Never Ignore Abdominal Pain

« Back to Home

Tips On Preparing For A Prostate Ultrasound Appointment

Posted on

If your attend your annual physical and your doctor indicates some concerns about the health of your prostate, he or she may give you a requisition form to visit an ultrasound clinic and have this part of your body assessed. In most ultrasound appointments, the ultrasound technician puts a lubricant on your skin and passes the ultrasound wand over it. However, in the case of a prostate ultrasound, the wand will be inserted into your anus. You might not be thrilled with attending this appointment, but the procedure will be over quickly and shouldn't hurt. Prostate issues that are caught early are highly treatable, so it's valuable to attend the appointment in a timely manner. Here are some tips on how to prepare for this appointment:

Use An Enema

When you make the appointment, you'll typically hear about what dietary restrictions you need to make in the hours leading up to your appointment. For example, you might be asked to consume only fluids. You'll also often be required to have an enema. This might be something with which you're unfamiliar, but you can buy an enema kit at your local pharmacy and follow the instructions. Giving yourself an enema isn't painful — you use a squeeze bottle to push water into your rectum, and then sit on the toilet to expel the fluid and any waste. Cleaning out the rectum is vital for giving the ultrasound technician a clear image.

Ask Any Necessary Questions

It's understandable for you to feel a little anxious about the ultrasound, but stressing yourself because of a fear of the unknown won't help. Before you call to make your appointment, make a list of any questions that you may have. The person on the other end of the call will do his or her best to answer these questions, and may even refer you to a website with more details about the procedure. The more you know, the less you'll feel anxious.

Stay Relaxed

It's a good idea to engage in something relaxing in advance of your prostate ultrasound appointment. This can lower your stress level and help you to feel relatively relaxed during the procedure. Being relaxed during the ultrasound is key; if you're tense, you'll be tense everywhere in your body — and this can make the ultrasound more uncomfortable than it needs to be. Practice something such as a deep breathing, as doing so can promote relaxation throughout your body. Soon enough, the procedure will be over.

Check out a website like http://www.evdi.com for more information and assistance. 


Share