Extremely painful mamogram along with a lot of anxiety

[Melody34]

I am 55 and went for my annual Mamogram today.  I cannot really follow the advice on waiting for the 9th day of my period etc as I am in menopause.  

This was the most painful experience I have ever endured.  It felt like my breasts were being ripped off from the muscles in my chest wall.  

What can a menopausal woman do to make this procedure less painful.  I would rather endure 6 root canals without anisthetic than this.


This discussion is related to Back from Mammo and U/S - have questions please (m)....

[iam1butterfly]

I have Fibrosistic Disease of the breast as well; and, I've never endured the pain that
has been described, here, during my mammographies.
And, I've had had both the basic and diagnostic types of mammograms.
Sometimes, I suspect that the comfort (or discomfort) has a lot to do with the
approach of the technicians who are performing the procedure.
Some are just better or more considerate than others.

[mags59]

I feel your pain!  I have fibrocystic disease in my breasts and can have extremely painful mammograms.  I don't know how many times I've had tears rolling down my face from the pain.  Unfortunately, during menopause, there's no way of telling when your hormones will act up and cause pain in that situation.  I had a hysterectomy, but still have my ovaries, and I can never tell when my breasts are going to hurt since I don't get periods anymore (they used to be extremely painful right before and during my periods).  You should ask your dr if you have fibrocystic breasts, although there's not much that can be done to ease the pain, other than like japdip said, try to get a digital mammo done.  I just had one of those, and they don't have to compress the breasts as much as they did on the older film mammos.

[mags59]

I feel your pain!  I have fibrocystic disease in my breasts and can have extremely painful mammograms.  I don't know how many times I've had tears rolling down my face from the pain.  Unfortunately, during menopause, there's no way of telling when your hormones will act up and cause pain in that situation.  I had a hysterectomy, but still have my ovaries, and I can never tell when my breasts are going to hurt since I don't get periods anymore (they used to be extremely painful right before and during my periods).  You should ask your dr if you have fibrocystic breasts, although there's not much that can be done to ease the pain, other than like japdip said, try to get a digital mammo done.  I just had one of those, and they don't have to compress the breasts as much as they did on the older film mammos.

[japdip]

Though mammograms are far from comfortable they are rarely as painful as you describe. Digital Mammography is said to be less painful and you might have future tests done where this is offered. I have heard of some institutions that permit a topical anesthetic to be applied some time before the mammogram and you might ask about this also. Other than that I don't know of any solution to the discomfort. You might also think about either Ultrasound or even Breast MRI if mammograms are unbearable for you in the future. The mammography Technicians may have some other suggestions also.  Regards ....