First Mammogram! I'm nervous! ** UPDATE POST #26

[lovinwdw]

Hey everyone! I'm 31 years old and a major hypocondriact! My Aunt just died after a 4 1/2 year battle with breast cancer. my mother told me that my Aunt had felt a lump quite a while before actually going to the doctor. She was caring for her very sick mother in law at the time. By the time she had gone to the doctor, it had moved onto her lymph nodes and by the time she died, her lungs kept filling with fluids filled with cancer cells. She was only 55 years old. My 36 year old sister died almost 2 years ago from lung cancer, my 59 year old uncle, a year ago also from lung cancer and my 59 year old father died about 16 years ago from lung cancer. I feel like i am surrounded by it! BTW, i used to smoke, but i quit 6 years ago.

So, one day, I freaked myself out and I swore I felt a lump. I made an appt with my ob/gyn and she did a breast exam. She said she felt absolutely nothing other than normal breast tissue. She wanted me to get an ultrasound just to calm my nerves and since I said I felt something. I just called the Breast Center at Monmouth Medical Center and they advised me that I have to first get a mammogram and then if the mammogram shows something, then they'll do an ultrasound. I am very nervous. I have heard that this test can be very painful, especially for well endowed women...

I will be getting the test, because I personally think it's better to hear from a professional that you are ok, rather than saying, ok she said i'm ok, so i'll go with that. But i am very nervous!

 

[Cantw8]

I have one word for you...........OUCH

 

[becker1123]

I have one word for you...........OUCH

I have to disagree ... I didn't have any pain. None. It felt a little weird, but if you relax, and have a good technician, it should be just fine. Good luck. Just think, it only takes a few minutes and then it's over. You can do it!

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

I remember before my first mammogram, I came here to the DIS for support as well! The best advice I got, was to relax my back and shoulders, supposedly it helps the process. Well, it helped calm my nerves and gave me somthing to think about. Because I was constantly focused on relaxing my muscles and before you know it, it is over!

It isn't too bad, hugs to you because you will feel better once it is done. Good for you for taking your health seriously!

 

[Griggle]

All the worry is much worse than the actual procedure (BTDT). It'll be over before you know it, and you'll be a pro.

As far as how much it hurts, guess it depends on how sensitive you/they are.

Mine didn't hurt a bit.

Good luck!!!!!

 

[sugarpie]

I'm sure everything will be fine!

I'm 30 & thought I felt a lump once, too. I have an extensive family history, so I had my doctor check it out. It turned out to be nothing. It's always best to be proactive about your health. Yeah, mammograms aren't fun but it's over before you know it.

 

[MerryPoppins]

I've had more than my share of mammograms. I'm 45 and at my baseline mammogram they found cancer - what a shock! But it was the best thing that could have happened. They caught it early and I'm doing great 5 years later.

Before my reduction/mastectomy I was a DD, so I was large. Now I'm between an A and a B, so I'm smallish. I actually think it pinches less if you are large. My mastectomy side hurts the most because there isn't much tissue for them to take a picture of.

I'll be honest with you. Sometimes it hurts a lot, but usually it's not so bad. I think it depends on how they catch you in the machine. Some of the techs are really good, but one once caught my underarm and it really pinched. The really good news is that no matter what it's over really quick. They clamp down while you hold your breath and it's all over. You can take anything for a few seconds, right? If you're really worried about the pain, take a couple of tylenol or an advil before you go.

Let us know how it goes. I'm praying you have terrific news and a pain-free test.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I have one word for you...........OUCH

I agree. I had bruises when mine was done. Trying to put a bra on the next day was torture. I had to stand up on my very tippy-toes because I'm short and the machine would only come down so far, and they had nothing for me to stand on. I had to contort myself so much that I got a charley horse in my neck. And then the technician told me not to breathe while she was doing the test. Sorry, but I can't hold my breath for over 30 seconds.

 

[debden]

I have to disagree ... I didn't have any pain. None. It felt a little weird, but if you relax, and have a good technician, it should be just fine. Good luck. Just think, it only takes a few minutes and then it's over. You can do it!

I agree with the above poster.I read so much about people making a 'big' deal out of the pain they experienced having a mammogram that I was very afraid to go myself.Well I did have one done and pulllleeesss.You feel firm pressure on your breast but I did not experience any pain at all.These woman who say a mammogram is painful must have an extremely low tolerance for being uncomfortable.
Anyway I think you'll be fine.
Let us know how it goes.
Debbie

 

[DVCLiz]

I put a mammogram in the same category as a Pap smear and having my teeth cleaned. Maybe a little discomfort for a brief time, but nothing that should cause any real discomfort. And the payoff is enormous - how much peace of mind you will have when you have those baseline results!!!

Tell your technician that you're nervous - she should be able to ease your mind and help you through it. Then remind yourself how brave you were!!!!

 

[AprilShowers]

Take a couple of motrin about an hour before you go. Relax, and it is relatively painless. My (ahem) *girls* are a little large. It hurts a little. But not for long. If you felt a lump like I did. They will have you in every contortion known to man. They will be VERY thorough.(sp?) but that's what you want them to do.

Just relax and take it easy. It is no more painful than well I can't think of anything. They're going to squeeze them pretty hard. But when they release the pressure it stops hurting. It only squeezes for a second or two for as long as it takes to get the picture.

Because you are a hypoconcriac, IF they come in asking for MORE pictures, don't freak out. It MAY be because they DON'T see anything. In my case they couldn't find my lump. They wanted to make sure they weren't missing it.

Of course I thought the worst, and figured I had cancer. I was a mess! It was just because they couldn't see my lump. The reason they couldnt' see it is because I don't have cancer.

