Endoscopic Ultrasound - Digestive Disorders Message Board

gingertea · 02-20-2007, 04:38 PM

I am supposed to have an endoscopic ultrasound in about a month. If anybody has had one I would like to know what I can expect. I have had several endoscopies with biopsies, and experienced no problems in recovery or after returning home. The nurse explaining the procedure, with the ultrasound added, said I would experience pain after the fact. She told me because they are alot more aggressive when they are doing the ultrasound, I would probably feel like I'd been punched in the stomach for a couple of days.
Any advice from someone that has had this type of ultrasound? Thanks!

agurl79 · 02-21-2007, 09:37 AM

I have had 3 Endoscopic Ultrasounds and have never experienced pain from the actual procedure. The only discomfort I felt, was the same as I had prior to the test. I'm assuming that they are doing the EUS to visualize your pancreas better? The EUS (endscopic ultrasound) has a much lower risk of inducing pancreatitis than an ERCP would. Perhaps that's what the nurse was thinking of? I know there is a very small risk of pancreatitis with the EUS, but the risk is much much much higher with ERCP.
The actual EUS feels no different than an EGD or regular endoscopy, they put you under conscious sedation so hopefully you wake up and have no idea that they did anything to you at all. Unfortunately for me, I am very hard to sedate so they have to use general anesthesia everytime I have these tests.
I hope that helps you some.

gingertea · 02-22-2007, 08:41 PM

What kind of symptoms were you having when your doctor ordered the ultrasound? Did they suspect pancreatic problems?