All things bras & prosthesis
Comments
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I am really considering getting the microbead one. I just have to figure out the size. I'm pretty sure that I was one of those women not wearing the correct size bra. All of the directions I see for measuring are based on you already wearing a bra but if I'm wearing one that is too small then won't that skew the measurement? I'm probably over-thinking all of this.
A snug stretchy type bra might work for me if the weight of my good breast doesn't make that side hang much lower than the side with a lightweight microbead form. My range of motion is almost back to normal and I can usually get stuff on over my head fairly easily. I may just have to make an appt with the fitter before I'm ready for my 'real' foob (at least the one the ins pays for) to get a bra that is a bit more structured. I do agree that given the choice between 'compression' and 'bands digging', I would go for the 'compression'.
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I don't know about the Ah Bra but with the Genie Bra the instructions are to step into the bra and pull it up over your hips, not to put it on over your head.
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It is really a juggling act to get comfy no matter what I wear. It seems like the comfort aspect has a time limit to it. So I just keep changing it up, switching about from microbead foob and camisole to new bra and prosthesis to old bra without wire with microbead foob. I never thought this dressing business could be so complicated.
The sun is shining and it is beautiful here so I will enjoy the day in spite of all the challenges of trying to get comfy.:)
Good luck to all in my boat trying to get a comfortable solution to this.
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Bali now makes a bra along the lines of the ahh bra. I think it has a bit more structure. It's at stores that carry the brand, so you can try it on. It doesn't have as much support as I like, but I think it would be very comfortable and provide some support. I have problems with the microbead form ending up higher than the real side, but I wear it from time to time to give me a rest from the heaviness of the silicone.
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Thanks, I will check out the Bali brand.
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can you swim with a silicone form? Will it get "water-logged"?
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mardibra,
Lots of the newer forms are designed to be okay for swimming (i.e. chlorine or salt water won't ruin them). Check to see if your form is okay for that.
That said, depending on the size of your breast form, you may find it too heavy or may find that it doesn't drain well. Silicone swim forms are usually hollow, so water just flows out from them (they're a lot cheaper than regular forms). I personally use foam forms and find that works well.
Barbara
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I've got an appt with the fitter on Friday so hopefully even if I'm still too lumpy for a good fake boob, I should at least be able to find out what size bra I should be wearing. I tried on some of my old bras the other day with the puffy fake and they either don't lift my good boob (heavy) up enough to match the puffy or they are just uncomfortable to wear for any length of time. The only ones that looked somewhat 'normal' were the underwire ones designed to enhance cleavage, which I don't quite have anymore. LoL
So, I haven't ordered a microbead one yet because I'm not sure of the size I need and without a comfortable supportive bra, the weight difference between the fake and the real one just makes bras sit lopsided. I guess I can last until Friday with my cami.
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Just wanted to thank everyone for the advice and opinions in this thread! I started back to work today (almost 4 weeks post-BMX) and wore TLC foamies with the Barely There pocket bra, and it looked & felt fine! I had ordered the Softee cami but it had to come all the way from Oregon so by the time I got it, my drains were already out, AND the poofy forms just did not cooperate for me. I was getting a little panicky since my return-to-work date was approaching, so I ordered the forms online and went to Kohl's for the bras. Issue resolved - just in time.
I do plan to get silicone forms after rads (but before the end of the year when my deductible starts over!)
FYI, my PS had me wear a compression bra for the first week, then told me I didn't have to wear it anymore but that it was good for me and promoted healing. Even though it was tight, I did feel better with it so I wore it fairly often for about 3 weeks.
I was totally lost before reading this thread, so...thanks, again! Y'all are lifesavers!0 -
Hi GeorgiaRai,
Congrats on going back to work. I'm so glad you found a bra that worked well with your foam forms. Can you tell us exactly which Barely There bra you mean? I have the Barely There Crop Top bra, but that doesn't have pockets.
Great to hear you felt good on your first day back!
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There is one Barely There bra that I know of that has "shields" (if that's the proper word) that can be inserted or taken out. Thus, a form can be inserted. I have two of these bras and use them with my foam forms. It's a very light combination. I use it around home or at the gym mostly. I keep looking for more Barely There bras with this feature, but haven't found them. They are so comfortable!
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I bought two and one still has the tags on - it's Style #4546 in their "Smart Sizes" line (i.e. S, M, L & XL rather than band/cup sizes). It's wire free and has no padding but does have the pockets. My forms are asymmetric unweighted size 3 (B cup) and I got the bra in Medium (I was a 34D pre-BMC). The back side of the bra pocket does bunch a little with the forms in, but it didn't cause me any discomfort. Smaller forms or a bigger bra might solve that problem for those with more sensitive incisions/scars.
