Dianne-TX Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 (Sigh) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSmomof2 Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 Not that bad......it’s slightly uncomfortable, but I wouldn’t call it actual pain. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dianne-TX Posted March 9, 2018 Author Share Posted March 9, 2018 Oops, should have checked other posts! I found a thread from Nov. 2016 with many responses. Sorry. Always check posts, always check posts, always check posts... :leaving: 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dianne-TX Posted March 9, 2018 Author Share Posted March 9, 2018 Not that bad......it’s slightly uncomfortable, but I wouldn’t call it actual pain. Thank you. I actually just checked for other posts about this topic and found an older thread that had the same response as you. Whew. I'm calming down now and I hope my experience is similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 Well, I had been wondering this as well but hadn't thought to search. So, thank you for asking! I personally don't mind repeated questions. Groups change. There are new people here all the time. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 not as much as childbirth. and it doens't last more than a minute or so per side. just squish you between two glass plates to take the x-ray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeppermintPattie Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 Last time I had mine, from the time I left my car until I was back to my car - 15 minutes! And there's no pain, just a little more squishing than you like. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyforlatin Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 Nothing compared to a pap smear. I'll take a mammo any day but will hem and haw and use any excuse to delay a pap. I heard that paps are not really required every year. 🤔 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 Not at all in my experience. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 I just felt a bit squished - not painful, just a bit uncomfortable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 Not enough to spend one second worrying about it. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 (edited) I have had about 10 or so. Honestly, I cannot think of one that actually hurt. It can be weird putting your arm here, your br@st there, etc. and there are some awkward positions, but pain? No, I didn't feel any. And I agree 100% that a pap is more uncomfortable/painful (yet I still get those, too!) FWIW, my ultrasounds, MRI, and biopsy didn't hurt either. Edited March 9, 2018 by umsami 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 It's like having your boobs ripped off! Totally kidding. I have been avoiding this myself because eeek... So next I wanna know what about if one has very little boobage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 It's like having your boobs ripped off! Totally kidding. I have been avoiding this myself because eeek... So next I wanna know what about if one has very little boobage? They have different sized equipment to deal with this. The technician had a look and then chose the correct... plates? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 They have different sized equipment to deal with this. The technician had a look and then chose the correct... plates? I searched for experiences by men. They say it doesn't hurt either. Thanks! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 I've had many, and agree that it's more discomfort than actual pain. And though I have no direct experience, I'd guess that the discomfort and pain of a mammogram are far less than treatment for cancer. (If that sounds flippant, I don't mean for it to.) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halftime Hope Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 (edited) Addressing the "what if you only bring a 'short story' not a bOOk" question from above: they squeeze whatever you bring. :laugh: The worst discomfort (not actual pain) I've had was for two reasons: 1) an overzealous tech had me standing with a rib pinned against the edge of the adjustable squeeze-plate. I've learned to ask for it to be readjusted until we found a more bearable position. (Some women have zero ribcage padding, and pushing hard on a rib can be very uncomfortable.) 2) I don't go in the middle of a cycle, or when my bOOks are predictably tender anyway. If you have regular cycles, you should be able to schedule the test when you'll be more comfortable. Good luck! Edited March 9, 2018 by Halftime Hope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnificent_baby Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 I would say it's more awkward and mildly uncomfortable. It's only been painful when I had a tender cyst and even then the techs were as gentle as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 I agree that it's not really what I'd call painful, at all. And it's fast. Honestly, I'd rather get a mammogram than clean my messy kitchen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuvToRead Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 I just had my first one Wednesday (a 3D one if that makes a difference) and it really didn't hurt, but it is uncomfortable. Much more pleasant than a pap, and the whole thing took 15 minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 Uncomfortable but if you have a good technician it will go fast. Just listen to how to stand and where to out your arm and let the tech do what she has to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuvToRead Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 I just had my first one Wednesday and it didn't hurt, but it was uncomfortable. The whole thing took 15 minutes. I would rather get another mammogram than pap. