mostly about mammograms

[edenfalling]

Things done today:

1. Mammogram at 9am. I'm actually glad I had to reschedule, because I was able to choose my appointment time more judiciously and made sure I picked a morning on my day off from work. This meant that A) I didn't have to sit around for four hours at work with no deodorant/anti-perspirant, and B) I could drink caffeinated tea with breakfast immediately upon returning home. Ahh, caffeine, my beloved!

(I asked about the no-caffeine for a couple days prior to the procedure rule, and was told that apparently caffeine makes many people's breasts more tender, so they recommend avoiding it to reduce pain. The more you know!)

Anyway, I have heard that mammograms are less painful for people with large squishy boobs than for people with smaller boobs, and as the owner of some large squishy boobs, I can report that I didn't experience any pain worth noting. I mean, it pinched a bit and the positioning is awkward as hell (though the machine has nifty built-in hand grips! I liked that), but honestly it was no big deal. However, if you have less of a fat cushion, I can easily see the pinch being a lot more obtrusive.

(Mostly I am indifferent to and/or moderately annoyed about having large boobs. They are highly inconvenient, but I'm used to them and mostly it's just, "Oh yeah, I have big boobs, whatever." But here is an actual tangible benefit, which is nice.)

2. Took a 3-hour nap. It is so nice to have days off again, where I can catch up on sleep.

3. Bought some garden supplies at Agway. Valiantly did not buy any new houseplants.

4. Caught up on some church Board of Trustees stuff that I had left hanging for a bit.

...

I am debating whether it's time to install my air conditioner. Normally that's a two-person task, but it can be done alone, with judicious use of chairs and window props. And the weather looks to be hot for the rest this week, though it should moderate by next Monday, so... I guess I'll see how I feel tomorrow evening.

Comments

[tielan]

Yay for days off! I'm glad you're catching up after the hectic of April (particularly in the not!IRS job, I imagine).

[edenfalling]

Yeah, April is always hectic at the tax prep job -- and this year, I didn't get my usual cool-down because the rental market has been running unusually hot and fast this year. It's a better problem to have than not being able to rent apartments, but it's still stressful. It is very nice to finally feel able to just veg out on my days off. :)

[redwolf]

I have to avoid caffeine the day before I see the blood bank because it cranks my blood pressure. I wonder if that's what's going on with the boob pain or it's an exciting new caffeine thing. Either way, I have been getting letters for a while telling me that I really should sort a mammogram out, so I appreciate your feedback on the experience.

I haven't bought plants for ages due to neighbours helpfully leaving their overgrown feral plants by the curb. Recent arrivals are a heap of bromeliads, which someone else in the neighbourhood has been randomly planting all over the place in a fit of guerrilla gardening. And a rampant aloe vera that's escaping its pot. I figure if they're doing so well locally as to take over other peoples gardens, I probably can't kill them. Also, free plants.

[edenfalling]

I have recently adopted some pothos cuttings (one found lying sadly on a washer in my local laundromat -- still no idea what happened there! -- and two from my predecessor's office plant that was getting a little out of hand) and also a snake plant leaf that snapped off and which I have successfully re-rooted. I figure this bounty means I have no business whatsoever actually buying anything new at this time. *wry*

There is conflicting advice on when and how often to get mammograms, but I figure it never hurts to get a baseline. That way anyone studying later scans will have a point of comparison to spot any changes.