Ladies - tell me about mammograms!

[The Orchid]

I'm getting my first mammogram on Friday! I have been dreading this day for more than ten years. I have heard so many jokes about it over the years that I have become horrified. Like for example, somebody once posted on a different message board a picture of a woman with her breast being squeezed through one of those old fashioned washing boards and underneath the picture it said, "Mammogram." That really left an impression on me!

I have to have major surgery on Sept 11th and I'm actually more afraid of the mammogram.

I always figured that by the time it was my turn, they'd have found a better way. But no, here I am, nearly 40 and there is no better way. So ladies, tell me....what can I expect???? Is it really that bad????

 

[teacups]

Its not that bad. Really, not bad.
The WORST part is not the pain or the smashing... but I HATE the woman tech grabbing the girls and adjusting!!!!!!!!

 

[Bareacuda]

Ive had mammos since I was 30 !!
They really arent that bad, I do agree that it's uncomfortable for the adjustments.
Personally... I'll take the mammo over the surgery! OUCH!!!

Good luck on both!

Ann

 

[becjlek]

They are so much better than they use to be. The one at our clinic has a padded "shelf" and it only takes a few minutes and the whole thing is over. The actual smashing is just a few seconds.

 

[Octoberbride03]

I just had my first 1 in July. I really don't know why ppl are so afraid of them. If your center has the new digital machines then it shouldn't even feel cold. It does take some getting used to. But the girls get adjusted by the tech for each shot and they snap away. Takes less than a half hr start to finish. It'll be fine

 

[Stacerita]

Its really not that bad. Uncomfortable, yes....painful, not so much. I would much rather deal with this than the possible alternative. Do be prepared to be real close and intimate with the tech. They adjust the girls and are right there with you. Keep it fun and joke with the tech. Its a job for them, and can be wierd for you, but it really isn't bad.

 

[anniemae]

No worries! Seriously, it is nothing to worry about AT ALL!

I am the biggest whimp and I worried and worried before my first mammo. I could not believe how quick and painless it was. It feels no worse than a pinch, just slight pressure really, and the tech's I have had are so quick, it is over almost instantly. You just have to suck it up and get over the embarressment of the tech man-handling you! Seriously though, they are such professionals, and are sensitive to the situation. Do not worry, it is so quick and I don't think it is painful at all, a tad uncomfortable maybe, but no big deal.

 

[MoniqueU]

Just had 2 done, the first was fine, the second one they brought out the big berths machine. Still all in all no big deal. I am more worried about my upcoming biopsy.

 

[The Orchid]

So then it is really quite fast then....for some reason I imagined my girls being stuck in this vice for half an hour! I feel better just knowing how fast it is!

I come from a family who loves to torture the younger woman about these things. You would not believe how many mammogram jokes are floating around! And I have heard every single one of them.

As long as it is fast, I can handle some discomfort. I actually have a very high tolerance for pain. It's more like a fear of the unknown.

Thanks for your replies, ladies. It helps to know what to expect.

 

[LoraJ]

I have to have my first one done soon. Not looking forward to it.

 

[kirbydog48]

If you're really sensitive in "that area", maybe call and ask ahead of time if you can take some Advil or Tylenol beforehand. I've had at least 10; they are not bad at all...in and out in 10-15 minutes. They take 2-3 views of each one, then you're done. You'll be so relieved when it's over...just do it! Gotta make sure the girls are healthy!! I always make jokes..."you put your right one in, you take your right one out....".

 

[krcit]

I've had a few mammos at 2 different places. The basic rundown seems to be th same although I liked the second place better. You will be called in and told to take off your top and bra and put on a gown. Then you are called into the room with the machine. You will either be told to take one side of the gown down or to take it off completely. Then the tech will position one of your 'girls' and close the machine and tell you to hold your breath and then she'll take the pic. This will get repeated on each side until she gets all the pictures she needs. Then, the way it works in my office is that you keep your gown on while the Dr makes sure she got all the pics they need. If so, then you get dressed. The first time I had a mammo, they called me back 3 times for more films so don't worry if that happens. Good luck-it really isn't a big deal and is uncomfortable more than painful and then only for a few seconds at a time.

