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Original poster

Echocardiogram - will I need to take my top off?!

68 replies

MissAtomicBomb1 · 22/03/2023 21:36

I'm due to have one at the beginning of April. Presumably I'll have to be completely topless for them to perform the procedure?
I'm slightly anxious as the letter says it could be performed by someone of the opposite sex. Things like this don't usually bother me but when I was in A&E recently I was asked to strip off for an ECG by a nurse. Wasn't offered a sheet to cover up & just a flimsy curtain around the bed which she hadn't even closed properly. I felt really exposed and self conscious with other patients wandering around a few metres away. I know the sonographers have seen it all before but I don't like the thought of having my boobs out for 20mins in front of a strange bloke...
Would it be weird to take DH with me?

OP posts:

CiaoBellisima · 22/03/2023 21:38

They will likely ask you to wear a patient gown. Possibly with the opening to the front.

GingerBoot · 22/03/2023 21:39

I took my mum for one a while ago and she was allowed to keep her bra on. Even though it was a male how conducted the test, i was allowed in with and there was always a nurse present too. Take whoever you want with you, whatever makes you the most comfortable. Hope the test results come back ok. Good luck

Verylongtime · 22/03/2023 21:41

Oh, gosh, I’m due one soon. I wouldn’t want to be topless at all.

BQ91 · 22/03/2023 21:41

I had an echo which was performed by a male. I had to wear a patient gown and then it was opened and quite exposed at times due to needing to get a good image of the heart. The person performing the scan though had his eyes firmly on the screen to make sure he captured the right images and doing the right measurements etc so not even sure he noticed much! Hope everything goes ok. Good luck!

Challengedbutenlightened · 22/03/2023 21:44

I have at least 2/3 a year, it really depends. Some I’m starkers from the waist up, other times I have an opening front but I have always had to take my bra off due to the under wiring and I’ve had OHS with a heart recording device-they really like to dig around the area between my breasts hence removal of the bra

WasIWasINot · 22/03/2023 21:44

You’ll need to take your top off but they will likely give you a gown.

Sometimes you need to take your bra off, sometimes not.

Not weird at all to take your DH with you but it can depend on whether they let him in or not.

My mum usually comes with me and she has sometimes been allowed in, sometimes not. She finds it fascinating because I have an ICD and something called a mitraclip and you can see it all on the scan, all the cables in my heart etc.

Ironically I’m going for one tomorrow.

Motherhubbardscupboard · 22/03/2023 21:44

I had one recently and was completely topless. I wasn't expecting to be (hadn't really thought about it).

Heckythump1 · 22/03/2023 21:44

I had an echo, I had to be topless as bra straps get in the way, I did have a towel to hold over me though and the nurse was lovely about it, obviously she'd done it a million times before. Really nothing to worry about!
I had to have an ECG too on the same day, wish someone had told me they'd be putting some of the little sticker sensor things on my legs, i'd not shaved them! 😂

Original poster

MissAtomicBomb1 · 22/03/2023 21:47

Thanks for your replies - seems as though it depends who you get! I don't mind going topless if I can cover my modesty a bit with a gown or towel.
Just don't like the thought of being completely topless with a male doing the echo!

OP posts:

Verylongtime · 22/03/2023 21:48

Oh dear. I’ve had a double mastectomy and have no breasts. Do you think I should warn them? I’m going to want to run away now. I already feel like a freak. I don’t want them to be horrified.

jazzandh · 22/03/2023 21:49

I had an echo a few weeks ago at a local clinic. It was performed by a male sonographer. I just took off my top behind a screen and covered my top half with a sheet of paper.

I think you could probably take a scarf along for modesty just in case they didn't give you anything.

Whilst he was doing the echo he moved the paper around a bit, but his eyes never moved from the screen at all!

At times it was a very firm pressure applied.

Once he was finished he stepped out and I put my top back on.

I don't think there would be any problem taking someone with you - but they aren't looking at you at all (unlike some other body checks may do).

QueSyrahSyrah · 22/03/2023 21:50

I've had an Echo by a male practitioner and I was topless but given a modesty sheet so never felt more exposed than was necessary to perform it.

