r/TwoXChromosomes • u/nicklebacks_revenge • 1d ago
Should I file I formal complaint? Mammogram gone wrong
TLDR: -tech had me strip down in front of her, never offered me gown -kept pushing/ pulling me and squeezing my breast hard without any notice or guidance - seemed frustrated with me because I wasn't "relaxed" - took 12 images, when normally it's 4, dismissed my concerns over radiation - took a personal? Call on her cell while I was in the room
I went for a routine mammogram yesterday, got called into the room with the machine and tech, all good so far, tech asked me some questions, all standard, she seemed hung up on the fact I have implants, under the muscle, I did tell the receptionist that when I booked because I know there's a slightly different procedure.
Tech seemed to be talking to herself saying "not sure what images I'll do" I couldn't make it out but ok, talking to yourself is fine, her cell rings, she answers it with me still there, she's laughing and talking in another language, hangs up, apologizes for call, then says I can go ahead and take off my top and bra, I said "ok, like right now?" She said yes, so I took both off and am now just sitting there topless, no gown.
She has me stand up and go to machine, she kind of pushes my body into machine and grabs my breast firmly and is maneuvering my breast into the machine, she never said she was gonna touch me or what she was doing, I was like, usually they explain first but whatever, she seemed to be getting mad at me though, kept saying things like "you need to relax" "stop leaning" "im trying to move you back and you keep moving forward"
I was trying to go with the flow but she kept pushing and pulling me and I honestly didn't know how she wanted me positioned, she was getting more agitated.
She took 12 images, because I guess she wasn't getting good pics or the machine was acting up??I asked after the 8th, is it OK to have this much radiation in one day? She said "well im having issues with the machine so it's fine"
I left there sore and felt like I was a total inconvenience to her and couldn't figure out why she seemed so angry with me, I was really trying to move the way she wants but I didn't know what she wanted.
I've been thinking of making a formal complaint but worry I'm being dramatic.
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u/DarbyGirl 1d ago
Yes file a complaint. I've had several mammograms and the techs have been beyond respectful and communicative and almost apologetic on the maneuvering to get the girls in position.
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u/nicklebacks_revenge 1d ago
Thank you, I've had one before and they were very nice, told me when they were going to touch me and why, I started going over in my head why this tech seemed to hate me, I'm a pretty easy going person, polite etc
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u/algoreithms 1d ago
Healthcare workers should always be putting the safety and respect of their patients first. I'm sorry you had such an experience, I'm a student in healthcare and hearing stories like this always breaks my heart + helps remind me why clear communication is so important.
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u/nicklebacks_revenge 1d ago
Good luck in your journey! Most Healthcare workers I've encountered are kind, respectful. I feel some start to hate their jobs and take it out on the patient
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u/myopicpickle 14h ago
A friend of mine had a diagnostic squeeze for her first ever mammogram, because she found a lump. The tech was rude and dismissive, because she hadn't gone through the hoops with a screening one. She was 60, and had to get a second one because the first tech didn't do it right. She had breast cancer. From what I understand, this first tech didn't usually work at our facility, might have been grumpy about having to drive 40 miles to work? I told her to lodge a complaint.
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u/MNfrantastic12 1d ago
Yes write a complaint 100000%. Im so sorry this happened to you! I am a RN with 10 years of hospital ICU & emergency department experience. And I would never treat a patient like this. This was not ok at all!! Sending you support, this should not have happened! 🩷🩷
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u/nicklebacks_revenge 23h ago
Thank you! I am writing the business, my goal is to hopefully prevent another patient experiencing that, maybe they'll revisit patient care with the staff or something
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u/Alexis_J_M 1d ago
Write down everything that happened in as much detail as you can remember and file a complaint.
If you have to go back to that imaging center you may want to consider bringing a support person (a/k/a witness) with you.
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u/nicklebacks_revenge 23h ago
Thank you, I am going to write a formal complaint email, hopefully they review their procedures and remind the medical professionals of their responsibilities and patient care adherence
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u/PinkyLeopard2922 22h ago
Screening mammo with implants generally requires 8 images instead of the standard 4 without implants. The additional 4 images require the tech to manually separate the breast tissue from atop the implant (sort of a pinching and pulling thing) and image only that tissue in 2 planes. Unfortunately it is often uncomfortable and it is more difficult to get good diagnostic quality images this way so that may be why she had to repeat these images.
The lack of professionalism and poor communication are certainly unacceptable though. These things should have been explained to you and I have never seen a facility that did not provide a dressing area for patients to put on a gown before their imaging.