 

[Camicar]

I have found that:

1. Mammograms hurt some of us. Yes, they do.

2. The amount of pain varies.

3. Dense tissue hurts MUCH more when it's compressed then non-dense tissue. I know this fact because one breast is dense and one is not. The non-dense side hurts, but no big deal. The dense side? Yeah. Tears in my eyes, a clenched fist, and I could see why someone would faint. And puh-leeze before someone gives me crap that I must be a wimp. No. Just no. I am not a wimp, but mammograms on that one side hurt like you know what.

4. Some technicians are more skillful or helpful than others. One tech just basically smushed my **** with little or no warning and even less caring. I actually gasped and had to restrain the urge to punch her. Another took time to ask me questions and had me tell her when to stop. SHE told me that studies show that allowing the patient to choose when to stop gives women a feeling of control which actually lessens pain and patients actually choose harder compression when they have more control.

5. Plate size. I've had to have follow up shots done and the smaller the plate, the more pressure is exerted on one spot. Hurts more.

For those of you that think they are no big deal: consider yourself lucky.

 

[CDoobee]

Sorry, I have to agree with Camicar. All my mammograms have really hurt! But like somebody else said earlier, it's much better than the alternative. I just kept telling myself it was almost done.

With me it's not so much the squishing of the "girls", but more the squishing of my chest above there. I even got a large bruise the last time!

 

[mtemm]

mine wasn't that bad. I definitely had it built up in my head that it would be more. not fun, but mine, thankfully, was not painful. the hardest part for me was peeling off the little sticker they put on your nipples. OUCH! noone warned me about that part. I still shudder thinking about it.

 

[aprilgail2]

I am 46 years old and have been having them since I was about 28 - sometimes 2 a year and I have not had one that hurt. There is a bunch of pressure as they squash them in the machine but thats about it- the one that was a bit uncomfortable but not painful was when they had to do just the tip and nipple in the plate but that is not a normal one they do- only if there is an issue so don't worry about that one! You will be fine- even if it hurts when they are doing it it only takes a few seconds until they release it- no big deal.

 

[DebbieB]

My mom was diagnosed when I was 36 so I have had yearly since (I'm almost 50). It doesn't seem as bad as it used to be. I go to a clinic that specializes in them so I think they do a good job. Last year was a treat - the gyn ordered a pelvic ultrasound because of bleeding so I got them both done at the same time. Plus I had a cyst in the one breast so I had to have an ultrasound on that too.

The only time I ever got a sticker was when I had a lump (cyst) and they wanted to mark it.

 

[lisah0711]

I take some Advil a few hours before the procedure -- seems to help with the aches from being put in weird positions -- I ususally have a corner in my armpit or something.

I always say that I hope that the guy who invented this machine (because obviously is was a man) should have to put his gonads in there to see what it feels like to have his parts smashed up! He might have thought a little longer about making it more comfortable.

A little bit of discomfort is a small price to pay to avoid the much worse alternative.

Good luck!

 

[The Orchid]

I take some Advil a few hours before the procedure -- seems to help with the aches from being put in weird positions -- I ususally have a corner in my armpit or something.

I always say that I hope that the guy who invented this machine (because obviously is was a man) should have to put his gonads in there to see what it feels like to have his parts smashed up! He might have thought a little longer about making it more comfortable.

A little bit of discomfort is a small price to pay to avoid the much worse alternative.

Good luck!

 

[pppiglet]

Sorry, I have to agree with Camicar. All my mammograms have really hurt! But like somebody else said earlier, it's much better than the alternative. I just kept telling myself it was almost done.

With me it's not so much the squishing of the "girls", but more the squishing of my chest above there. I even got a large bruise the last time!

I agree with the squishing of the area above them. More painful there. But it was only for a bit, so nothing to be afraid of.