Here's a link to the actual bra; Kohl's carries them in the store and online.
http://www.barelythere.com/bras/detail/4546.aspx?sid=4546
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That does look like a nifty bra.
Speaking of shields, I had bough a couple of genie bras when in the US. The bras turned outbto be too tight, but I reused the shields that came with them. I took the leggs of a pair of pantyhose, rolled each leg into a sort of donught and glued it inside the shield with some silicone glue. They make excellent, light and washable foobs. I thought I would use a pair for swimming, unless I decide to swim flat.0 -
Hello everyone
Just had mx last Thurs and trying to figure all this out. I will not be doing recon. Thank you for all the information on here, now if I can process it all. It's very overwhelming. And I am clueless where to even start.
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Healing comes first Lostinmo, Don't forget to do your stretches and exercises.They should of given you all this info with your surgery.
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GeorgiaRai,
Thanks for the info! That looks like a really nice bra. And thanks for giving your size info, too. I also wear a 34 band width, so I think the medium would probably be right for me, too. I'm going to give it a try. I like that it's not high under the arms, where I'm sensitive. That's a big problem for me with many mastectomy bras.
lostinmo,
You've come to a good forum for information. Perhaps you'd also find it helpful to check out my non-profit website, BreastFree.org (see the link below). I have recommendations for breast forms and bras that I and other women have found comfortable, as well as info about going flat, plus links to good online websites that sell mastectomy products.
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I tried on the Barely There 4546 yesterday. In terms of feel good fabric, I liked it alot. However..... the way the pocket is constructed made me put it back. The outside is a stretchy fabric, the back (next to the chest) is formed foam, meaning that it won't lay flat against the chest. If the front and back fabrics had been reversed, I think it would be great. The opening is quite large. In my mind, for some who are seriously concave, it might be a maybe. For those with contact forms or those that are up to sewing in pockets, it might really be a pretty and comfortable possibility. I certainly liked the little design on the cup and the pretty blue and pink colors.
Barbara
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I have a bra almost identical to this, Hanes barely there, which does not have the foam, but has a double layer of the stretchy fabric. I cut a slit into the inner layer and put a foam foob in there. It is excellent for sports (doesn't move a bit) and other leisure activities. For most of the first year out, this is what I used most often.
i got the bra at Sears, in size Medium. I am a 36 band (they always tell me I am 34 but I hate it tight).
Anyhow I really like the non foam version of this bra and have it in quite a few colors.
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Momine - LOVE your idea about rolling the stockings for a swim form!
I tried my microbead foobs in the pool and they were too buoyant - kept floating around and that didn't work at all! But the stockings sound great as I really want something weightless. I can also visualize putting the stockings in a little net and sewing that into the suit or the shield.
if you take these into the pool, please post your review!
Thanks!!
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I made swim foobs out of nylon net (the scrubbies) and sewed them into my suit. No weight and drain instantly.
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The fitting on Friday went fine. Unfortunately she didn't have the form she wanted for me in stock and none of the bras we felt would be good for me in the right size. Everything's on order for me to come back and try out in a few weeks so I'm still in the cami but I now know that my appropriate size is a 44D. So, my old bras weren't too far off the mark. I might see about ordering something online in the meantime but I'm doing okay with my cami and the puffy foob pinned in lower to match the saggy boob.
I was happy with the fitting experience though and she really made an effort to find styles that should work for me. She asked what sort of things I liked (soft, seamless, wide straps, not too fussy) and worked with that. The bra we used to figure out the forms wasn't exactly 'me' but I didn't notice the weight of the form until I picked it up off the counter and was surprised that it weighed more than it felt like when it was in the bra on me. I think that's a good sign.
Most of the hypersensitivity in the area has subsided and the swelling is steadily going down so by the time the bras and form come in, I should be good to go.
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Sew them in good Wren quite embarrassing to loose them in the pool like I did.Now I do not bother wearing any in my suits. 0
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I went back to the fitter and it went ok, we did not small talk, we stayed on the task. She picked big ones for me and whens he smiled and said she loved the projection I knew they weren't for me. I looked like I had oranges on my bra.
I was disappointed the Trulife Impressions did not work for me, they were far too concave. I had perhaps 3 inches between me and the form, because I am concave too. I will have to write them a letter, you never know if it would do any good.
