Problems after rough MAMMOGRAM!

I am so distubed by this. I am so sorry this happened to you. As someone with arm and breast lymphedema, I just assumed MRI and ultrasound of the breast would be th only acceptable tests???? I am never putting my left breast through another mammogram! Am I reading this right? Is this normal? Will I be asked to do this when i am done with treatment????

Wow, I am so sorry you were treated so roughly. I agree with you when you said we always have to be on guard and protective; and we shouldn't have to with medical professionals.



I have had a couple nasty experiences also. One time I went for a mammo (before bc), and the tech said she was training this other tech and would that be okay. I said yes. Well, the training tech was really nice, and the tech trainer was like Attila the Hun! She was angry about something--like having to train someone else. She slapped my breast up there like it was bread dough. Luckily, for me, my breasts don't hurt from the plates squeezing together. I just felt like I wasn't a person, just a piece of meat. Totally disrespected.



I vowed that for ever more I would make sure I scheduled my mammo on a day when she was off. The receptionists were good about helping me with that. I don't know why I never complained, I guess I thought it would be a moot point, that no one would do anything about it.



Then I was diagnosed w/bc. Prior to the lumpectomy, I had to go in for a wire insertion procedure. As I walked in to the room, there was the same nasty tech. Another tech asked if the nasty tech could stay and watch as she was being trained for this procedure as an assistant. I burst into tears, and said no, and if she remained I was out of there. They all went off into a huddle, and thank goodness they removed her. It seems that bc brought out the self-advocacy in me. AND I had to use that again, when the lumpectomy breast was infected and doc ordered an ultra-sound. The receptionist insisted that they would not schedule the ultra-sound w/out first doing a mammogram. I just looked at her, and told her in no uncertain terms that I was in so much pain, there was no way they were going to squeeze my breast; and that she best either give me the appt. or she could deal w/my surgeon who wrote on the order NO MAMMO. I got my way.



Since then I have been very outspoken with any medical professional, and I will continue to be that way for a long time, because I think it's going to take a long time to educate all them professionals; especially if they only get a few hours training in LE--both primary & secondary!! Think we need to descend on the medical schools and make them change their curriculum!



And, I had a subsequent surgery that was a Mast w/ TRAMflap recon--so now I only have to get one breast mashed. AND I have to fight to make them understand that I only get one breast mammo. They just don't get it!



grace

tornadobubblesgirl! Hey there!

I'm beginning to wonder..I had that practically-broke-my-bone-smooshed-boob-underarm mammo and I have a very achey shoulder and arm. I wonder if this is from that??? One thing is for certain..mammos never really hurt me before (first time was a shocker, though!) and my non-bc boob has no problems but my bc boob is always a touch sore and those mammos do a real number on my pain tolerance test.

I decided to do a search on this subject because of my mammogram last week which resulted in ? I assume lymphedema though the literature I have read rarely notes the pain that comes with it. And I am shocked to read that so many responses (some from medical personnel) that say they have never heard of this!! I am a 12 year br/ca survivor. I did have mild lymphedema after my chemo/radiation and followed dr's orders to wear support bandages or tighter sports type bras. But after/during this mammogram- I thought I was going to faint. The technologist pressed the paddle WAY too tight and I know that the ladies waiting outside heard me yelling in pain. The next day I had pain in my neck, under my arms and in my right groin. I also felt exhausted and stayed in bed for about 10 days. I know this is not the best thing but I literally could not do anything. Also I went through the horror of the doctor asking me to wait and have a sonogram- thoughts were racing through my head- "oh no, it's back", "he saw something", I was alone and did not know how I might react to bad news. But the dr. said he thought it was just scar tissue. I'm still a little worried- after all he's just a radiologist. I hope more patients will start speaking out. I still have some pain 3 weeks later. I see my PCP next week.

One more thing- most of the sites that I read about lymphedema- would deny that I had it at all since there was minimal swelling. But there was lots of pain.

I have trunkle and breast LE and always have some swelling after a mammo.  I always do MLD right before and a LOT afterward and get fairly quick resolution in a few days.  Unfortunately lately I have had to have one every six months as they are watching some calcifications in my scar tissue.  I don't usually have pain but a lot of achiness and discomfort.  I feel like my breast is going to burst!  I do wear a Solaris Tribute sleeve and vest at night which helps a lot.  I don't have an Attila the Hun technician.  They are always sympathetic about my LE even if they do not understand it.