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Original poster

Ultra sound scan, drinking water 1hr before appt......help!

20 replies

Tolkienista · 15/04/2025 18:51

My mother is 96 and requires an ultra sound scan in the coming weeks.
On the letter it states "You are required to drink at least one and a half pints of water 1 hour before your appointment and attend with a full bladder"

As a very elderly lady, it's almost impossible to get her to drink water (she hates it), she either drinks a few mouthfuls of blackcurrant squash or small amounts of tea.
The thought of trying to get her to drink that much is sending me into a tail spin.
Anyone with any medical knowledge or insight, please reach out and give some much needed advice.
Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
Skweelr · 15/04/2025 19:30

There will be a number on the appt letter to call with any queries. Ring that number and explain the situation. Your mum won't be the first or last person unable to follow the preparation instructions. They'll have a plan for such people, do not worry.

AnotherVice · 15/04/2025 19:34

Well it obviously doesn't have to be water. But don't worry, just get her to drink as much as possible. I recently had an ultrasound where I was supposed to have a full bladder but I never received the letter stating this (was text the appointment) and they could still see it even though it t was next to empty.

Original poster
Tolkienista · 15/04/2025 20:07

AnotherVice · 15/04/2025 19:34

Well it obviously doesn't have to be water. But don't worry, just get her to drink as much as possible. I recently had an ultrasound where I was supposed to have a full bladder but I never received the letter stating this (was text the appointment) and they could still see it even though it t was next to empty.

That's really reassuring, we'll get her to drink as much as possible and take it from there.
Yes I must admit after I started the thread, I realised squash is pretty much 90% water! so that will do.
Thanks.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tolkienista · 15/04/2025 20:09

Skweelr · 15/04/2025 19:30

There will be a number on the appt letter to call with any queries. Ring that number and explain the situation. Your mum won't be the first or last person unable to follow the preparation instructions. They'll have a plan for such people, do not worry.

Yes I agree, there will be plenty that arrive who probably haven't even read the letter properly or just guesstimated how much to drink.
I'm less concerned now.
Thanks for your post.

OP posts:
Coffeecoconut · 15/04/2025 20:10

If it’s anything like the pregnancy scans, they’ll try and if they can’t see because her bladder’s not full enough they’ll just send you to the waiting room to drink water and wait for a while then try again.

Original poster
Tolkienista · 15/04/2025 20:14

Coffeecoconut · 15/04/2025 20:10

If it’s anything like the pregnancy scans, they’ll try and if they can’t see because her bladder’s not full enough they’ll just send you to the waiting room to drink water and wait for a while then try again.

Yes that's a good point.....never thought of that, makes sense.
I knew I'd get relevant comments on here.
Feeling much more confident now facing this appointment with her.
Thanks for your reply.

OP posts:
junebirthdaygirl · 15/04/2025 20:15

Try and arrive early and drink as much as she can there as travelling in a car with a full bladder is hell for that age..l would think.

Original poster
Tolkienista · 15/04/2025 20:24

junebirthdaygirl · 15/04/2025 20:15

Try and arrive early and drink as much as she can there as travelling in a car with a full bladder is hell for that age..l would think.

Yes I agree, that was my first thought, what if she needs the toilet en route after drinking so much.
So why does it say .....to drink that amount an hour before her appointment.
That's puzzling me.
Surely water goes straight down Into your bladder, doesn't it?

OP posts:
junebirthdaygirl · 15/04/2025 20:39

Sometimes those letters go out with no thought to the patient..just automatically sent with those details. She can only do her best and your heart would go out to her trying to do it. Difficult enough when pregnant but at that age!

LilacPony · 15/04/2025 20:42

When I was pregnant there was absolutely no way I could drink that much water an hour before and not be absolutely busting for the toilet before the scan even started. So I used to start slowly drinking 30 mins before when I got in the car to drive there and just sipped up until walking in. Only on one scan did I not have enough water in my bladder so they sent me out for ten minutes to down some more and we went again and all fine.