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 I had my first last July. It was awkward (I mean, someone's handling and moving your b00b around like a piece of meat), but I didn't find it painful at all. Barely even could call it uncomfortable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 (edited) More embarrassing having the technician position your chest chunk into position than painful, although the few seconds you have to maintain the position with your bits squished is uncomfortable. Turns out I have a small lump of dead tissue (seat belt trauma from the car crash almost FOUR years ago now) so I had EXTRA scans and then an ultrasound - my 15 minutes in and out visit ended up three hours. No one was letting me leave until they felt confident that was all it was. So worth getting the scan - if all is well, then they have a baseline scan of what your chest bits are supposed to be like, for comparison with later scans as you age. Hint - always use the same place to get your scans, or keep the info so you can get copies if you change providers later. The hospital knew from previous scans that the lump was new. When I mentioned my B* had been dark purple like an eggplant after the crash a light bulb went off over the medical person's head. Edited March 9, 2018 by JFSinIL 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selkie Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 I've never had pain, just a squeezing sensation. I always tell the tech to squish 'em as much as she needs to to get a good picture. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kassia Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 Last time I had mine, from the time I left my car until I was back to my car - 15 minutes! And there's no pain, just a little more squishing than you like. This has been my experience, too. I feel very fortunate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkTulip Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 My books are more like a short essay, possibly even a tri-fold pamphlet, so it’s tough to get enough tissue to even get in there. It doesn’t hurt, but more like a gentle tugging to get something more than the top layer of skin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 still seems barbaric...like they couldn't come up with something less stupid? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 Not all that bad. When I had my first one, the nurse asked if I'd breast fed. I told her I EP'd for 2 years. She replied "Oh, you'll have no trouble, then". She was right-it really doesn't hurt any more than a hospital grade breast pump (and when I had to use my hand pump, it always hurt more than the hospital grade one I had at home). The center my OB refers to tries it's best to look more like a spa than a medical facility, which seems silly in it's own right, but is appreciated (and a plush bathrobe that opens in front does make you feel less exposed than a hospital gown). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Above The Rowan Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 Awkward, but no pain. Having someone grabbing the girls and arranging them how they needed, was a bit weird and I got the nervous-giggles which made it all even more awkward. I had a mammo and then ultrasound right afterwards, and that was WAY more uncomfortable. I have bOOks on the larger side, but after two pregnancies, and nursing, well...when I lay down they just kinda go where they want to go. So the tech had to really manhandle them to get the u/s wand in the right spot :lol: It was....just awkward all around. I'm not normally a shy person or uncomfortable about medical procedures, but this experience brought me to the brink! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 oh dear there are zillions of videos on youtube showing everything this actually left me feeling worse as a short person with no boobage....HOWEVER I don't think this would be painful...just embarrassing and stupid because it will require some major machine adjustments and creativity....LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkyandtheBrains. Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 Mostly it’s awkward. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 Agreeing that it wasn't painful for me. Not fun, but really nothing to be afraid of. I actually felt more sorry for the woman who had to spend her whole day giving mammograms. :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
callapidder Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 I appreciate this thread. I need to get one this year (am actually late for my first one), but I have a bunch of dental work I want to get out of the way first. Not a fun year, but judging by this thread, the mammogram won't be as bad as the dental stuff, so that's something. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSmomof2 Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 It's like having your boobs ripped off! Totally kidding. I have been avoiding this myself because eeek... So next I wanna know what about if one has very little boobage? Somehow they find enough to squish......I always thought I could probably just have a chest X-ray and call it good.🤣😂 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scbusf Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 I must be unusually sensitive, but it does hurt for me. It's not too bad, but it's definitely pain. But then it's over and I go on with my day. