Question:
Postops - how do you drink 32 ounces for a sonogram in less than an hour?

I need a pelvic sonogram for some pain I have been having. I am almost 4 months post-op and I need to know if it will be hard for me to drink this much. I don't even see how it is possible since I ususlly can't get that much douwn in a whole day. Will it streth my stomach out or will it pass through my stomach quickly enough? My surgeon says 8 ounces per hour max! Help!!!    — Melissa T. (posted on May 14, 2002)

May 14, 2002
I'm an ultrasound tech... The reason for drinking the fluid is to fill the bladder (of course)... we need your bladder full, because ultrasound transmits well through fluid, and the uterus and ovaries lie behind the bladder... it's like a window to see things we couldn't otherwise see! As for drinking your 32 oz, it IS important, but it doesn't matter what period of time it takes to fill your bladder. Drink several hours before if you have to... more slowly... and when your bladder's so full that you're dancing and your eyeballs are floating in your head, you're full enough! Good luck to you! P.S... I'm 3 months post op, and can drink quite a bit...but would still start early... just don't void :).
   — Michelle B.

May 14, 2002
I find that if I drink on a completely empty stomach, at least 2-3 hours since I ate anything at all, I am able to drink a fairly large amount of water faily quickly without gulping or overdoing it. I am only 10 wks post-op. 32 oz in 1 hour should be do-able if you drink a few oz's ever 5 minutes.
   — Dell H.