I look for other flat chested women. A rant.
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That's a big dose of AWARENESS, OncoWarrier, maybe we should all do that!
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Onco - loveit!!!
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I am always astounded at the number of women willing to go through the extra surgeries, risks, and misery for reconstruction. I have been perfectly happy as a uni-boober for the past 9 years, and expect complete flat-ness to work as well or better. I have very occasionally used a prosthesis ... to work with a particular outfit perhaps, but mainly as cushioning for the seatbelt on long car trips.
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I have seen a shift, even in the almost 2 years I have been coming here. I really believe there are more women making that decision, to be a Uni or completely flat.
Unfortunately, there are still too many stories of women not being given the whole story, on what can go wrong with recon and are being railroaded by these surgeons, into a surgery that they really haven't been able to weigh up the pros and cons. I can't imagine how awful it has to be for those who make the decision to deconstruct after going through all that.
As I mentioned in another post, the Surgeons who are deciding to leave spare skin, as a "just in case you change your mind" have got to be stopped. That is truly reprehensible behavior.
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Hello armamp95! Another Florida person! Woot! Agree the extra surgeries is not worth all the risk.
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Had a. Double mastectomy in July. Never wanted reconstruction because I was afraid my body would reject the implants. Have a close friend that had implants due to BC and she is doing great three years after surgery. I think it is a personal choice. Have not been able to get the bras and prosthesis yet. Once I get them I probably will only wear them to make certain outfits look right. So far if I wear the right types of clothing in public it is hard to tell.I had surgery.
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Hi msqueen57, Another FL person! I used to live in Jupiter and work in WPB before I moved north to Gainesville.How are you doing post surgery? Sometimes it is nice to wear the foobs for certain outfits. I have a couple of dresses that I think look better if I'm balanced out. There are lots of choices for foobs and bras out there. Have you checked what your insurance will pay for? They should pay for a certain number of bras a year.
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Hello glennie. I am doing fairly well since my surgery. Have not been able to get the bras etc. yet since all the company's are booked. May have to do it over the internet. Worse part now is taking the Arimidex. Having bad side effects. How do you like living in North Florida? I lived in Tallahassee for 12 years. My daughter is at FSU. I would live up there now if I could stand the cold.
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Hi Msqueen, Glennie will be along to answer you, but I wanted to say Hi, it's good to see you're doing well.
I just wanted to mention that if it were me, I'd wait to get a proper fitting before buying on the internet. There are so many variables in both forms and bras, that unless you have tried them on, you could very easily make an error and have the trouble of returning things. It can be as simple as a bra band that is too high or too low and it rubs on your incision or the underarm is too high and bothers where your nodes were taken. Then there is the drape of the form and the way it fits against your chest, these things have to be taken into account and that's what makes it right for you.
I tried on lots of different forms and bras etc from my fitter. I bought my initial things there, but once I knew what suited me, I went to the internet and found what I knew was comfortable and would fit me. I buy just about everything that way now, because I am in Australia and we only have a government rebate for a form or set of 2 every 2 years.I find so many wonderful bargains online in the US, I have a great range of clothing and forms now.
I hope this may help and all the best!
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Hi MsQueen!! Sorry to hear about the Arimedex SE's,, that stinks!! I would echo Ariom and agree that getting fitted the first time is really really helpful. Are there places in WPB or Boca where you can go to get fitted?Personally I love N. FL. although I do miss the beach a lot!! The only bad thing about Gainesville is that it is so far from the beach. I moved up here in 94,, then moved to NYC from 98-2003 and then back here. IT does get cold, but after living in NYC,,, I can handle it. Up there it would be cold for months! Here it is cold for a few days, and then warms up to 50's, etc. So I don't mind it. This place is growing but it still feels like a small town. You run into people you know at the mall, etc. When I moved to Jupiter, it was a small town too, but now it is HUGE. There is good and bad at both ends of the state,, there are things I miss about South FL, but the traffic is not one of them!!