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 Not that bad......it’s slightly uncomfortable, but I wouldn’t call it actual pain. Agreed. If you are very full, then it pinches. But only for a moment and it is done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldberry Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 I appreciate this thread. I need to get one this year (am actually late for my first one), but I have a bunch of dental work I want to get out of the way first. Not a fun year, but judging by this thread, the mammogram won't be as bad as the dental stuff, so that's something. Ugh, I have an awful gag reflex and dental x-rays are the worst. I have laughing gas for almost everything else dental. Mammogram... squishy and sometimes pinchy. Not bad at all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wintermom Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 It's like having your boobs ripped off! Totally kidding. I have been avoiding this myself because eeek... So next I wanna know what about if one has very little boobage? It is EXACTLY like having them ripped off. It is horrible. It's impossible if your happen to be extra sensitive at the time. I had to walk out during my last appointment. I have not returned, and I'm seeking out an u/s instead. I'm very flat, though, so there is literally nothing to squeeze without pulling at skin and muscle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Peregrine Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 Well, I thought it burned for a few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greta Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 (edited) Do Mammograms Hurt? Short answer: sometimes no, but sometimes yes. Mine hurt. And no I don't mean it was uncomfortable, I mean it HURT. And they ached for three days afterward. Three days! Since my doctor and the tech had told me it wouldn't hurt, I thought the problem was that I was overly sensitive (I do have small, dense breasts so that probably is a factor). After watching that video, and learning that they use more compression force than what is necessary, and other women have had far worse outcomes than mine (ruptured blood vessels, ruptured cysts, ruptured implants) I learned the problem isn't just me. The problem is that they give no clear guidelines for how much force is to be used, so it varies from place to place and even technician to technician. Edited March 9, 2018 by Greta 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 Yikes Greta, that's awful. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSmomof2 Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 Do Mammograms Hurt? Short answer: sometimes no, but sometimes yes. Mine hurt. And no I don't mean it was uncomfortable, I mean it HURT. And they ached for three days afterward. Three days! Since my doctor and the tech had told me it wouldn't hurt, I thought the problem was that I was overly sensitive (I do have small, dense breasts so that probably is a factor). After watching that video, and learning that they use more compression force than what is necessary, and other women have had far worse outcomes than mine (ruptured blood vessels, ruptured cysts, ruptured implants) I learned the problem isn't just me. The problem is that they give no clear guidelines for how much force is to be used, so it varies from place to place and even technician to technician. That’s terrible! I know my mom had one bad mammogram that left bruises, but she’s had many before/after without pain or problems. Must have been a bad tech. I’ve had five mammograms, no pain, but I’ve had the same technician every year as well. I’ve also only had 3D mammos, so I don’t know if that makes a difference. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terabith Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 I may not be a good sample, because I have reduced sensation in my boobs, but while it was uncomfortable, I didn't find it painful. The hardest part was having to sort of contort my body so they could get good images of certain parts. Definitely a lot of pressure, but it really wasn't all that bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 just an FYI, get a hold of your reports after and note if they say anything about breast density. Mammograms can miss things in dense breasts. There are some clinicians who believe if you score over a certain density you might want to consider an MRI but it seems to vary from place to place so you may need to advocated on your own behalf https://www.cancercenter.com/discussions/blog/why-its-important-to-know-if-you-have-dense-breasts/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 (edited) I have an MRI in April and maamogram in November every year. I hate the MRI and don't enjoy getting the mammogram (hanging round, answering the same dumb questions an being pulled and prodded) but it is relatively straight forward. Edited March 10, 2018 by kiwik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UmMusa Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 Had my first one this year and it was quick and no biggie. Just a couple of seconds of being squished like others said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBJones Posted March 11, 2018 Share Posted March 11, 2018 (edited) Just pretty uncomfortable (but not painful, I didn't think) for about 4-5 seconds two different times on each breast. But it's such an important test. You'll do fine; just think of your children. From the time I get out of my vehicle, walk in the building, and am walking back out, it's max 15-20 minutes. Edited March 11, 2018 by JBJones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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