Pelvic ultrasound/ovarian scan questions...

Thanks so much, ladies—you guys seriously helped me chill out. 😉

My OB-GYN just gave me a referral for an ultrasound. Since this is my first time getting one done here in Washington, D.C., I could use some help picking out a hospital.
I'm open to any suggestions. 😳

Also, I have supplemental insurance—will I be expected to pay anything out of pocket?
And can I get this done during my current cycle, or am I looking at a long wait...

Thanks.

Honestly, your best bet is to just get referrals sent to all the hospitals in the area, then head to whichever one has the shortest wait list.
Just make sure you don't forget to cancel any appointments you end up deciding against.
If you have supplemental insurance, you shouldn't have to pay anything out of pocket.

Great, thanks for the help. 🙂

Advice and help needed

About six months ago, my mom had her uterus and ovaries removed because of a benign tumor weighing in at roughly seven or eight pounds; apparently, my late grandmother dealt with similar issues, and my aunt did too.👎 When I signed up with a new doctor recently and mentioned this history, she told me I absolutely need to get an pelvic ultrasound and a Pap smear immediately. I've been trying to find a gynecologist here in Washington, D.C. (since all my previous care was handled on the other side of the country), but every single specialist I’ve been recommended seems completely booked up and isn't taking new patients.
I am looking for any recommendations for gynecologists in the Brooklyn area (to be honest, I'm a bit of a hypochondriac when it comes to hospitals and doctors, so my ideal match would be someone incredibly thorough who actually takes the time to explain test results and findings) so I can stay on top of this and keep everything under control.
Please don't judge me for dragging this out for two months, as I've been juggling multiple appointments with endocrinologists and running lab tests simultaneously to deal with a total hormonal collapse)🙂

Rachel Hernandez61 said:Advice and help

Six months ago, my mom had her uterus and ovaries removed because of a benign tumor weighing about 7 or 8 pounds. Apparently, my late grandmother dealt with similar issues, and my aunt did too.👎 When I signed up with a new doctor and mentioned this family history two months ago, she told me I urgently needed an pelvic ultrasound and a Pap smear. I've been trying to find a gynecologist in Washington, D.C. (all my previous doctors were halfway across the country), but every single person recommended to me is fully booked and isn't taking new patients.
I'm looking for recommendations for gynecologists in the Brooklyn area (I’m pretty anxious when it comes to hospitals and doctors; I’d ideally love someone thorough who is willing to actually explain my scans and results) so I can stay on top of this and keep everything under control.
Don't yell at me for dragging this out for two months; I've been juggling endless appointments with endocrinologists and labs trying to fix my hormonal system which has basically collapsed.🙂

I can recommend George Washington’s private practice. Since going to my insurance-provider OBGYN is incredibly stressful due to the crowds and the chaos, I opted for a specialist in private practice. She is an eminent expert, extremely thorough, and honestly just a lovely person who explains everything in detail. You don't get rushed out of her office until you've had all your questions answered calmly. I managed to cover the cost through a private insurance provider where for $67/month I get three specialist visits per year of my choice (I pick my gynecologist) plus some lab work, including a Pap smear, swabs, and ultrasounds. My warmest recommendation is to try solving it this way first, then look for a primary care doctor later. You'll always need one eventually for prescriptions or referrals.

Angela Wright said:I’d honestly suggest looking into George Washington’s private practice. Since dealing with my usual community clinic is such a massive, stressful headache because of the constant crowds and total chaos, I decided to switch to a specialist in private practice who is an absolute powerhouse in her field. Beyond being a top-tier expert, she is incredibly kind and takes the time to walk you through everything in detail; she won't let you out the door until every single one of your questions is answered calmly and without any rush. I actually managed to cover the costs through a private insurance provider where, for $67/month, I get three specialist visits a year of my choice (I always pick my OBGYN), plus some lab work including Pap tests, swabs, and ultrasounds. My warmest recommendation would be to try sorting things out this way first, and then you can slowly start searching for a primary doctor. You're always going to need one eventually anyway whenever you need a prescription or a referral for further testing.

That was actually my backup plan if I couldn't find a decent primary care doctor within a reasonable timeframe—even my mother-in-law suggested her own doctor, whom she really likes, but he doesn't do ultrasounds and his schedule is fully booked indefinitely.
Thanks for the heads-up, I'm going to look into supplemental insurance and then I'll get moving on this. 😍🎉

How much more reliable is a color Doppler scan compared to a standard ultrasound when it comes to diagnosing malignant tumors? I have a clear cyst on my ovary that I’m scheduled to have surgically removed next month. During my last regular ultrasound two months ago, it was about 5 cm in diameter—but since I've been dealing with some pain, I have this nagging feeling it's grown. At the time, my doctor wasn't worried about malignancy because she didn't see any significant blood flow, suggesting there's a 99% chance it's just a dermoid cyst. Would a color Doppler confirm that assessment, or...?

I could use some help here. Is it actually possible for a gynecologist to miss a pregnancy on an ultrasound, even if I’ve been pregnant for at least two months?

Melissa Young53 said:Please help me out here. Is it actually possible for a gynecologist to miss a pregnancy on an ultrasound if I've been pregnant for at least two months?

Not really, unless your doctor is completely incompetent at their job. By two months, you can see and hear the heartbeat. You’d have to be seriously clueless—to put it politely—not to spot an eight-week pregnancy sitting right there in the uterus.

Melissa Young53 said:I need some help here. Is it actually possible for an OB-GYN to miss a pregnancy on an ultrasound if I've been pregnant for at least two months?

They’d have to be straight-up blind not to see that.

I’m of the same mind. My stomach isn't just getting bigger; I’ve been dealing with constant bloating since last December. I actually went to see my doctor because I was having stomach pains and this sharp, stabbing sensation in my abdomen and chest... but all I got were some over-the-counter anti-gas tablets. They don't do a thing. My stomach keeps expanding, especially when I sit down. It feels like I should be several months along or something, and honestly, the discomfort when sitting is becoming a real issue. I’m naturally quite thin, so the swelling is incredibly obvious, which makes it even more frustrating. I guess I just don't know what's going on.

Melissa Young53 said:I’m right there with you on that..but honestly, it’s not just bloating. My stomach has been getting huge and I've felt totally puffed up since December. I even went to see my doctor because my stomach was killing me and I had these sharp pains in my gut and chest...and all they did was hand me some antacids for gas..which don't do jack. Nothing helps..my belly just keeps growing..especially when I sit down..it feels like I'm way further along than I actually am and it's such a pain when I'm sitting..I'm naturally super thin so it's incredibly obvious and it's really messing with me..I just have no clue what's going on

So, seriously, have you even bothered taking a pregnancy test or getting blood work done for HCG levels yet?

Maria Gray45 said:So, did you actually take a pregnancy test or get your blood work done?

I've tried several different pregnancy tests, and they're all negative. Based on the ultrasound my doctor performed, my endometrial lining is only 2mm and the uterine cavity appears empty.

So, you're not actually pregnant then
you could be bloated for a million other reasons