I have my first mammogramma tomorrow.

[nytemare]

I hope my boobs don't explode. What can I expect?

[End Of The Road]

1. Piece of cake.

Absolutely the easiest routine test out there.

[nytemare]

2. Great.

They said not to wear deodorant or lotion. I suppose you stick to the machine or something if you do.

:shrug:

[End Of The Road]

3. No, it's the aluminum in many deodorants

That fucks up the xray machine. If your appointment is in the morning, you may want to just take deodorant with you to put on after.

[nytemare]

6. That is what I will be doing.

Don't want to scare people away at work afterwards. :D

[Lars39]

4. Take some ibuprofin about 1/2 hour before your appt.

Helps take the edge off the squish pain/discomfort. I used to take a small throw with me when I had them during the winter.
You'll do fine. :hug:

[nytemare]

8. Good idea!

I don't expect it to be bad, I am just curious.

:hi:

[End Of The Road]

11. Weirdest thing for me the first time

Was having the nurse/tech pulling on my boobs like they were silly putty to get them "just so" for the "best picture" (her words). But hey, you get to keep most of your clothes on, and I like that.

[greenbriar]

5. had my first one this past summer..not as bad as I had it in my mind

and no your boobs won't smash and pop

[nytemare]

7. That's a good thing.

How would I explain that to my employer? "I can't make it in, my boobs popped."

[ThomCat]

9. I hope it's boring

and they have no reason to call you back afterward. :)

[nytemare]

24. Me too!

Thanks very much, Thomcat.

:hi:

[Lex]

10. I have my 1st one in a couple of weeks! Please update me

after you have yours.

Everyone has me scared to death that it will hurt like hell. :cry:

[End Of The Road]

12. It doesn't hurt.

It's not like smashing your boobs in a car door or anything. This is not a test worth getting uptight about. Now me, I've been putting off that first colonoscopy...

[Lex]

16. Thanks for that.

*whew*

Good luck on your colonscopy. I think they give you some relaxation meds so you won't care too much what they're doing.

:)

[pitohui]

26. it does hurt and it's exactly like smashing your boobs in a car door or something

what's the point in lying to the woman? she's GONNA find out you lied

it does hurt, you should probably think about taking ibuprofen before you get it done

for me because of the several hundred pound metal device pressing on my boobs causing me claustrophia, it really creates an extremely high level of anxiety and fear of injury, if i didn't have to drive myself, i'd look into seeing if i could take a valium because it really spoils the whole week just fearing it and then the actually having that cold metal smash down on you...it never gets any easier

i'm sorry but i'm just sick of being lied to, we all know it's horrifying and for many of us it's VERY horrifying

they need to damn well find another way

and don't wear deodorant or ANYTHING that might screw up the test and give them a reason to smash your tits around even more

[nytemare]

36. I'm taking some aleve right now!

And I am just taking the deodorant to work with me, so I don't have to get them squished again.

:hi:

[End Of The Road]

37. Wow. I'm really sorry.

My experience has never been like that at all, and I've had these for 20 years now. For the last 10 or so, metal plates haven't been involved at all -- I've been pressed between a formica-like table and a clear plastic-like plate has done the pressing. It has been like being pressed between two heavy books, but the pressure applied has been more gradual than sudden. It's kind of an awkward position, and uncomfortable, but I've been very lucky perhaps because I've never felt more than brief jaw-clenching pain. I've never felt the need to cry or anything like that.

I didn't mean to offend you, and I'm sorry mammos are sooo painful for you (I know that they are for some women). But I wasn't lying about my experience, or those of many of my friends.

[Redstone]

13. Smashed tits. And nothing more than that, I hope. Hey, I worked for 20 years

with companies like Picker and GE on ways to use technology to make mammograms less unpleasant, and we just could NOT find any way to do it. After all, if we could make the procedure less unpleasant, more women would have yearly mammograms, and that would be good for women in general, yes?

And that would be a good thing.

But the technology just was not, and is still not there just yet.

So endure the process, little as you might enjoy it, OK? People have TRIED to make it less aggravating, they REALLY have, but it is what it is.

It's one uncomfortable day. You can live with that for the sake of your family...I know you can.

Redstone

[bicentennial_baby]

15. No offense, but...HA!

"uncomfortable".... :rofl:

For some of us, my friend... A-G-O-N-Y. Period.

:)

[Lex]

17. I wonder if it was their testicles, if there wouldn't be a different way

to do the exam rather than smashing them flat?

[kath]

41. Heh - I have a great greeting card. On the top of the card, it says "If women ran the world", and

there's a cartoon of a woman doctor (or radiology tech) and a male patient standing there looking terrified in front of two mammogram-type plates. The doc says "now just put it right here". (or something very similar - don't have it in front of me)

Such a hoot - I'm trying to decide which friend to send it to...

[hippywife]

51. I've even told my (male) doctor that.

"I bet if they had to dx prostate cancer the same way, they'd damn well find a better way to do this and pronto." He thinks I'm pretty nuts (mostly in a good way) and we have lots of laughs during our visits.

I do hate it, too. It does hurt and it is excruciating. But it is important and must be done. And it stops hurting in a very short time. Like almost immediately.

Do wish I would have thought about taking something first, as someone upthread suggested! Doh! Will try to remember that for next year.

