Ladies...I need some info please.

[prettypatchesmsu]

I've had 3 or 4 and none have been painful. A little uncomfortable, yes, but no pain. I would imagine the smaller your chest is, the more uncomfortable it would be. I don't have that problem, lol.

The place I go has little dressing rooms. They call you in, you change into the gown, then go into the mammo room. They take the test and the results are digital so if they need to do it again you're still in the room. Then you change back into your clothes and you're done!

Don't sweat it.

ETA: the worst part for me is not being able to wear deodorant until the test is done!

I had my first this year early as my Aunt has BC. I'm a C cup. My experience was the same as above. Did not hurt at all, actually the only thing I found even slightly uncomfortable was standing the way they want you to and holding my arm up in a weird position. But didn't hurt, just kind of weird posturing. It was truly no big deal, and I was very nervous. It was over very quick.

 

[DebbieB]

OP here. Well, I went and had it done. Not as bad as I thought it would be. The "sideways" squish was a bit worse. Got a call today though from the hospital and she said that there was an "asymmetry" between the breasts. I guess (from what I could understand) is that they want both of them to look as identical as possible but there seems to be something different in the left one. She also said that this could be normal for me? Who knows. So back I go next Wednesday.

I got called back in February for the same. I went in, the did a straight in view and that was it, said it was fine. I swear the Tech messed up the first one.

 

[Aliceacc]

The reality is that each of us has a different pain threshold, and only the one set of breasts, so it's hard to predict how the experience will feel to someone else.

Since my mastectomy in 2008, I get a mamo religiously every year (on the other breast, obviously . I also get an ultrasound.)

I will tell you that it's uncomfortable. You have to twist your head back, away from the machine, while your breast is squeezed between two paddles. But it takes about 45 seconds per picture. And, for me at least, it's "uncomfortable" and not "painful."

For me, given my history, the worst part of the experience is waiting for that "all clear." That's the ONLY part of the process I worry about. The rest is simply discomfort.

 

[Disney Doll]

I am well endowed and while I will say it was uncomfortable, I couldn't call it painful and the time you actually spend with your breast squished in the machine is very minimal. Properly positioning the breast takes longer.

As far as waiting...yes they do make you wait so they can check and make sure the pictures are good. And if they call you back for are take it doesn't necessarily mean they've seen something...sometimes they just want a better picture.

Where you wait depends on the facility. I used to go to a place where you waited in a small separate waiting rom with maybe one or two other women getting mammon and yes, we were all wearing the paper cover up. Then my insurance changed and my new place has you wait in an individual room.

 

[aprilgail2]

As far as waiting...yes they do make you wait so they can check and make sure the pictures are good. And if they call you back for are take it doesn't necessarily mean they've seen something...sometimes they just want a better picture.

Where you wait depends on the facility. I used to go to a place where you waited in a small separate waiting rom with maybe one or two other women getting mammon and yes, we were all wearing the paper cover up. Then my insurance changed and my new place has you wait in an individual room.

You really only wait in the places with the older machines- the new up to date places they see right away if they need another picture.

 

[OhioMom02]

OP here. Well, I went and had it done. Not as bad as I thought it would be. The "sideways" squish was a bit worse. Got a call today though from the hospital and she said that there was an "asymmetry" between the breasts. I guess (from what I could understand) is that they want both of them to look as identical as possible but there seems to be something different in the left one. She also said that this could be normal for me? Who knows. So back I go next Wednesday.

Try not to worry!! I just turned 40, and within a week of my birthday I went for my annual checkup and my OB/GYN felt a lump. Sooo, I'd been dreading my first mammogram for the last 5 years and thinking I was going to be able to put it off but after she felt that lump (and had me feel it as well) I got scheduled that day for a mammogram two days later. Turns out it was nothing more than dense tissue but I worried myself sick for those two days. It's hard not to worry but I heard from so many people that "abnormalities" are pretty normal.

 

[maslex]

Op reporting back in.

In my last post, I mentioned that the DR had called back to have me come back in for a 2nd mammo. Found something in left breast. OK, so the nerves are ridiculous at this point. I had to wait 6 days until next appt.

I went today, had the 2nd mammo and the lady tells me that I'm scheduled for an ultrasound today also. I had no clue. Truthfully, when they called me last week to tell me about finding something and scheduling another appt, I must have missed the part of her telling me about the ultrasound. Oh well.

So after the ultrasound the tech brings the results to the radiologist and he comes back to tell me that everything is fine and that I just have some glandular tissue. Nothing to worry about and I don't have to come back for another year. Whew, I hate worrying like that.

 

[ols386]

So happy for you, op!

 

[crashbb]

Great news OP! They are often more careful (likely to call you back) on your first mammogram because they have nothing to compare it with. Next time, they'll know that you have glandular tissue there and, when/if it shows up again, they'll know not to worry about it.

 

[DebbieB]

Op reporting back in.

In my last post, I mentioned that the DR had called back to have me come back in for a 2nd mammo. Found something in left breast. OK, so the nerves are ridiculous at this point. I had to wait 6 days until next appt.

I went today, had the 2nd mammo and the lady tells me that I'm scheduled for an ultrasound today also. I had no clue. Truthfully, when they called me last week to tell me about finding something and scheduling another appt, I must have missed the part of her telling me about the ultrasound. Oh well.

So after the ultrasound the tech brings the results to the radiologist and he comes back to tell me that everything is fine and that I just have some glandular tissue. Nothing to worry about and I don't have to come back for another year. Whew, I hate worrying like that.

It's always a relief to get good news. I've been through call backs a few times. My mom died of breast cancer and it's nerve wracking every year.