04 September 2008

a smashing good time

Ah, mammograms. I had two back in 2001-2002, pre- and post-op. Then came the babies and the breastfeeding, and a reprieve. When my OB discovered my 40th birthday came and went without another peek at the girls I was given strict orders to schedule one 3 months after Eleanor weaned. This is one of the few areas I do exactly as I am told.

Back before the first mammogram I expressed some concern about the procedure to my primary care doc. He responded by telling me about his colonoscopy. I guess if you are a man, these are analogous (no pun intended). Having had very recent experience with both, I can tell you they are not in any way, shape, or form the least bit similar.

The mammogram today was a lot quicker than I remember. Wedge, smash, hold your breath, breath. Repeat on the other side. Then assume "the pose", which seems to mean "turn yourself into a corkscrew with one relaxed shoulder", smash, hold your breath, breath. Repeat on the other side. It took a while, but I figured out the difference.

Past mammograms I have had involved all of this, followed by another wait, then doing some more smashing, then more waiting, rinse and repeat. It seems those were diagnostic mammograms. Today's adventure was a screening mammogram. The big difference is nobody looked at the results while I was there, so if they need to take another look I will need to take another few hours off work and spend a lot more time watching Ellen in the waiting room. Fun!

I get to call for results next week, and I'll be hoping all is well and I don't have to go back and do it all again.

3 comments:

Karen said...

Hope all turns out well and you don't have to go back.

Quarantine Hobby said...

That does not sound like fun at all.

I hope the results are a-okay and you don't have to go through it again!

Burgh Baby said...

Dude. You need to link to Stand Up for Cancer so your voice gets counted.

Also, good for you for being proactive. You rock!