6 Things I wish I’d known (or I’m glad I knew) before my mammogram

****Hey Ya’ll.  Just a little disclaimer:  I’m not a medical professional or such.  I’m basically just sharing my experience so that it may comfort you or a friend before their mammogram.


I had a mammogram today.  Nothing crazy is going on, but my obgyn said I needed a baseline screening at my recent check-up.  Here’s what I wish I’d known, or that I’m glad someone told me, before today:

1.  Some recommendations suggest that women have baseline mammograms at age 35.  I always thought it was 40, so my doctor really surprised me when he suggested I get a mammogram.  (I’m only 35 29.)

2.  The machine is this tall thing with a platform.  You stand up, they line you up and smoosh.  Why is it important to know you’re standing up?  Well, I wear dresses and skirts pretty much all the time.  Thankfully, I was in a blouse and skirt today and I only had to remove my top layer.  So…no dresses.

3.  No deodorant, powders, etc.  Thankfully, a friend mentioned this to me last night at church.  Apparently these can cause false reads.

4.  It really doesn’t hurt.  Really.  I promise.  It is uncomfortable, but for like 3 seconds.  Honestly, it was easier than an x-ray at the dentist with those crazy films they put in your mouth that almost gag you.  For the record, I did take a preemptive Advil dose.

5.  Your mammogram tech is not a radiologist, so she can’t give you any diagnostic info.  That said, Lisa (my friendly mammogram tech this morning) was full of information that I did need.  She told me when and how I would hear from the doctor’s office.  She also told me:

6.  “Don’t panic if you get called to come in for more views.”  Apparently, “re-dos” are quite common, mainly to establish that the baseline is all clear.  Good to know.

So, that’s it.  That’s what I’m glad I knew (or wish I’d known) before this morning.  Is there something you could add to the list?

My little pumpkins

Look what we found in our fall garden!  Whoo Hoo!  The kids are so excited about these little baby pumpkins.  I hope they turn orange before Halloween!

 

Our other vegetables are growing too!  We harvested a handful of bell pepper that were promptly chopped and frozen, just waiting to be mixed with a little garlic and onion and (store bought) celery.

 

Fall Garden

This hot, hot, dry, dry summer was tough on our garden.  We harvested a few tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and 1 little bitty ol’ canteloupe back in June and July.  Since then, it has been too stinkin’ hot to even get out there to work.  Yuck.  We pulled everything up in late July (except the watermelon vine and that crazy pepper plant that likes the high temps)with the plan to start a few things for August.  Um, yea.  That didn’t happen. 

Finally, we have a break from the heat.  We had a couple of pretty (read as cooler than 90 degrees) days around the beginning of September so we weeded everything and laid down a new layer of compost.

Today, the high is only 89!  Whoo Hoo!  (let’s pretend that last Friday wasn’t day #65 or so of 100+ degree temps)  I picked up some lettuce, cabbage, and broccoli from HD to transplant.  I decided to try one more early producing tomato too.  Maybe we’ll get a few more before the temps get too cold. 

So…here it is, the fall garden with it’s teeny tiny transplants, the crazy and loaded bell pepper plant and one happy, but not fruitful, watermelon vine.  Bring on the fall!