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MIButterfly

(3,403 posts)
Tue Jun 9, 2026, 04:10 PM Jun 9

Today I went for my annual mammogram and it was a barrel of laughs

First of all, I couldn't sleep last night (what else is new?); I don't think I managed to doze off until around 5:00 a.m. Then of course, some jackass called at 9:40 and falling back to sleep was impossible, so I was already in a sour mood. It isn't the machine that bothers me, it's the fact I have to twist myself like a pretzel for the technician to get the pictures she wants. I had to have my feet face the machine; twist my upper body; put my shoulder way back; put my chin way up in the air; rest my arm on the side of the machine; do the hokey-pokey and turn myself around, all while the technician kept telling me to "Relax!" I'm not a fricking contortionist. I basically complained the whole time, but the technician was so pleasant and so nice, she took it all with a grain of a salt. She even laughed and agreed with what I was saying a few times.

And that's that until next year.

Next up: Martini's three-month follow-up tomorrow to get a blood test and to check her blood pressure and then my annual physical is on Thursday. Let the good times roll.

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Today I went for my annual mammogram and it was a barrel of laughs (Original Post) MIButterfly Jun 9 OP
I stopped having mammorams about 10 years ago and PAP smears over 20 years ago. At my age, I don't care if sinkingfeeling Jun 9 #1
I haven't had a pap smear in a long time MIButterfly Jun 9 #2
My doctor stopped ordering pap smears when I turned 60. Tess49 Jun 9 #3
Maybe that's the cut-off age MIButterfly Jun 9 #4
Yes. That 's what he said. Tess49 Jun 9 #6
I know they say mammograms aren't needed whathehell Friday #7
Where are these new machines? IcyPeas Jun 9 #5

sinkingfeeling

(58,204 posts)
1. I stopped having mammorams about 10 years ago and PAP smears over 20 years ago. At my age, I don't care if
Tue Jun 9, 2026, 04:34 PM
Jun 9

something 'suspicious' shows up.

MIButterfly

(3,403 posts)
2. I haven't had a pap smear in a long time
Tue Jun 9, 2026, 05:00 PM
Jun 9

Is there a certain age where they stop making women get them anymore because I haven't had any doctor even mention one to me in years.

Maybe it's because the insurance companies don't want to pay for them anymore. I remember a few years ago, I was getting a mammogram every other year and I asked the technician why it wasn't yearly anymore and she straight out said it was because the insurance company didn't want to pay for them that often. I guess they've changed their minds about it since we're back to evey year again.

whathehell

(30,574 posts)
7. I know they say mammograms aren't needed
Fri Jun 12, 2026, 05:37 PM
Friday

after age 40 but I'd not heard that about pap smears..I'm over 70 and still getting them.

IcyPeas

(25,967 posts)
5. Where are these new machines?
Tue Jun 9, 2026, 08:35 PM
Jun 9

They've been around for years but I don't think they have been approved or something.

I hate hate hate getting mammograms.



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