Ultrasound tech was completely wrong - do I say something to the practice?
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Anonymous
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I had an unscheduled ultrasound today. Went in for the glucose testing but dr decided it had been too long since my last u/s so squeezed me in for a quick one to check baby's growth. I should preface this with a few things: in 27.5 weeks along and have only gained 5 pounds (normal BMI to start), had a miscarriage last year, I'm 39 and my initial blood report at 10 weeks showed some concern for restricted fetal growth towards the end of my pregnancy. All U/s tech says my fluid is really low AND the baby is measuring very small. Measuring 2 pounds and 2 ounces and should be measuring 3 + pounds.
Naturally I freak out. For the next 15 min while I wait for the doc to tell me about the results, I'm consulting dr Google about all this. Interestingly, everything I read says average fetal weight at 27 weeks is 2 pounds. Hmmmmm. Eventually the doctor comes by and says everything is spot on, baby is measuring great etc. I specifically ask about fluid and he says it's fine. I ask about baby's weight and he says weight is right on target. Didn't get a chance to discuss much else but felt relieved. Also very annoyed. Why the hell would an u/s tech say such false stuff? And why would she offer an opinion that was completely off? Should I say something to the practice? Or should I leave things as they are? I've been with this practice for 5+ years and 3 pregnancies so they know me. I've had this tech do weird stuff before - perhaps retirement should be in her near future. Thoughts? |
Anonymous
| I would have said something right then. When the doc said that everything looked great, I would have said, "The u/s tech just said the fluid was low and baby is measuring small." |
Anonymous
| I would tell them. Techs are usually not allowed to say anything at all. I had an u/s for what ended up being a blighted ovum - I knew it was bad when I saw the screen because I was so experienced with infertility, but she didn't say a word and waited for me to talk to the dr. I did once get a tech to tell me that she thought my huge ovarian cyst looked ok to her - this was years ago and I was absolutely freaked and crying on the table because my mom died young of ovarian cancer. But she let me know I had to talk to the dr and she wasn't supposed to say anything to me. |
Anonymous
| OP here. I was completely ready to say something then and here but the doc was talking so much and I tried to get a word in. Plus I had been there for 2+ hours and was trying to get home to finish up some work. I should have been clearer as to why I asked specifically about fluid and growth but was so relieved with the doctor's assessment. |
Anonymous
| The techs are mostly idiots. You could mention it at your next appt, but they probably already know. |
Anonymous
A rash generalization, don't you think? |
Anonymous
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Yes, please do. I recently told one of my doctors about a really bad experiences I had with (not a doctor) at another practitioner's office. He very strongly encouraged me to get in touch with my doctor who is the head of that clinic to talk to them about my experience. He said that their number one priority is patient care and they have to assume that the staff is living up to the training that they are being provided and the guidelines of customer service expectations. He said he would always want to know about concerns for his office so they could be addressed immediately. Often times he said, they have to rely on patients for that information, whether it has volunteered or through surveys, etc.
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Anonymous
Frankly I would be more worried that the doctor did not let me get a word in than about what some tech said. |
Anonymous
| I had an U.S. tech say my fluid was low. I similarly freaked out. The doctor said it was fine. I should have reported him but I didn't feel like dealing with it. They are not supposed to say things like this. |
Anonymous
Agreed. The doctor should always ask if you have questions and leave room for you to talk/ask. |
Anonymous
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You always wait for the doctor. Techs aren't supposed to give diagnoses like that, even when they are experienced.
But, let's not act like doctors aren't wrong sometimes too... |
Anonymous
+1. Due to your timidity, the window has passed. |
Anonymous
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I would absolutely say something - but the best way would likely be a letter/email to the doctor so they have something in writing rather than speaking up at your next appointment.
Just a PSA - ultrasound growth measurements are notoriously inaccurate after about 8 weeks. During both of my pregnancies I have had ultrasound techs tell me grossly inaccurate - and scary - things about my baby's growth... and then had doctors tell me not to pay any attention because ultrasound growth measurements are so wrong. |
Anonymous
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Your u/s tech was way off! When I was 29w1d, my baby measured well over 3lbs and I was told that is the 72nd percentile. Do you have an online portal where you can send a secure message to the doctor? Perhaps thanking him for putting you at ease because before he came into the room the u/s tech had told you the baby was measuring small and you had low fluid. Then he can handle it from there.
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