how much does a mamogram really hurt?

[Gina]

You know that if a doctor told a man, "Here, put that very sensitive favorite part of you in this waffle iron and hold your breath," they would have pretty instantly come up with a better way to do it... like a Star Trek tricorder-type thing or something.

 

[Laurabearz]

One thing I didnt know before having my first mamorgram earlier this year... They squeeze the whole pectoral muscle as well as the... um... fun parts.

I had a great tech... great new digital machine, and I wouldnt even say it was uncomfortable. It was a big squeeze.

The trick it to let them plop you onto the plate, and shift your arm and such. Dont try and help at all. Just let it all lay.

 

[Feralpeg]

Well, for many years I had mammograms where they had to push aside my implant to get a picture. It was uncomfortable, but I lived. The small amount of discomfort is well worth the peace of mind. If I had not had a mammogram many years ago, I would not be here today responding to this thread.

 

[HARASW]

oh, i've been going to the same place for over 10 years (several of those years i'd gone 3 times/year - they'd found "something" they were "watching" and needed to keep checking it - was just a calcium thing)

for a while there, thought i'd be glowing green, i was there so often....

once i was there (literally!) 3 hours!!! - and when i finally got out, i promptly drove onto the highway and got into a bad car accident! (traffic stopped suddenly, cars behind me weren't paying attention) - and then i get home, and there's a notice for jury duty - talk about a bad day!

breast cancer took my aunt - my mother, sister, other aunt and grandmother have all had "issues", so i'm a prime candidate here and aren't taking any chances

so no - i don't miss any appointments - i'm big on prevention and taking care of my health - the occasional "masochistic" technician is just a byproduct of getting a mammogram - i just imagine them getting "squished" in a painful manner during their own procedure - karma, you know!

I've been through the "watches" many times. I lost my maternal grandmother to breast cancer. My sister and I both are prone to having cysts etc.

I'm glad that you are taking care of yourself, despite the horrible technician you've had to deal with.

I agree with the karma thing. Keep thinking it!!

 

[kimluvswdw]

I had my second one last week. It does not hurt at all. You will be fine. It is less than 5 minutes.

 

[HOGFAN]

well, I have been taking mammos for over 20 years. I wont pretend to say that I have never hurt anybody. Everyones pain tolerance is different. Ive had some ladies start hollering before I even get the door shut, seriously.
Ive had mine done by the boss, who is also a close friend. I was sore for 3 days but I know she is an excellent tech(after all, I handpicked her to do mine). I dont hold it against her. Maybe I had too much caffeine leading up to it, maybe I was ovulating, etc. Not to say there arent bad techs out there, but more likely it was something beyond her control

Most important : DO DIGITAL. A place that is still doing film-screen may tell you that its not important for women your age/breast pattern. Dont believe it. The pictures are 3-5 times better for EVERY best type. I have used both and the difference is amazing. The digital machines are horribly expensive ($400,000 vs around $85,000) and smaller places dont want to spend that much but it is SO WORTH IT for the patient and catching the disease early.


Off my soapbox now.

 

[CherylDan]

They are uncomfortable, then it's over. And the long term benefits certainly outweigh the short term discomfort. Just try to relax as much as possible, that really does help.

 

[Laurabearz]

They are uncomfortable, then it's over. And the long term benefits certainly outweigh the short term discomfort. Just try to relax as much as possible, that really does help.

As you can see from this thread it's different for every woman and it can be different every time you get one.

Bottom line.. better to have sore puppies every once in a while than no puppies at all.

 

[ShannonRT]

Sorry, but we're "technologists" not "technicians." There is a difference.

 

[minniecarousel]

I learned to take mammograms about 34 years ago. Our "compression" was 2 heavy-duty balloons (one inside the other). When one popped, we got quite a reaction!

To the OP: hang in there. It'll be quick, and you'll be glad you did it.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I was afraid of them, too, but finally went earlier this year when my coworkers called me stupid & told me I'd better go (of course, said with love)

It was a lot better than I thought it would be, and in the long run I'm glad I went. I'll go again next year, too, so it's really not THAT bad.

 

[emer95]

I have a very low tolerance to pain (ie. I'm a huge wimp!) . I was a nervous wreck about my first mammogram, because of what other women told me it was like. One of my mom's friends said it was like having your **** run over by a car!

Please listen: it was NOTHING! I was laughing/crying with relief when she did the first one, and I kept saying, "That's it?" I had such anxiety before-hand I had to put my head between my legs. Talk about embarrassing. The next time I need to get one I won't even give it a second though.

 

[emer95]

Oh. I just learned you can't say b o o b on the Dis!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Just make sure you're not close to "that time of the month". The girls are normally swollen and/or sore at that time (I think for most women), so avoid going at that time. Also avoid caffeine for a few days before. I just went on Friday -- it's uncomfortable, but not painful. Surgery and chemo are painful. Big difference. My co-worker went for the first time last week also. The best way I can explain it is that you're a super hero. A female super hero. Like Spiderman. You're got one hand up in the air and you're hanging from the side of a large building by your Spidey "web"! Just keep that picture in mind when their squeezing! BTW, if you've ever breast fed, I found that much more painful than a mammo. Good for you that you're taking care of yourself. Go get it done!

 

[dzorn]

There are new types of Mammograms that do not squeeze you if it was not already mentioned.

Denise in MI

 

[phorsenuf]

Many women are afraid of their first mammogram, but there's no need to worry. By taking a few minutes each day for a week preceding the exam, and doing the following practice exercises, you will be totally prepared. And you can do this right in your own home!

Exercise 1

Open your refrigerator door and insert one breast between the door and the main box. Have one of your strongest friends slam the door shut and lean on the door for good measure. Hold that position for five seconds (while you hold your breath). Repeat again, in case the first time wasn't effective enough.


Exercise 2

Visit your garage at 3 am when the temperature of the cement floor is just perfect. Take off your clothes and lie comfortably on the floor with one breast wedged under the rear tire of the car. Ask a friend to slowly back the car up until your breast is sufficiently flattened and chilled. Turn over and repeat for the other breast.


Exercise 3

Freeze two metal bookends overnight. Strip to the waist. Invite a stranger into the room. Press the bookends against one of your breasts. Smash the bookends together as hard as you can. Set an appointment with the stranger to meet next week and do it again!!



CONGRATULATIONS! Now you have nothing at all to worry about when you go for your mammogram!



OP- I've had many done and they really are a piece of cake. Take a couple tylenol beforehand and you should be all set.

 

[mousetravel]

I'm hurting just by reading this thread!!!

 

[Stacerita]

No matter how scared you may be, or how much you think it may hurt, you need to go and get it done.

 

[castleview]

I have "larger girls" and it didn't hurt. Annoying, yeah - but no pain. You can practice at home by laying your **** on the garage floor and hitting the door remote -no need to do at a you local garage.

 

[chrisw127]

It's really not painful at all, especially if you are not small up top (and I consider a B not small, so you're good to go). It's more annoying. You can't move, there's a stranger grabbing you and putting you somewhere you don't want to go (between those plates). It's over very quickly. My last one, the ladies in the waiting area were all laughing and making jokes. It was actually very amusing.

Good luck.