I had a mammogram this morning...

[WebmasterAlex]

according to DW, who ends up getting digital and regular every time they feel exactly the same. It is more a matter of the digital being more accurate and easier for the doctor to read. They also require less views in case of a problem. The digital is still considered experimental.

 

[grinningghost]

Ever since a benign lump was found in my breast, I've been having a mammogram every 6 months. I don't find them to be painful, just kind of embarrasing. I've heard that they're more painful if you're more of a "full figured" gal . Me, with my, uh, "athletic" figure - there ain't much there to squeeze.

Try not to worry, easier said than done I know, but take comfort in the fact that you're doing the right thing by being tested, and even if something does turn up, you would be catching it early. Good luck, keep us posted.

 

[Mrs.Milo]

Just wanted to post that scheduling can have a lot to do with how much discomfort you may feel. If you go in the week before that "time of month" you will probably find that you are more tender.

 

[Mskanga]

I just called the doctor's office ( for the heck of it ) and they haven't received anything , and they said if this particular facility I went to finds something unusual , they let the doctor know the same day. I guess that's good news.
Grinninghost, you made me laugh because eventhough I am a full figured gal , there isn't that much there to squeeze either, LOL.
Mrs Milo, you are so right there, come to think of it, it's a week before the TOM for me, so that makes sense why it hurt so much, LOL.
What would I do with you all guys??

 

[grinningghost]

You can always count on us ms. kanga.

 

[BonnieA]

I'm a "full-figured" gal. I've never had a painful mammogram. I always figured that the "smaller" women would have the pain cause there's not much there to squeeze and they have to gather surrounding tissue to try and make it flat. But I've never had that problem.
Had my yearly 2 weeks ago. This is the first year in the last 3 when I haven't had to have a diagnostic mammogram (where the doctor reads it while I wait). Last year I had the screening and they called the next day to schedule a diagnostic one at the hospital. Luckily what they saw suspicious turned out to be a tendon and I was relieved. This year it was normal

 

[HOGFAN]

as a mammo tech, maybe i can be of assistance. As for the debate between digital and film-screen
1. studies have only shown that digital is only "as good" as film-screen, not better.
2. digital equipment is around $400,000 per machine as opposed to around $80,000 for the other. Dont expect wide use of digital until the price comes down or studies show that it IS better and the public demands it.

As to debbieb's problem with scheduling a diagnostic.

Most insurances will not pay for a diagnostic unless a patient has a CURRENT problem. At our facility, we have been told that if the patient doesnt have a problem and we bill for a diagnostic, that is commiting insurance fraud. a big no-no.
Part of problem is that several years ago, it was commonplace to give out results while the patient was at the facility. Then the insurance companies got involved and started setting down requirement for the more expensive (usually triple) charge. Women got use to getting results right away, and now dont understand the changes. Lots of women come into our place with diagnostic slip(some thinking they have figured out a way to get around the system) but if they dont have a problem, we HAVE to screen them . I agree that it is nerveracking waiting for results, but just like everying in medicine(including lab work, Paps, etc. ) it takes a few days to get results. And yes, it is inconvenient to have to come back for extra views.

hope this was of help

 

[cassie]

I had my annual one done last Saturday. I think a lot of the pain is due to the tech. I'm past menopause, and usually found the test to be very discomifiting at the most. This last test was extremely painful. I know they have to really flatten the breast out, but jheese, it actually it hurt bad and I told her to hurry up. Then I mentioned I had Fibromyalgia, and she said she had it too, and tried to make the other views more comfortable. We got to talking about what do you for fibro yadayada.. Anyway , the test was on Sat and I got a report in the mail the following Wednesday. Thank God it was good.

 

[Chattyaholic]

I had my first one done a couple of years ago, and another this past spring. I had been so scared to have my first one done, as my Mom told me horror stories of how painful it was. Mine was a piece of cake, absolutely no discomfort whatsoever, same way with the one I just had done. I've heard that "smaller breasted" women seem to experience more pain, than "larger breasted" women do. But like someone else said, the technician has a lot to do with it, and the "time of the month" you have it done too.
I just wish insurance companies would pay better for them. Mine, in our handbook, states they will pay for one mammogram per year. Well, they pay for the actual test, but they don't pay the radiologist for reading the results!! I feel they should pay for the WHOLE thing!!