Who designed the Mammogram unit?!!!!

[EggysMom]

Well that was interesting - my first mammogram. You know when you're getting old, when the invitation for a mammogram drops through the door. There's nothing like it for reminding you of impending old age. It doesn't matter that my son is only 8, I'm now officially old enough here for a mammogram.

Who designed these devices? Were they designed by a middle-aged, slightly portly, slightly less flexible than she would have been in her 20s, lady? Can't have been. Nobody would design a device that has the top perspex compression plate at just the right height and angle to dig into your chin when you're getting into position.

I was expecting discomfort. I'd read about the compression process, was relieved when I was told that would only be momentary like a blood pressure test. I was even expecting some contortions to get into the correct position. But seriously - a huge perspex plate sticking either into my chin, or into the soft skin just below my chin? It was a relief when the nurse said that compression could start, because it meant that annoying plate would move away from my chin/neck!

Is it just me? There has to be a better design! How about a retractable top plate that only moves out and down when you're finally stood in the right position?

You're all now going to tell me that my nurse had it set up wrongly, aren't you ....

[/rant]

The plate is removable, however getting it in when you are in position would be quite tricky! The paddle could have been moved down slightly if it didn't stop the mammographer positioning.

There are modern machines that have warm touch platforms and flexible paddles and padding on the body of the unit to make it more comfortable. Sadly like most equipment there is a limit to how comfortable a machine can be whilst still achieving diagnostic images at an acceptable radiation dose.

I am sorry your imaging wasn't particularly comfortable, I hope it won't stop you attending in future.

And yes, of course you are allowed to rant, hope I haven't further pissed you off!!

I agree with you OP. The radiographer kept telling me off for backing away from the machine slighty during the test because I was so uncomfortable. My face was squashed against the machine the whole time!

I actually find it more uncomfortable and more embarrassing than a smear test

They might be uncomfortable but it's brief and far better than not being tested. I would hate people to be put off.

Some padding on the unit wouldn't have gone amiss. Mind you, it was a lorry trailer parked on a pavement, I should probably be grateful that the heating worked.

No, it won't put me off attending, especially that I know now what to expect - I'll just do some stretching exercises and warm-ups before hand, so that I am as flexible as I appear to need to be!

For me, having boobs full of cysts - mammograms are excruciating.
A little trick is to ask for the radiographer to apply the plate pressure manually. I can get about half way 50% pressure before I have to scream to stop. Luckily a clear picture is normally developed and I don't have to try again!

Oh god keepon that sounds painful. At least you found a way to make it work for you.

I've had 3 mammograms now so it hasn't put me off going, but I do dread it every time I get the appointment through. I'm only in my early 40s but on a yearly recall due to family history.

My mum had an awful experience with a mammogram last year. The plates were slammed down on her breast so hard she had bruising and suffered nerve damage. She still has pain but nowhere near as bad. It took over a year to settle and she couldn't wear a bra for a good while. Her GP was horrified.

Just to say it hasn't put me off having one, I'm a few years off yet.

Titty mangle!

I hate it too, it's bloody uncomfortable.

I'm due to have my next one in a couple of weeks & I'll suffer it because I like the reassurance, but pleasant it ain't.

It's an awful contraption. I took one look at it and decided not to take up my summons.

When I went for my first year follow up last year is was so bloody comfortable. The operator told me to ask for room 3 next time I go. It was a new machine and what a difference!

I think it was room 3 ....

I've had three. They've never bothered me. I don't have small breasts, and am quite tall. Dunno if that makes a difference.

Ooh, maybe I had a new machine??

Love "Titty Mangle"! That is exactly what it is. Still, however uncomfortable and painful, it is worth it. Wouldn't stop me going back. Got to have been a man that invented that machine, a woman would surely have found a better way...

You can have MRI or ultrasound but there are limitations of those in terms of cost, accessibility, what you need to visualise and availability. With a mammogram the compression is required to separate out the structures and the shape of the machine due to needing something that produces x-rays above something that will detect them. Flexible paddles and faster acquisition time are helping with comfort, digital imaging makes the recall rate lower as images can be assessed for blur / artefacts and positioning immediately.

I had my first this year and it was surprisingly un- traumatic! Well designed room, I went in the changing room, then through a door at the other side into the mammogram room. The machine - titty mangle 😂 was height and angle adjustable and the operator was so lovely. I was lucky that it was a newish machine so sounds like the designers are starting to consider the end users.

My radiographer did say that the younger you are the more uncomfortable it is. Something about breast tissue being more dense or firmer - I can't quite remember exactly as she was manhandling my boob into the plate at this point and I was mortally embarrassed.

As you get older your breast tissue becomes less dense and glandular and more fatty so there is more give and they are more comfortable.

Height and angle have always been adjustable, but the newer machines definitely move in an easier way and are "softer" as much as they can be.

At what age do you get called for your first mammogram?

Depends on the area, 47 is the extended age in some areas, routinely 50.

I had my first recently and it was nowhere near as bad as I’d been led to believe. The diagonal-ish image on the left boob was a little squeeee but it was literally 5 seconds. The radiographer was ace.

Can I just ask what if you have small boobs?? I don’t have a lot to squash!

I'm old and have small boobs!
I really think it's down to individual make up. I have lots of friends and family who go now (part of the aging process!) and none of them have encountered the problems I have.
Big boobs, small boobs, tall/short, under/over 50, most if not all, find it uncomfortable but not painful.
Don't let my experience put you off (it's very rare to have the pain I have),
Smears, on the other hand, I have no problem whatsoever!
I look forward to the day when my daughter and granddaughters can just walk through a screening machine and be scanned without any invasive procedures.