Ultrasound on neck? What to expect?

Hi everyone :)

Tomorrow I am going for an ultrasound of my neck due to having multiple (6 that I can count) enlarged lymph nodes. 

I just wondered if anyone could tell me their experiences with ultrasound on the neck? 

I have a few questions:

● How long does it take?

● Will I get any answers there and then?

● Will they ultrasound in front/behind my ears too? As I have enlarged nodes there!

● How long after the ultrasound did you have results?

● I have enlarged nodes under my armpits too but my ultrasound has only been put through for my neck - could I ask for a test on my armpits while I'm there also? 

● Am I wasting their time? I have enlarged lymph nodes, confirmed by GP, but I can't help but think nothing will come out of the ultrasound and I will have wasted everyone's time. I do have GAD so I have these type of worries often. 

 

I'd appreciate any advice/ similar situations you can offer me. 

Thank you and good vibes for you all x

Parents
  • I'm sorry I missed this post first time round, so the answers won't be relevant to the original poster, but someone else in a similar position might find them useful.

    ● How long does it take?

    Just a few minutes. The sonographer puts gel on the nodes and then runs the probe over the gel. It only takes a few seconds to get an image and it doesn't hurt.

    ● Will I get any answers there and then?

    Possibly. Sometimes people are given results immediately, sometimes not. I think it depends on whether the sonographer is qualified to interpret the images.  You should read nothing into the sonographer's silence.

    ● Will they ultrasound in front/behind my ears too? As I have enlarged nodes there!

    Point out all enlarged nodes to the sonographer and ask for them to be scanned.

    ● How long after the ultrasound did you have results?

    It depends. If you're not given the results at once it should only take a few days for the results to come through to your GP.

    ● I have enlarged nodes under my armpits too but my ultrasound has only been put through for my neck - could I ask for a test on my armpits while I'm there also? 

    Point out all swollen nodes to the sonographer and ask for them to be scanned.  

    ● Am I wasting their time? 

    Absolutely not!  Your doctor wouldn't have referred you for the scan if it wasn't appropriate.

     

Reply
  • I'm sorry I missed this post first time round, so the answers won't be relevant to the original poster, but someone else in a similar position might find them useful.

    ● How long does it take?

    Just a few minutes. The sonographer puts gel on the nodes and then runs the probe over the gel. It only takes a few seconds to get an image and it doesn't hurt.

    ● Will I get any answers there and then?

    Possibly. Sometimes people are given results immediately, sometimes not. I think it depends on whether the sonographer is qualified to interpret the images.  You should read nothing into the sonographer's silence.

    ● Will they ultrasound in front/behind my ears too? As I have enlarged nodes there!

    Point out all enlarged nodes to the sonographer and ask for them to be scanned.

    ● How long after the ultrasound did you have results?

    It depends. If you're not given the results at once it should only take a few days for the results to come through to your GP.

    ● I have enlarged nodes under my armpits too but my ultrasound has only been put through for my neck - could I ask for a test on my armpits while I'm there also? 

    Point out all swollen nodes to the sonographer and ask for them to be scanned.  

    ● Am I wasting their time? 

    Absolutely not!  Your doctor wouldn't have referred you for the scan if it wasn't appropriate.

     

Children