TheChosenTwo · 22/03/2023 21:52

I had one and was topless. Was given a square of blue paper towel which covers nothing when I lie down and my boobs fall sideways into my armpits! I did laugh 😂
it’s a bit embarrassing I suppose having my spaniels ears on display but the guy didn’t care less. Hope it all goes okay.

clementinejuiceforxmas · 22/03/2023 21:55

They will likely have a chaperone policy you could ask if DH can accompany you

I wouldn't take a scarf if it were me, they will do several of these every day and will instantly forget who they see but I would be worried about being remembered as the wafty scarf lady...

They will only be interested in the clinical detail

yogaretreat · 22/03/2023 21:55

I wore a gown and it was very discreet so he couldn't see my breasts, I think I was mostly on my side.

HaggisFace · 22/03/2023 21:59

I wore a gown both times with the opening at the front, it was a male and had another male and female in the room the first time. The last time I don't remember as I was quite unwell.

They were all lovely and put me at ease.

posygir · 22/03/2023 22:08

I'v had an open fronted gown each time. The scanners have always been really professional and maintained eye contact with the screen throughout.

ClassicLib · 22/03/2023 22:09

I had an echo and was given a hospital gown to wear, which opened at the front. It was done by a woman, and the nature of the examination is that it’s, in her words, ‘up close & personal’. Whoever does it, they are interested in your heart, not your boobs, and if I needed another I would be perfectly happy for a man to do it.

StopStartStop · 22/03/2023 22:10

Yes, i was topless in front of the 'strange bloke' for about twenty minutes, and quite disturbed when he said cheerily, 'See you again!' when I was leaving.

Ethelswith · 22/03/2023 22:14

I had a couple recently.

You need to remove your top, but you may be able to keep your bra on (depending on it's structure, large/firm/squash 'em into monoboob bras will probably have to come off. Smaller softer bras can be worked round. Basically they need to put the leads on to various parts of your chest, and they can be got to round some bras but not others.

I wasn't offered a gown, but I did disrobe alone behind a curtain; staff exited until I called I was ready, and left once procedure over, so the exposure needed for the procedure was only for the procedure IYSWIM (not me moving to undress/dress)

I can't see any reason why you couldn't have someone with you

You might have to bare an ankle too. This was explained to me as there are fixed points where the leads must be placed, but then optional further ones can be used too, and putting one somewhere more peripheral can improve the readings (hope that makes sense, and is indeed at least passingly correct!)

Trumpton · 22/03/2023 22:17

Verylongtime · 22/03/2023 21:48

Oh dear. I’ve had a double mastectomy and have no breasts. Do you think I should warn them? I’m going to want to run away now. I already feel like a freak. I don’t want them to be horrified.

I was reading this thinking of when I went for my last one and the nurse said “Take all your top and bra off and pop on this gown” then she saw I had no boobs after a double mastectomy. She apologised poor lamb.
Do NOT feel like a freak! We are survivors, our scars are signs of victory!
Good luck. I decided that I did not want implants, reconstructions or prostheses and am very happy flat.

abbs1 · 22/03/2023 22:17

I've had a couple done. Most recent when I was heavily pregnant. I had the gown on with the opening at the front covering my boobs. The sonographer only slightly moved it to see to scan but was looking at the screen and not me.

My other one I had done as a teenager. I laid on my side turned away from the sonographer with some tissue covering my modesty and again the sonographer only glanced to see where to scan and then only looked at the screen.

Kranke · 22/03/2023 22:18

I’ve only had emergency ones. The less serious emergency I had a crop top on (no wire), and they just moved it around. The other I had a gown on which opened at the front.

Can I ask what you are concerned about? I hate wearing a swimming costume in front of strangers as I’m unhappy about my body. Is this the same for you? If you’re unhappy it’s a male, there will be other staff about. If you could say what your fear is, it might be easier to help your worries.

DilemmaDelilah · 22/03/2023 22:18

I had one a few months ago -my first. I had to take all my top clothes off and put on a front opening gown. However the gown had to be open to have the procedure done so I was pretty exposed. As others have said, the sonographer was not actually looking at my boobs, but at the screen. Definitely up close and personal though, I'm a hefty person and she was quite slight and to get some views she was basically sitting behind me cuddled up to me so that she could get her arm round me. Rather funny really!

Verylongtime · 22/03/2023 22:35

Trumpton · 22/03/2023 22:17

Show quote history

Oh, thank you @Trumpton
Kind words.

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