Pain with mammography

carcharm

I had my 6 mo mammo today and I cried like a baby because it hurt so bad. I have never enjoyed mammo's but never had as much pain as I did today. The tech's were quite insensative. I told them as soon as they started compressing that something was wrong that it hurt. She just kept compressing - smashed my face against the machine and ran to take the picture. I started crying after the first picture. She said "Do you have fibromyalgia?" I said no and I have never had pain with a mammo either.There were 2 techs cuz I am in a wheelchair from a fractured ankle. She then said "man we are hardly compressing-you better tell your dr how much it hurt and get something for it next time." I don't know if it was cuz I was sitting in the wheelchair and not standing or if my breast tissue has changed since chemo but I cannot go thru this every 6 mo. I have never complained of pain during these before. I think the techs were rough and rude. Did anyone else notice more pain after chemo? I only had my rt breast done cuz I had a lt mastecomy. They didn't do the last shot cuz I was in so much pain and they warned me that they need good shots... blah blah blah.... fxxx you!! I will request different techs next time.

cincilady

Strangely enough, after my fist mammogram at age 42 I said I would never go back again.  I must have had the same techs you had.  I had bruises on both breasts and had a bloody discharge for months.  Now I have breast cancer and "get" to go even more often - go figure.  I did not have chemo so I can't answer your question.  I am just finishing radiation and don't go for my first follow up mammogram unitl April.  I completely understand what you are feeling - like you were violated or something.  You know you are letting them do this to you, but somehow it feels like you have no choice and they are inflicting a lot of pain.  Ask your doctor for a prescription of Emla cream.  I was given this before they gave me the shots around my areola with the radioactive stuff for the sentinel node biopsy.  I put it on 1 hour before and wrapped it in saran wrap and got dressed as normal.  Then you would just wipe it off with a babywipe or something right before the mammogram in the changing room.  If someone can shoot a 2 inch needle into by breast 4 times and I felt nothing, it could certainly be an option for you.  There's no reason why you should have feel pain while you get through this.  Wishing you speedy and healthy results!

carcharm

Thank you for responding. I just needed validation that I am not a hypochondriac. Elma cream... I have never heard of it but will ask my BS today when I see her. I just felt like they really didn't give a hoot about my dx. They were acting mechanical. I have always had a very positive experience at this cancer center but I had 2 young inexperienced techs that saw me as a problem that could get them off schedule and potentially make them stay later than their punch out time. I still hurt today. I will tell the surgeon about my experience.

LisaAlissa

Absolutely tell the surgeon.  The tech makes a huge difference.  So be sure you get the names of the two techs you saw.  So you can be sure that future exams are not with them.  

One of the techs at my breast surgeon's office is amazing.  She did my first post-surgical mammogram.  It was the least painful (almost not painful at all)  exam I every had.  When you talk w/ your surgeon, see if you can get the name of the best tech on their staff.  (If your surgeon is not a woman, then you may to talk w/ one of the older women on the staff (someone who has routine mammograms), tell her your story, then ask for her recommendation.  

Just an idea.

LisaAlissa