[pitohui]

28. yes it's excruciating pain

"uncomfortable" my ass, it's painful as hell and there is also the mental anguish, at the end of the day, we don't know how much of the increase in breast cancer rates is caused by exposure to additional low dose radiation zipped thru our tits every year

and it isn't just "one" day either, i've had callbacks where they saw something and had to do it over and, oops, sorry they had a bad picture the first time, well, ha ha, sorry, it happens -- nobody gives a damn about your pain and your anxiety created by all this bullshit, they're making money hand over fist crushing our tits in these machines and we just keep showing up and letting them do it

and we kid ourselves that if we were in costa rica, we'd feed the dog -- no, we don't even say no to cruelty when it's our own bodies, we do exactly as we're told, who the hell are we kidding?

[bicentennial_baby]

30. my catch phrase: Demand an ultrasound!

Words to live by.

[End Of The Road]

18. I don't think it's even one uncomfortable day, redstone

Yes, some women have a little tenderness for a day or so, but just as many do not. For me, and most of my friends, all sizes, scheduling a mammo is a good way to get a few hours away from work. Anybody need a bone density screening -- it's GREAT for getting off work! But it doesn't last long enough...

[nytemare]

19. I will be fine, it is just a routine scheduled test.

I am more curious than anything.

:hi:

And, thanks for all your hard work.

[End Of The Road]

21. Let us know how it goes! Good luck! nt

[Flaxbee]

breast MRIs would be a fantastic alternative, though, if the machines

didn't cost so damn much -- so many of these diagnostic tools are really costly and medical facilities need to get their money's worth; it makes buying newer technology prohibitive.

[hippywife]

52. I asked about that the last time

I went, which was in January. I had heard they were working on MRI technology to replace the mammo. I really, really did. But she said that the MRI wasn't as good at detecting the smaller tumors as early. And the machines they were using that day for the mammo were all less than a year old. And there were several so I imagine we won't be seeing any relief in this area very soon. :eyes:

[hippywife]

53. Thanx for

at least trying to help, Redstone. :hi:

[Flaxbee]

14. don't wear powder, either ---

it doesn't *hurt* but it also doesn't feel good, either. Sort of depends on the size of your breasts, how dense the tissue is, etc. They are really quick, though, once they've gotten you positioned the way they want you.

Ibuprofen is a good idea.

But, since this is the first one, DO NOT be alarmed if they call you back. My first two I had to go back, because they were getting 'baselines'; images from which to compare. The first one or two sometimes they want to make sure they know what they're looking at. The entire thing takes less than 10 minutes (though again, the first one they may jostle you around a bit more).

[nytemare]

20. Thanks Flaxbee!

:hi:

[Flaxbee]

33. you're welcome!

and make sure you give yourself a treat afterward - ice cream cone, good coffee, whatever. You will deserve it!

:hi:

[tanyev]

22. Squish, squish, click...squish, squish, click.

Not the most fun thing to do, but not the worst either. You'll be fine. :)

[nytemare]

23. LOL!

If there is an extra squish, I am holding you accountable! :D

[havocmom]

25. Hallmark should make a special line of cards

Happy Tits in a Wringer Day!

Seriously, not much bother at all.

[lunatica]

44. LOL!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

When you have DDs they love to pull and pull and get even your armpits in there!

But I had a friend who was an athlete with tiny breasts and no matter how they pulled she couldn't get them on the plate. Poor thing had bruised breasts since they had to pinch them just to get a grip on them.

But if you have enough boobage then it's just uncomfortable for a little while. If you squeeze them between your hands you will know how it feels.

[smoochy]

27. I'm glad I have a few years until I have to start getting that done

:scared:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

31. It really isn't bad at all...

You'll be fine!

And, Welcome to DU!

You have found the living, beating heart of DU: the Lounge!

Have fun in our crazy, addictive little village!

:hug:

[smoochy]

32. Thanks for the welcome

I've lurked here for a few weeks and finally decided to take the leap tonight.

[KitchenWitch]

29. They puff back up after being flattened

You may be sore for a couple of days

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

34. Take an Advil first

I was advised to do that to lessen the discomfort, and maybe it acts as a placebo, but it certainly takes the edge off. You'll be fine - the worst part is the contortions they put you through and then waiting for the results!

[MilesColtrane]

35. I've heard it's just like inserting a treasured body part into an iced down George Foreman Grill.

So, you've got that going for you.

[zanne]

38. I've been uncomfortable during a mammogram, but never in pain. nt

[momto3]

39. I had my first mammo last fall.

it was awkward and uncomfortable, but not painful. I also had to go back for a follow up since this was my baseline mammo and they wanted better picts. Don't worry too much about it, even if it is painful for you for a short amount of time, it is much better than the alternative.

Tracy

[graywarrior]

40. Easy.

Squished, but better than getting a PAP.

[Giant Robot]

42. Got nothing I can add to this

But I thought I would give you a hug for comfort anyway!

:hug:

[applegrove]

43. Don't worry. It is good for you. Think of the peace of mind you'll have afterwards.

[CreekDog]

45. sounds like the mother of all mammograms

:think:

[nytemare]

48. It thought it was, but it wasn't.

It was more like a mammakinder.

[FloridaJudy]

46. My radiologist is a woman

So she warms the equipment. Still not pleasant, but less grim than the freezing ones.

[nytemare]

49. That cartoon is hilarious.

Thanks for sharing!

[nytemare]

47. It's all over with, and it wasn't so bad.

I suppose it makes a difference if you are DD or something, but I am not.

:hi:

[JRH_Mom]

50. Well, it's a little late for this

But a digital mammogram is a LOT better than the old analog. A lot of your imaging centers SHOULD have deodorant in the Women's Centers (usually a wipe one).

So - how'd it go, you still have your boobs?

[nytemare]

54. I still have them.

And you are right, they did have deodorant. I hated not being able to use lotion this morning, so when I got out, I had to lotion up...lol.