Scan appointment through

[annalou2006]

 Hi everyone,

Having waited for seven weeks after my rheumy appointment, I've now got my ultrasound scan appointment through for hands and feet!! It's a week on Monday (13th) and will be 8 weeks since I saw the rheumy and its at a different hospital! My aches and pains, particulary hands, wrists and feet are definately getting worse not better so I'm hoping something will show up so that the rheumy can make her diagnosis and get me started on meds!

Does anyone know what ultrasound scans will show if anything, is it inflammation and damage.  When I stop taking the Naproxen my joints are worse so I might not have any over the weekend if i can stand it or do you think this will noy make a difference?

Also, will I have to make an appointment to get results or will it be automatic?  She just said she would see me afterwards for results of scans and blood tests taken hmm 7/8 weeks ago! I don't know why I'm surprised because it seems everyone as long waits between appointments.

Sorry for all the questions! Annalou

[smose]

Yeh the long waits are a pain in the bum - my son had an MRI in august and still hasnt seen the rheumy for results!

I have never had an ultrasound but I reckon they show more of the soft tissue damage and inflamation as aposed to bone damage fro which xrays are better. (after my MRI which showed a tear in the tendon the surgeon also wanted an xray to check the bone)

I always stop taking my meds the day of any appiontments - i don't necessarily think it makes things easier to see it just reminds me more what pains i have!

You will probably be sent an appiontment after the scans I would wait about four weeks and if you haven't got one ring up.

[sarah2000_leeds]

I had an ultrasound of my joints which did show changes. I thinks it shows a like of synovial fluid around the joints. Which is where the pain comes from. I'm sure that's what he told me. However my X-rays were normal so it is really useful.

I was lucky that my rheumy did it on my first appointment but just chase it up if u don't hear anything.  I wouldn't take ur meds either. Good luck I hope things start moving a bit sooner

S x x x

[peter05]

Hi everyone,

Having waited for seven weeks after my rheumy appointment, I've now got my ultrasound scan appointment through for hands and feet!! It's a week on Monday (13th) and will be 8 weeks since I saw the rheumy and its at a different hospital! My aches and pains, particulary hands, wrists and feet are definately getting worse not better so I'm hoping something will show up so that the rheumy can make her diagnosis and get me started on meds!

Does anyone know what ultrasound scans will show if anything, is it inflammation and damage.  When I stop taking the Naproxen my joints are worse so I might not have any over the weekend if i can stand it or do you think this will noy make a difference?

Also, will I have to make an appointment to get results or will it be automatic?  She just said she would see me afterwards for results of scans and blood tests taken hmm 7/8 weeks ago! I don't know why I'm surprised because it seems everyone as long waits between appointments.

Sorry for all the questions! Annalou

MY rheumy has his own ultra sound scanner so it's done then and there it does show inflammation and liquid around the joints

[Gav74]

Also, will I have to make an appointment to get results or will it be automatic?  She just said she would see me afterwards for results of scans and blood tests taken hmm 7/8 weeks ago! I don't know why I'm surprised because it seems everyone as long waits between appointments.

I'm not sure that any result from scans can be a 'good' one, but I hope you get a useful one (sorry I'm fed up today).
Never assume that they'll ask to see you to discuss results, they're very busy people and they have different priorities to us, always ask. Ask the person doing the scans how long before the results are in and ask your Rheumatologist or their secretary if you need to make an appointment or how long you need to wait to hear from them. I've learnt through experience that no-one really minds if you ask, but you're the only one who suffers if you just sit and wait.

[moanalot]

The scan will show a fluid build up around each joint which is affected by PA. This will show up as a dark mass inbetween the joints.
Its all over within 15min or so as each image taken is saved and instantly sent to the rheumy , once the doctor has made and attached his comments. The results should be discussed with you on your next visit as with blood tests, unless they pick up on something and will call you in sooner.

[Eve]

ive had my hands and feet done and it shows all the tendons etc and if they are inflamed , my sonographer told me that alot of pa isnt the joints its tendon problems which are just as painful as i know too well , she should show you or you should be able to see, i had to have one of my fingers injected with ultra sound to see where it needed to be and that was the tendon , i cant straighten or ben the finger properly its stuck like it , the injection only worked for about 24 hours though sadly but i could see where the problem was on the scan too . But yes it shows all the tissue inflammation up so hopefully you can get sorted when then have done it

[niceman]

When I saw the rheumy after a scan they actually asked if I had been taking the naproxen leading up to the scan.  They said it is relevant so yes, if you want your symptoms to be at their worst and if you can put up with it, then stay off them for a few days before the scan

[annalou2006]

Thanks everyone for your replies, I'm going to try going without Naproxen over the weekend, having nothing major that needs doing apart from the usual household chores hehe and they can take a lesser priority for once and then come Monday am I should be all ready to go.  Feel nervous which is really silly, hoping they'll find something and yet hoping they won't, to be expected I know, like you say Gav, no scan news is good news.  I'm guessing it will be like the ultrasounds you get when having babies lol, so know all about that hehe!  I remembered I have the Rhuemy's secretary's number so i'm going to give her a call when I get back about the results.