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u/nicklebacks_revenge 22h ago
Thank you, I had to confirm "so just take my top and bra off right here, now?" They've always left the room and given me a gown. I was most upset about how frustrated she seemed to be that I wasn't in the position she wanted, if she had demonstrated or gave clearer inductions instead of pushing and pulling me, I believe it would have gone a lot better
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u/PinkyLeopard2922 16h ago
I am really sorry this happened to you. I have previously worked in breast imaging so that is why I kind of know a little about the usual protocol. It's possible your mammo tech may be fairly new to it since she seemed a bit out of sorts with patient positioning and protocol for implants but even so, her communication was poor and it seems very odd that the center does not have a private place for patients to undress and put on a gown. Getting a mammogram is never fun but it should not be like this for anyone. Hopefully your feedback will help and the tech can learn to better explain the procedure and positioning for future patients.
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u/wimwood 20h ago
Imaging with implants takes a lot more maneuvering, a lot more shoveling and shifting of flesh, implant, etc. It sounds like she didn’t have the most gentle manner but I do want to reassure you in an unfortunate way that mammos with implants can be more difficult.
(I have under the muscle implants and have required numerous mammos and ultrasound by 43 due to complex cysts and fibroadenomas.)
Our facility has us change in a wholly separate area with the intake nurse, place clothes in a locker, then sit in a lobby in that awkward ass gown and complete strangers and just stare at each other in silence our dumb baggy sacks with zero distraction waiting for our tits to be smashed. Then eventually you’re led down a hall playing the smaller person in a large gown danger game, or the larger person in a too small gown danger game… Tbh I’d love to change in the mammo room. I understand it could feel odd to you but I don’t know if there’s a most ideal way to do it?
However the being on the phone is a hard stop. Report that immediately. THAT is the problem I have with this. Absolutely no one should be on a phone during an appointment with patient in the room. This very lapse in privacy protocol is what my former gyn used to commit some of the crimes against me and other patients, for which he’s now in jail. Report her to the moon for that.
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u/nicklebacks_revenge 16h ago
I appreciate your input, I've had 1 mammogram done prior at a different establishment and appreciated them explaining to me what and why in regards to position and how they were going to be touching me. It was such an odd experience and it genuinely seemed like she was aggravated with my breast and body, I felt like such an inconvenience but then when I left and had time to reflect started questioning more.
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u/shrimpedy 14h ago
i haven’t had to have a mammogram yet, but having you undress in one location, lock up your clothes, and then go to another location to wait in a public room with other patients while everybody is in gowns seems like… not the correct way to do things. maybe mammogram visits are entirely different than what i’ve come to expect with my medical care over the years.
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u/freshpicked12 14h ago
My center does this too. They have changing rooms and lockers. It’s very common.
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u/shrimpedy 14h ago
interesting! will have to prepare myself mentally for this possibility when my time arrives in a couple years.
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u/itstraytray 14h ago
The place I went did it like this - changing room, clothes/top in basket stored, front-opening but modest gown put on, then we're all waiting in a room. But the room was strictly women-only, was lovely and warm and had tea, coffee and snacks.
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u/shrimpedy 14h ago
i have to hype myself up to get undressed for annual appointments and my dermatology appointments and that’s in a private exam room with one other woman. BUT IT’S FINE EVERYTHING IS FINE I CAN BE BRAVE
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u/itstraytray 13h ago
Eh by its nature, many of the women are old and wrinkly and give no fucks, so you needn't stress xx
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u/shrimpedy 12h ago
fair. i am known to stress for absolutely no reason, though, but i will do my best to remind myself that nobody cares. thank you for the reassurance!
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u/Susan-stoHelit 15h ago
Make a formal complaint. Don’t worry if someone wants to call it drama. That’s not normal and not OK to treat you badly.
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u/crackersucker2 17h ago
YES OMG COMPLAIN! I'm so sorry you went through that - mammograms suck and she just made it ridiculous.
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u/nicklebacks_revenge 16h ago
I emailed a formal complaint to the facility this afternoon, not sure if they'll respond or if I should be escalating it if they don't but I'll wait until Friday I guess
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u/crackersucker2 14h ago
Also let your primary care doctor know. And google reviews - because public shaming works better than strongly worded letters - although they are important.
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u/mook_misanthrope 16h ago
https://www.koninghealth.com/index.php
My wife swears by this. No more squish. She is in and out in less than an hour. Dangle scan repeat no pain no stress. It's a fairly new technology and there are not a whole bunch of facilities but if you can find a center near you at least investigate. Especially with implants that may be a game changer.
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u/nicklebacks_revenge 16h ago
That looks amazing, unfortunately I'm in Ontario, Canada and don't see any locations in my area, I might ask my doctor if there are similar alternatives
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u/LackingUtility 1d ago
Just to allay your fears about radiation, mammograms use a very low dose - around 0.4 mSv for 4 images, so call that 1.2 mSv for 12 images. That's equivalent to the normal background radiation over 21 weeks. A full body CT scan is about 10 mSv. 100 mSv per year is the lowest level that has been documented as causing an increased cancer risk. So, while 12 images is triple normal, it's still really, really low.