mammogram

so...what can i expect for a first visit? my ob/gyn wants me to get a baseline and i am just freaking out because all i ever hear is that it is painful.

Re: mammogram

they squish your boobs in a pannini maker for about 15 seconds. The whole thing is over in about 5 mins.

Uncomfy but it was never really painful.

You can take asome tylenol before or advil if you want but I never needed to.

Message edited 12/7/2011 11:34:17 AM.

Re: mammogram

Panini maker - perfect description.

It's not that bad, a little uncomfortable and cold, but over before you know it.

Re: mammogram

You wanted an answer and I am being honest. Maybe it's because I have small boobs, but when I went for my mammogram I thought it was painful. Since I am pretty small, I guesss there isn;t a lot to smush in there and maybe that was why. It really does only last a few seconds, but I wanted to pull my boob off that tray so bad.

Re: mammogram

i have big dense boobs...so it did hurt for about a minute. then its over. panini maker is a perfect description!

Message edited 12/8/2011 10:39:09 AM.

Re: mammogram

I found it uncomfortable but not painful. It was over very quickly.

Re: mammogram

Re: mammogram

FYI:::


News Release

Thyroid Shield Not Recommended During Mammograms

Apr. 16, 2011

Mammographers have reported to ASRT that a growing number of patients are requesting a thyroid shield be used during their mammography examinations. The requests are the result of advice originally given on a television talk show last year and repeated in an e-mail message that has circulated to thousands of American women in the past few weeks. The talk show and the e-mail incorrectly linked the radiation delivered during a mammography examination to an increased risk of developing thyroid cancer.

Although every institution has its own mammography protocols, the ASRT does not recommend the regular use of a thyroid shield during mammography exams. "It can obscure important anatomy and interfere with exam positioning, interpretation and diagnosis," said ASRT President James Temme, M.P.A., R.T.(R)(QM), FASRT. In addition, use of the shield can result in the entire exam having to be repeated, which doubles the patient's radiation dose.

If patients ask for a thyroid shield, ASRT suggests that mammographers explain that the radiation dose to the thyroid is very low because the thyroid is not in the direct path of the x-ray beam during a mammography exam. The American College of Radiology and Society of Breast Imaging have provided information about the estimated radiation dose to the thyroid that may be useful in answering your patients' questions. Mammographers can also explain that using a thyroid shield might interfere with the accuracy and quality of the examination.

In addition, mammographers can direct patients to the ASRT-sponsored site www.xrayrisk.com to learn more about radiation exposure and to track their medical imaging history. Patients also can learn about the risks and benefits of imaging procedures at the Image Wisely website, www.imagewisely.org.

Re: mammogram

I did not have to repeat, and already have the results. The shield did not interfere with the test, and i will continue to ask for it, to protect my thyroid from any amount of radiation.

Obviously they wanted to protect my internal organs with the apron so why not the thyroid also?

Re: mammogram