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[toffeecushion]

I had an internal scan today, but the nurse wouldn't say if she saw anything wrong or not.  Is this normal or should I be concerned?

[Taz2]

The nurse is not allowed to tell you anything toffeecushion. Your results will be sent to your GP. You should have been told how long to wait before contacting your doc. I'm glad it went ok.

Taz

[CLKD]

Give your Surgery a ring and ask how long you will need to wait until the Result is faxed through.

[mamakaren]

I agree. I have never been given scan results by the nurse. It always takes a day or two. But it wouldn't hurt to call your Dr. to check!

Karen

[Sarah2]

I didn't know nurses did scans- I thought they were always done by radiologists?

I've had loads of scans as I had a cyst monitored for 2 years, and have had my lining checked often, but the radiologist dr who does the scans talks me through everything he can or can't see. He then sends the report to my dr- same building- who writes to me to confirm.

I think it's outrageous that some of you are treated like children not allowed to know what can be seen in YOUR body on the day of a test etc!

[CLKD]

I think it depends on the type of scan and also how qualified the Nurse might be.  A Consultant would give the results but otherwise they would need to be reported on first.  Usually the result is faxed to the GP Surgery.

[BreadFruit]

I was told during the scan that my womb was ok. This was years ago. I would have expected to be told right away. Also I saw the screen and she pointed out things to me. It was very interesting to see my womb from the inside.

[Sarah2]

There are 2 types of HPs who can do scans- radiographers ( who are less qualified and who do X rays and about the level of a nurse or a physio) and radiologists who are drs who have then gone on to specialise in  radiology- they are the ones who will examine mammograms etc.

A radiographer ( probably wearing a uniform) would not be likely to give you results - they'd be simply doing the scan then sending it to someone more qualified. However, it still takes skill to do the scan correctly and take shots of anything that looks odd.

If they are a RADIOLOGIST- they would have DR beside their name.

That is who does mine and he tells me there and then what he sees incl the lining measurements, how my ovaries are looking and how big my small fibroid is. But this is not NHS so some of the protocol does not apply.

[Hurdity]

Hi

I've had several scans - uterus and transvaginal and I thought all by a radiographer - well actually now I'm not so sure. Maybe she was a radiologist?  There was only her in the room. Anyway she has always told me informally what she can see on the scan - I didn't even know that nurses did scans.

Hurdity x

[toffeecushion]

Got in from work today and the doctors had left me a message.  I phoned them back and the receptionist said I needed to make a telephone consultation appointment with the doctor to discuss my scan results.  It has only been 2 days so I am guessing that something showed up.  I now have to wait until Monday to speak to the doctor.  It's going to be a long weekend.

[Suzyq]

I know you will be worried, but rest assured if it was anything horrible, you wouldn't be having a telephone consultation! Waiting for any results is stressful, so just make up your mind that worrying will not change anything and is just pointless, and try to keep busy. Xx

[Taz2]

I agree with Suzyq - a telephone conversation will be just to discuss your results. If there was anything untoward you would have been asked to come in. Bad news is never delivered by a phone conversation.

Taz x

[lubylou]

Hi Toffeecushion
I was 47 years when I went into menopause /was perimenopausal.

Do you mind if I ask was the scan a vaginal ultra sound scan where the radiographer is looking at your womb and "bits" on screen as the scan is being done?
Lubylou

[toffeecushion]

Hi Toffeecushion
I was 47 years when I went into menopause /was perimenopausal.

Do you mind if I ask was the scan a vaginal ultra sound scan where the radiographer is looking at your womb and "bits" on screen as the scan is being done?
Lubylou

Yes it was

[lubylou]

Hah I thought it was.  So the results are visually seen there and then at the time of the scan and don't have to disappear into a big black NHS hole before a radiologist can read and visualise an x-ray (as happens with a mammogram). This type of scan results can therefore be turned around quickly. My Gyno said that digital images can be taken but usually the result is just a letter saying what the scan showed,

Honestly I have been there  - done all that - worrying and it always turned out I worried for no good reason. So now I don't worry.

I know that you will worry over the weekend but can I just say this, based on my personal experience of messages on my voicemail. Think about it logically rather than in full panic mode!

If it was serious you would have been told something before now, on the day or very very soon after. This is because the scan is an immediate visual procedure any problems are seen while the scan is being done.

Also don't forget the results can be emailed quickly to your GP practice, that fact they have been sent quickly does NOT mean there is anything sinister, last ultra sound scan I had (recently) I asked the nurse doing the scan (who are qualified to do these scans) what she was actually imaging /seeing during the scan. I was told by her that everything was "unremarkable (i.e. normal) and I got the result the day after next day. All was fine. The scan the year before I didn't ask and I wasn't offer any information (that one was OK too)

If there was a problem (i.e. not a serious urgent thing) rationally - your GP would have asked that you are contacted to make an emergency appt at the surgery.

In my experience the telephone consultations are the most time efficient way my GP surgery gives test results when no particular follow up is required. Remember that the GP has to give you the results, he/she can't not tell you the result even if its “all clear”, and the telephone consult is just one way of doing this.

So think about it logically, you need to be told the scan result and a telephone call is a time efficient way of doing this, so.... why assume it is bad news?

My surgery allocates particular times each day for each GP to have telephone consults when a face to face isn't needed, it frees up surgery time for personal face to face appointments.

I know it is hard – but please try not to worry, remember you won't get this weekend back! So relax and enjoy the rest of the weekend.