Iheartmysmart · 15/04/2025 20:47

I had to go for a scan once and did as told with regards to the water but then the clinic was running over 90 minutes late. I held out for as long as possible but just had to go to the toilet in the end as it was getting incredibly painful. I think at least half the waiting room were scanned with pretty much empty bladders as once one person headed to the loo, everyone else followed! The clinic didn’t help though as they didn’t bother to keep us updated so nobody knew how much longer they needed to wait.

Original poster
Tolkienista · 15/04/2025 21:03

junebirthdaygirl · 15/04/2025 20:39

Sometimes those letters go out with no thought to the patient..just automatically sent with those details. She can only do her best and your heart would go out to her trying to do it. Difficult enough when pregnant but at that age!

Really good post and you're so right .....at 96 it's in a different stratosphere to someone in the prime of their life.
We'll do our best and have a bottle in the car for her to sip on too .

OP posts:
Original poster
Tolkienista · 15/04/2025 21:06

Iheartmysmart · 15/04/2025 20:47

I had to go for a scan once and did as told with regards to the water but then the clinic was running over 90 minutes late. I held out for as long as possible but just had to go to the toilet in the end as it was getting incredibly painful. I think at least half the waiting room were scanned with pretty much empty bladders as once one person headed to the loo, everyone else followed! The clinic didn’t help though as they didn’t bother to keep us updated so nobody knew how much longer they needed to wait.

Yes I agree.
The way you've explained it makes perfect sense.
If you don't keep the people queueing in the loop re: how long they've got to wait, people will be incredibly uncomfortable trying to hold it in.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tolkienista · 15/04/2025 21:09

LilacPony · 15/04/2025 20:42

When I was pregnant there was absolutely no way I could drink that much water an hour before and not be absolutely busting for the toilet before the scan even started. So I used to start slowly drinking 30 mins before when I got in the car to drive there and just sipped up until walking in. Only on one scan did I not have enough water in my bladder so they sent me out for ten minutes to down some more and we went again and all fine.

Thanks, that's really good advice ......makes perfect sense rather than downing a ton of water and hour before her appointment.

OP posts:
Capybara6473 · 15/04/2025 21:11

I had the same instructions when I was pregnant and got sent out of
the scan because my bladder was “too full”. So I think they assume people don’t actually properly comply with the instructions.

ScaryM0nster · 15/04/2025 21:13

Also - any liquid is fine.

It’s a full bladder theyre after.

So if she’s a fan of a cup of tea, or hot chocolate, or a fancy coffee, theyre all fine too. Theyre just not something the health service recommends.

ChristmaslightsuptilJanuary · 15/04/2025 21:32

Is it a gynae scan? They might be able to do it transvaginally instead of an abdominal scan. No need for a full bladder then.

Original poster
Tolkienista · 15/04/2025 21:40

ChristmaslightsuptilJanuary · 15/04/2025 21:32

Is it a gynae scan? They might be able to do it transvaginally instead of an abdominal scan. No need for a full bladder then.

Yes it's a gynae scan.
She's had bleeding for a number of months and a pessary ring fitted last year was taken out last week by a gynaecologist.
She also said the ring had been rubbing.

OP posts:
ChristmaslightsuptilJanuary · 15/04/2025 21:43

I've just had a TV scan as have a bladder condition. I too got the letter of doom but just told them when I got there that it wasn't possible for me to drink large volumes. All was fine. They did do an abdominal scan and then a TV to check my uterus

Original poster
Tolkienista · 15/04/2025 21:58

ChristmaslightsuptilJanuary · 15/04/2025 21:43

I've just had a TV scan as have a bladder condition. I too got the letter of doom but just told them when I got there that it wasn't possible for me to drink large volumes. All was fine. They did do an abdominal scan and then a TV to check my uterus

That's really helpful and as you say "the letter of doom" I read it and panicked.
A 96 year old woman is never going to down that amount.
We'll do our best.

OP posts:
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