I ended up with the Ultra Lights ABC and I forget if they are 1041 or 1042. They did not have them in my size, so in a few weeks they will come in. And a Marlene bra, and since I don't have them here, I am not sure what brand that is.
I will say more when i get everything.
Yikes, I didn't realize the microbeads would be buoyant...I may have to do that stocking idea.
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Mum, Wish I could go without, but I'm lopsided and it would look pretty funny. I put a pocket in the suit, put in the net foob, and sewed it shut. No escaping there.
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Crystalphm: So I'm curious, what size did you end up ordering and what was the size the fitter selected?
I have both the ABC 1041 Ultralight (size 7) and the ABC 1042 Lightweight (sizes 4 & 5). Now that I have lived with both, I lean to the 1042 but both are good. The Marlena is Amoena style #2167, has the wicking fabric and as mastectomy bras go is prettty much my favorite. Looking forward to your thoughts after you receive them and have a chance to live with them for awhile.
I realize that the concave shape made the Trulife Impressions is a no go for you but can you give me an idea of the feel of it in your hand and the softness/squishiness compared to other forms like say the 1041 or 1042? For instance the lightweight ABC 1042 is softer/squishier (more huggable) compared to the ABC 1041 which as an ultra-lightweight is lighter in weight but has a firmer feel.
Barbara
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It's interesting that my concaveness is why I like the Impressions and why it works for me. It kind of suctions to the outer tissue I still have remaining but doesn't sit on my sore spots. It's truly interesting how different things are for all of us.
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Barbara, The fitter wanted me to wear a size 7 or 8, I selected a 5. So we were way off in what we thought. But no surprise she had alot of 7's and 8's in stock, and has to order the 5's. I did order the Marlene, it looks very nice.
As far as feel goes, the ABC 1041 seemed squishier than the trulife impressions, so more hug-able. And in my own case, it will mold to me easier.
I cannot judge weight because the trulife was a 10, the ABC was a 3.
Riverrat, my sore places *are* the rim where my breast used to be, so the Trulife Impressions created havoc with my own rim, the attaching felt terrible. And it attached and let go with every arm movement (like every 30 seconds even), because I am missing tissue on the one side of my rim (I guess I am describing it right.) I was so hoping it would stay more attached and not moving.
Of course all of this said, she was not willing to order in the right size of the tru-life impressions, she said it needed to be a bulk order and that would not happen for months. Maybe if I had a 5 instead of a 10, the suction-cup action would have been exactly what I was looking for.
To me, this is a huge problem, I am only allowed by insurance to buy these every other year, and I couldn't even try on my first choice. (Trulife impressions in my own size) The fitter insisted the suction action would be the same in the 5's (my size) but since you are so happy with yours, and the fitter never wore them, now I am thinking she talked me out of my first choice. Once again.
I wonder if I am ever going to get this right??
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Crystalphm: Thank you for the details, they really help me alot.
Interesting that a 7 was also the "ideal" size chosen for me and in fact from a strictly proportional standpoint probably is correct. However the 5 is the most often go-to size for me. With temps well above 100°, I am wearing my 4's and 5's exclusively when not going flat.
I am hoping this choice will be the one for you. Don't be discouraged if you have a bad day here and there. I still do on occasion. I have literally had a half flat day/half foob day several times in a law office and nobody lost their minds.
Barbara
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Crystal, the ABC 1041s sound nice and I hope they'll work out for you. If what you're calling the rim is what I'm thinking of - the area bordering where your tissue was removed than I don't think the Impressions would be a good choice for you so don't second think it too much. My sore areas are where I'm concave and also where I have tissue that sticks out. It seems like most of the traditional forms sat on my extra tissue, which made that area achy and the extra tissue seemed to make the form also press the top point of the triangle into my concave area too hard. The Impressions kind of go around all of that instead of pressing into it, but if my "rim" area were where I hurt I couldn't wear these forms.
I still go flat most days, just wear the forms every few days to keep my chest from feeling too tight (sometimes just for a few hours) or when I want to "dress up."
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Riverrat, Thank you for taking the time to think about this. Yes, you are thinking correctly about what is hurting me, so you can see how I am thinking the right size of Impressions would be resting or making contact with me right on that "rim" and hurt me. The fitter did say to me most women have this extra tissue you have, and therefore the Impressions are the best fit for most women.
Yes, my "rim" is the area bordering where tissue was removed.
Funny thing is I almost always go flat...but I think having something I can dress up in will add to my self confidence.
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