I was yelling in pain

On a similar note, my last smear test was hideously painful, always found them uncomfortable, but this was ridiculous. Think it is in the technique of who is doing it.
Long time ago had to have series of injections into the buttock with what looked like a horse-sized needle. Some practitioners had me jumping off the bed in pain. With others, hardly felt it.

As my lump seemed the same as I had twice before, I asked the Doc if I could just have the scan as the last mammogram was so painful. I am small breasted and I felt that I was being stretched like a piece of elastic!
The Doc agreed to no mammogram and just did a scan. Each time (three times) the cyst was drained.

I too found it uncomfortable but persevered. I think it depends upon the shape of the breast

Here y’go ladies:

HOW TO PREPARE FOR A MAMMOGRAM (many thanks to HysterSisters.com)

Many women are afraid of their first mammogram, and even if they have had them before, there is fear. But there is no need to worry. By taking a few minutes each day for a week preceding the exam and doing the following practice exercises, you will be totally prepared for the test, and best of all, you can do these simple practice exercises right in your home.

EXERCISE 1: Open your refrigerator door, and insert one breast between the door and the main box. Have one of your strongest friends slam the door shut as hard as possible and lean on the door for good measure. Hold that position for five seconds. Repeat (just in case the first time wasn’t effective).

EXERCISE 2: Visit your garage at 3 a.m. when the temperature of the cement floor is just perfect. Take off all your clothes and lie comfortably on the floor sideways with one breast wedged under the rear tire of the car. Ask a friend to slowly back the car up until your breast is sufficiently flattened and chilled. Switch sides, and repeat for the other breast.

EXERCISE 3: Freeze two metal bookends overnight. Strip to the waist. Invite a stranger into the room. Have the stranger press the bookends against either side of one of your breasts and smash the bookends together as hard as he/she can. Set an appointment with the stranger to meet next year to do it again. You are now properly prepared!

Well I suspect that some may be offended by your post narrowboatman but (and I’m speaking as someone who is terrified of mammograms) I thought it was hysterical ! In fact I snorted my tea knowing what was coming in exercise 2 !

Very funny! And so true.....

I found mammograms increasingly painful every time I went until the last one which was much much better so maybe the hospital has a new machine. I sincerely hope so as I probably have 2 more to go before I'm 70! Yesterday I had an ultrasound done of my bladder and kidneys and that was pretty painful. The operator didn't seem to ease off the pressure despite my gasps of pain. I'd expected it to be painless as my only previous experience of ultrasound was when pregnant - never painful at all - so it was quite a shock. Some of the medical personnel do seem very cold and unsympathetic.

narrowboatnan

I think a non-pregnant ultrasound requires the operator to press quite hard in order to visualise the deeper tissues. It can be slightly uncomfortable I know. But better than a laparoscope!

The preparation for a mammogram is very funny - but perhaps best not to put people off having them!

I saw a poem many years ago which expressed the same humour about mammograms Narrowboatnan. Makes you wonder why there haven't been more improvements in either the technique or the equipment and I agree with others who say here that if men had to put their tender bits through a similar experience, there would probably be a different way of doing it by now.

I would imagine the level of pain/discomfort depends on the size of a person's breasts - and some people suffer with "lumpy" breasts too.

I find mammograms more like discomfort than real pain but I know that for some people it is a horrible experience.

Loved the preparation exercises! Fell off my chair laughing! I shall just remember that next time I go to distract me from the pain.

It really is awful, but I grit my teeth and hold my breath till the pictures are taken. What bothers me is the feeling that I'm half on tiptoes during the ordeal. Everything is tensed to the maximum. I have a fairly generous bust, but my sister-in-law who goes to the same doctor has two peanuts and it is excruciating for her as the plates must dig into her ribs trying to get a purchase. She has a horror of all things mechanical/medical as she has also been through radiotherapy and CT scans, and suffers a lot from these problems.

I consider myself really lucky, though, as the pictures, when they are developed, are absolutely picture book perfect, so it's worth the suffering for the reassurance.

Those I have done in the mobile clinics have been fairly painful, though only one was really bad. I think it helps to try to relax, rather than clench your teeth, easier said than done.
The last one I had was in a clinic. I think the equipment must be more modern there, unless it was the expertise of the practitioner, as it was much less uncomfortable than any previous ones. I have to say all the mammographers have been helpful, never rude or discourteous or uncaring.

Thanks for reminding me. I'm 67 and haven't been asked to go for one recently. I would pay (lucky I can) rather than not have them. Ive had painful and non painful so it must depend on the operator.
I would certainly complain if I wasn't satisfied. A little sympathy and reassurance is easy to give. You shouldn't be doing the job if you're not that kind of person.

I've had many mammograms after having Breast cancer in 2015 and can honestly say even my first post surgery and treatment was nothing more than mildly uncomfortable, I wasn't looking forward to it as my treated breast is quite tender after radiotheraphy and always will be now.
I must say all mine have been at the breast clinic and I've been told treated with but kindness and respect for which I am very grateful. ?

Never found them uncomfortable perhaps because I'm rather large they tell me it's worse if you are a small size. What I found increasingly painful were the smear tests, again perhaps it's down to the radiographer. Glad they won't be calling me again.

Sorry I should have said nurse not radiographer.