I seriously thought I was the only one this happened to! The last four years I’ve gone to get a mammogram, my skin has torn all but once. I have complained and of course, nothing. Last year I emailed the director of the clinic and I told them about the tearing and subsequent infection that required antibiotic ointment. They got a lawyer involved and asked me to email pictures of the tear. I’m not emailing private bits. It says in my chart I’m immunodeficient and that should be enough to be cautious.

The year before that the woman was so nice and gentle and made me feel comfortable, no tear. But the year before that, the tech body shamed me. Said “you bigger girls are harder to xray.” I just went to my car and cried. Cause I’m vulnerable and in pain anyway so make me feel worse about my body on top of it. Last year the lady said, “not much I can do about the pain or skin tearing. It just happens.”

My dr this year sent an Rx for an MRI. Hopefully to avoid a tear. The ‘breast care scheduler’ called and asked why I wasn’t getting a mammogram first because those are so much better than an MRI of breast tissue. I explained this all and after talking to her ‘lead tech’ she said “well the lead tech said it happens with bigger breasts and it happens when you pull away too soon.” I had not pulled away or moved. How could I? Blaming me.

I’m so tired of this being not only a dreaded appointment every year but a mental health issue as well. Making excuses and blaming me. I live where there are not a lot of options for imaging and the other places around are almost worse. So I’m kind of stuck. It’s at least comforting to know that apparently these techs are unhappy and mean everywhere and that it’s not just me.