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Hello Ariom and glennie
. Thanks for the input regarding getting fitted in person for a mastectomy bras. That is what I hoped to do but it may not be possible. All the fitters seem to have left the area and those still here are so busy. One fitter made two appointments with me and then canceled them both due to inability to get the prosthesis. To make matters worse I have travel limitations so going 20 miles away is not ideal. I Plan to call some other places to see if they will come to my house. Otherwise I might have to take my chances with the internet.
Glennie, I agree with you about how nice North Florida is. I live in Lake Worth which in Palm Beach county is as close as you can get to a small town. Last time I was in Tallahassee I could not believe how big it was.
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Well, I'm bummed that you can't get fitted properly. You would think as big as the WPB area is, that you could find someone and have an appt. I don't understand why they would cancel with you if they can't get the pros??? You haven't even been to a fitting yet.I never spent much time in Lake Worth. When I moved to Jupiter, it was a small town. Not any more.
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I agree with Glennie, getting fitted properly, at least the first time really will make the difference as to whether you are comfortable or not. I have read many women here who hate their forms, but were never properly fitted. If there are any mobile fitters in your area, I'd try that too. We have them here, in more remote areas. Failing that, I would give the big suppliers a call, like Amoena, or TLC and ask them where there may be a fitter that you aren't aware of, they may be able to help you.
Good Luck with it!
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Hi MsQueen,
There's a mastectomy shop in Margate (just west of Pompano Beach). It's called A Fitting Experience. I bought one of my first breast forms at their store in Hollywood (which has since closed) and they were very nice to work with. That maybe out of your driving range, but I thought I'd mention it. Also, the Nordstrom at Town Center in Boca Raton has a certified mastectomy fitter. I've spoken with her on the phone and she sounds very nice. Nordstrom has a good reputation for fitting clients with Amoena breast forms. They also carry some mastectomy bras and they'll sew pockets into any regular bra you buy from them. There may be stores even closer to Fort Worth that have mastectomy products.
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Fantastic OncoWarrior! Happy Second Anniversary!
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Onco
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You go, Onco!! Sounds like a great party! Happy Anniversary!!0 -
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OncoWarrior, I think it is a great idea to celebrate the day. In the past I have cringed on its arrival. Perhaps this year I will view it as if it is a celebration day!!
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OncoWarrior: Thank you. I just read your post exactly when I needed to. I lost my best friend of 33 years a month ago and I am feeling lost. I think I need to find a way to make peace and let her go (like spending some time at the ocean that she loved and feel deeply the gratitude for the years we had together). I have been just allowing the "pop-up" images and memories throw me into a crying jag. I know it's still early in my grieving, but thank you for reminding me that the tears will let up some day. (((love)))
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What a beautiful post, OncoWarrior. I needed that too.
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I wanted to share this with all of you. The FLAT & Fabulous group has been working toward creating this document in support of those of us who decide against reconstruction. It is our hope that those who come after us might use the document to create a starting point of discussion between doctors and patients.
http://www.flatandfabulous.org/#!non-reconstruction-after-mastectomy/c4gw
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Yes!
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MT1, Fantastic! That is just what's needed, although I never had any doubts about my decision to reject reconstruction, I know and I am saddened that all of the negative scenarios mentioned in your document, occur with monotonous regularity. Women need to be made aware that this way, this decision, to reject recon, is an option that many of us take and if that's what they want, then that's as it should be, with no interference from anyone.
I had no idea that we were the majority, I knew that there seemed to be shift, with more women seeming to be taking the no recon stance, but to see those figures actually makes me feel really good!
I have absolutely no problem with anyone, who decides that reconstruction is right for them. I just want to see that option to not reconstruct, to be given freely, along with the pros and cons of reconstruction, and for the choice some of us make, to forgo reconstruction, to be as widely accepted, by both the Medical profession and indeed, society in general.
What you've done here, MT1 is a great start and I hope the document will be available here, on these boards too, for those who arrive as newbies and are either unaware or undecided of the path they will ultimately take.
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