Hi Petra,

I just had one done a few days ago and the person who was doing it told me if I could relax my arms while holding on to the bar that it would help a great deal, so she reminded me just before she set it up to relax my arm and I did and believe it or not it did not hurt and I was really surprised too. I have had them before and would be in a lot of pain but this time I wasn't in any pain.

It worked this time and I came home without feeling sore afterwards too. So try that, when you have the test and hopefully it will help you too. Tell the person that you are nervous and ask them to remind you to relax your arm before they start the machine. Tell them you have heard that it helps. If they are any good at all they will be glad to remind you.

Hope this helps!!

thirdfrt!!!

Hi thirdfrt, thanks for the info. I'll be sure to try and relax my arm. I didn't even know you had to hold on to a bar, I thought they just plopped your boobies between the plates and they got squeezed, and that was it. :o)

A lot will depend on the size of your boobs and the malice in the heart of the operator. I have had one that was extremely painful, but the last one was on a new type machine. I was "arranged" and my hand placed on a knob. I was told to turn the knob until it became uncomfortable. I didn't turn it THAT much, just enough that it was snug. It seemed to have been enough as the pictures came out all right.

PeaBee, I didn't know there were malicious operators out there, lol. I hope I don't get one of those. When you say extremely painful, do you mean scream-and-cuss painful, or just grind-your-teeth-and-bear-it painful??

grind your teeth and bear it. I am sure that you have had injections somewhere (like in the gums) that you just endured for the few seconds it took to do the deed. It's not even that bad. No where as nearly painful as say grabbing a hot frying pan. Nope, not the scream and cuss thing. You'll manage!!
PB

Thanks PB, that makes me feel better.

Petra, the Chicken :o)

Just hope that you're not pre-menstrual and that your breasts are tender because of that. I've had a mamogram before during that time and it's much worse (but bearable ... don't worry about scream and cuss - LoL).

I hate, hate, hate mamograms ... but they're necessary. I just keep telling myself that.

Suzieque

PB, that's pretty funny, heh. If whoever is going to do mine is named "Belinda", I am so out of there............

Petra, you'll do just fine. A good operator will have you dressed again in no time, any discomfort should be very minor, brief, and more annoying, not anything you would even begin to call pain. Thinking about it beforehand because it's a new experience is the trauma, not the mammogram itself.

And I had about 10 years worth of annual mammogram screening before finding a message for the first time on the dressing room wall to remove deoderant if wearing any, wipes provided. Ummmm, couldn't someone have told me sooner that underarm deoderant could alter the result of the films? Now I shower, skip the deoderant, take it with me and apply for the day after my films have been taken.

Mor, thanks for the Deoderant info, I didn't know that! You would think they'd tell you beforehand. Sounds like yours came out okay anyway though.

Not as painful as the yearly PAP, but just as invasive. How come the men don't have to go thru this yearly stuff?? ;-O

Paula, you need to ask a man how he feels about a yearly prostate exam. I'll take a mammogram and pap any day. I understand it's quite an experience.
PB

Yeahhhhhh I've heard that...but I also think a lot of men are wimps in the pain department ;-D

Paula, I'm not sure it is all about pain... as I understand it, there are some...er.ah..unpleasant..sexual and urinary tract aspects...and maybe I should just shut up!
PB

lol, getting into another area , yes..

the best advice i can give you is to concentrate on the real issue at hand... that is the procedure is necessary and that it can potentially save your life so therefore it is a GOOD thing! yess it may not be comfortable, but i would think it is a whole lot more comfortable than not having a mammy done and then finding out you have advanced stages of the diesease the mammy is trying to screen for. I would walk a mile in the desert to save my life.. how far would you walk?

ps. i just read what i wrote and while i think it's what i think , i'm not sure it is the best post for the situation. read it with "a grain of salt" ymmv.

I've had several and there hasn't been any pain whatsoever. Maybe having bigger boobs helps!!! It's only embarassing.

It's momentary discomfort. I just had my yearly one yesterday and it's a little uncomfortable, but we're talking a matter of SECONDS here. No worse than menstrual cramps and heck, we tolerate those every month!

You can also follow the advice given to Victorian brides in that old joke about how to handle the wedding night---close your eyes and think of England :o)

Seriously, many women (me included) notice that caffeine intake can lead to breast tenderness and/or lumpiness. I cut out all caff a week or so before my mammograms and it definitely helps reduce the discomfort.

FWIW, years ago I showed the "dreaded shadow" on a mammogram. They sent me to a breast specialist who did an extensive manual exam and ultrasound. He didn't find anything suspicious, but told me to cut out all caffeine and come back in 3 months. Sure enough, the shadow was gone.

Susan