to get anything now. If I don’t have any look in my appointment and still need some I will ring tomorrow and ask what they can do. I don’t really want to buy anything over the counter as have a couple of conditions where some antisickness can cause problems and its probably easier for someone with the notes in front of them rather than having to explain to a pharnasist.

Typical they have just phoned to postpone the appointment until tomorrow due to staff isolating. Now too late to get the Gp to prescribe hopefully things settle or it goes away. Must be hard for them to with staff needing to isolate.