Whew - Got 'R Done!

Got what done?  A project?  Deep cleaning?  Cooking?  No, no, no.  Something more important than all of those (in my opinion)!  I apologize in advance if you feel any of this is TMI.  :)

If you are 40 or older or even near 40, then you know that there is a certain appointment that women dread.  A supposedly very painful, possibly humiliating sort of appointment that involves flattening some things.  I turned 40 last April and I was determined to git 'r done before I turned 41 (hey - look at me - a month and a half to spare - LOL)!  I had that appointment today!  Yay - pat on the back for me!

And you know what?  It's no.big.deal.  I am blessed to have an HMO with a radiology department that lets you walk in for a mammogram - no appointment needed.  I decided (and prayed for strength) that today was THE day, no matter what.  I even made a call and delayed a coffee date with a friend to make sure I had enough time.  It was quick and easy!  It truly was not near as bad as I imagined it would be.  Was it pleasant?  No.  Was I being a big baby about it for no good reason?  Yes.  Did I reward myself with Starbucks afterward?  Yes.  :)

If you haven't had one yet, here are a few tips:

~ Make your appointment for sometime within 2 weeks of your last cycle for less sensitivity.
~ You can take ibuprofen before you go (I did, but am not sure it was even necessary or if it had even kicked in yet).
~ Don't wear any deodorant, perfumes, or lotions as the residue could interfere with the x-ray.
~ Don't be embarrassed at having a stranger doing the, ahem...positioning, 'cause she's a medical professional and she does it all.day.long.
~ Speak up if you are in a lot of pain.  It should be uncomfortable, unpleasant, and maybe hurt a teensy bit, but not be extremely painful.
~ Don't panic if you are called back so they can double-check something.  That does NOT mean you have cancer.  Apparently this can often happen on the first one as there's nothing to compare it to so they will fully check out anything that looks abnormal.
~ My HMO recommends having a first mammogram at 40 and then annually thereafter.  If you have higher risk due to family history of breast cancer, you should talk to your doctor to see if you should start sooner.

Any other tips?  Did you git 'r done?  Will you if you haven't yet?

Smiling in the sunshine,
Lisa  :)