Mammograms

Hi everyone!
I have to have my first mammogram since my PM was put in. I am a bit nervous about it. Is it safe? Does the machine itself affect the PM? I have already canceled one appointment out of fear,so I thought I'd run it by all of you before I make another appointment!
Happy Holidays!
Cheryl

11 Comments

mistake

by Skelton - 2008-12-08 10:12:16

Sorry cherthom I didn't realise it was your first mammogram but go ahead it is all a breeze.Love Barbara

reply to mammograms

by Skelton - 2008-12-08 10:12:24

Hello cherthom, I had my mammogram 3 weeks after my pacemaker was put in and there wasn't a problem. The girl even showed me the xray and there was the pacemaker and leads shining brightly. So go ahead as it won't be any different to all your other mammograms. Let us know how you go..Barbara

a breeze

by jessie - 2008-12-08 11:12:47

no worry just do it. easy girl jessie

ultasound

by lb151 - 2008-12-09 06:12:14

I will have an ultrasound done but I will never let them pull down on my breast again and dislodge my ICD. I had no idea at the time this was even a slight risk. This was just my own experience..I have not heard from many women who have devices.

safe but careful

by lb151 - 2008-12-09 07:12:30

It is completely safe but be very careful. I had mine about 4 months after my ICD implant. It was pulled down and out of the pocket. I ended up having to have a revision done. I was not happy. I think at 56 I have had my last one.

nothing to it!

by Tracey_E - 2008-12-09 07:12:44

It's perfectly safe! It will not affect your pm in any way, only mri's with their magnets are a danger to us. As Barbara said, it's kinda cool seeing the leads all glowy and pretty in the picture ;o)

tell them first

by Tracey_E - 2008-12-09 08:12:12

To Peggy and lb151- I always tell them first that I have the pm. The place I go now has digital records so they can pull up my last one, but the first time they did one very gentle image first to see where the pm and leads were. Then, while looking at that one, they did the regular images.

Do not stop having mammograms in your 50's! I know a handful of ladies who were diagnosed with breast cancer when they were considerably older than that.

To IB 151

by PeggyR - 2008-12-09 08:12:39

Did the mammogram cause the implant to move??? Had my PM implant 9/5/08 and mammogram scheduled for early January, I am also slightly nervous about doing this so soon. Certainly don't want to end up back in hospital having revisions done.
Thanks
Peggy

lb151

by Tracey_E - 2008-12-09 10:12:24

Wow, that's awful!!!! I don't know if it was poor placement of the pm, carelessness from the xray tech or just plain bad luck, but there are quite a few of us here who have had multiple mammo's with no problems whatsoever. I got my first pm in 93 so I've been through a few now.

Mammograms

by Yuri - 2008-12-09 12:12:58

I have PM put in 2002 and since then I had mammogram done 3 times. I'm doing fine and in great shape. I don't think you should worry. Just tell the technician that you have PM in you.

Thanks!

by Cherthom - 2008-12-11 10:12:48

I will go ahead with it but my fear is what lb151 went through. I've already had to have a revision and I don't want that again! But at 54, I know I have to keep having them done. I haven't had one in 3 years so I'm overdo!!!
Appreciate all the comments!
cheryl

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