Take care of yourself, and hopefully everything will be fine. I'll say a small player for you. Let us know how it all turns out.

 

[Christine]

It's really not that bad. It actually hurts my chest wall more than my actual breast. When the machine rolls down the top of your chest before squeezing one of the "girls", well that is where I feel most of my discomfort.

Good luck. Although, I'm wondering how well a mammo will do on a 31 year old as the breast tissue is so dense.

 

[floridafam]

Mine was also painless. I wonder if the ones that are extremely painful are being done incorrectly. It was so easy and I am so GLAD I had it done.

I had my first one done this year at the age of 34. My Grandma had breast cancer, my brother died of colon cancer and there is ovarian cancer in the family. This is the reason I had one at 34.

I started having pain in my left breast a few months later and went in for an ultrasound. It was nice to know that everything was okay.

Don't be scared. Take something to relax you if you are nervous and you will be fine.

 

[Cantw8]

These woman who say a mammogram is painful must have an extremely low tolerance for being uncomfortable.
Anyway I think you'll be fine.
Let us know how it goes.
Debbie

I'm sorry, have we met? You seem to know me well enough to totally discredit my opinion

 

[SamIAm21]

Hey everyone! I'm 31 years old and a major hypocondriact! My Aunt just died after a 4 1/2 year battle with breast cancer. my mother told me that my Aunt had felt a lump quite a while before actually going to the doctor. She was caring for her very sick mother in law at the time. By the time she had gone to the doctor, it had moved onto her lymph nodes and by the time she died, her lungs kept filling with fluids filled with cancer cells. She was only 55 years old. My 36 year old sister died almost 2 years ago from lung cancer, my 59 year old uncle, a year ago also from lung cancer and my 59 year old father died about 16 years ago from lung cancer. I feel like i am surrounded by it! BTW, i used to smoke, but i quit 6 years ago.

So, one day, I freaked myself out and I swore I felt a lump. I made an appt with my ob/gyn and she did a breast exam. She said she felt absolutely nothing other than normal breast tissue. She wanted me to get an ultrasound just to calm my nerves and since I said I felt something. I just called the Breast Center at Monmouth Medical Center and they advised me that I have to first get a mammogram and then if the mammogram shows something, then they'll do an ultrasound. I am very nervous. I have heard that this test can be very painful, especially for well endowed women...

I will be getting the test, because I personally think it's better to hear from a professional that you are ok, rather than saying, ok she said i'm ok, so i'll go with that. But i am very nervous!

As a well endowed woman, I have absolutely no "pain" involved in mammograms. Some discomfort yes, but outright pain, no. My less endowed friends seem to have a harder time with it. I have no problem getting mammograms whatsoever.

 

[taylor1293]

I agree with the above poster.I read so much about people making a 'big' deal out of the pain they experienced having a mammogram that I was very afraid to go myself.Well I did have one done and pulllleeesss.You feel firm pressure on your breast but I did not experience any pain at all.These woman who say a mammogram is painful must have an extremely low tolerance for being uncomfortable.
Anyway I think you'll be fine.
Let us know how it goes.
Debbie

It has nothing to do with pain tolerance. It has to do with how good the technician is. I've had three mammograms. I never understood why people said they hurt because my first 2 were painless, pressure only. However, the last one was hell. Extremely painful. It was so bad that I refuse to go back to that facility for my next mammogram.

Teresa

 

[lovinwdw]

Thank you all for your input. I feel better about the whole situation now. My "girls" are DD's, so hopefully it won't be too bad for me! No worse than dealing with DD's!

Thanks again, you have put my mind at ease!

 

[AprilShowers]

I don't think that we should judge anyone else's experience based solely on our own experience.

Everyone's experience will differ greatly. There are so many variables. Technicians, where the woman is in her cycle will determine how sensitive her breast tissue is, some people handle pain or discomfort differently, body type, tall people, short people, heavy, skinny, etc.

Everyone will "fit" this crazy machine differently. I know I had a hard time contorting into this one position. I am a HUGE baby, and don't like pain. But some other people find it no big deal at all.

Please don't judge someone because she has a different experience than you did. She may have had a crappy technician. Or her girls were more sensitive that day. Let's all stick together and not try to make someone feel bad cause they didn't "tough it out". And had a hard time with a mammogram.

A mammogram is a life saver ladies. We should be supporting each other here.

 

[WonderfulDreamer2]

I don't think that we should judge anyone else's experience based solely on our own experience.

Everyone's experience will differ greatly. There are so many variables. Technicians, where the woman is in her cycle will determine how sensitive her breast tissue is, some people handle pain or discomfort differently, body type, tall people, short people, heavy, skinny, etc.

Everyone will "fit" this crazy machine differently. I know I had a hard time contorting into this one position. I am a HUGE baby, and don't like pain. But some other people find it no big deal at all.

Please don't judge someone because she has a different experience than you did. She may have had a crappy technician. Or her girls were more sensitive that day. Let's all stick together and not try to make someone feel bad cause they didn't "tough it out". And had a hard time with a mammogram.

A mammogram is a life saver ladies. We should be supporting each other here.

 

[DVC Sadie]

I agree. I had bruises when mine was done. Trying to put a bra on the next day was torture. I had to stand up on my very tippy-toes because I'm short and the machine would only come down so far, and they had nothing for me to stand on. I had to contort myself so much that I got a charley horse in my neck. And then the technician told me not to breathe while she was doing the test. Sorry, but I can't hold my breath for over 30 seconds.

That is why xanax was invented! I take one the night before the procedure and one the morning of the procedure. It helps with the nerves and makes the whole thing more comfortable and pain free.