Hot weather and sweating behind breast forms

glennie19

Farley, if you know your size. Go to MetroMedical and order there.  the trulife weighted breast form is only $40 

Ariom

Hello Farley, I understand how you feel. There are a lot of very expensive forms on the market, but there are ways to get the best products, for minimal costs.

I am assuming you don't have insurance that will offset the cost of real forms and bras? I have heard that in the US many of the insurance companies cover a lot of items. Quite different to where I am, I buy most of my Mx items from the US.

I would advise you, to at least go to a fitter and be fitted for a proper Mx bra or 2 and a few different forms, You can then shop online, at sales and on Ebay for the items that suit you, at hugely reduced prices. It isn't unusual to be able to pick up both new bras and often forms for around $20.00 on Ebay.

It also depends on the size that you are, as to what kind of mock ups you will be comfortable with. If you are a very small size, you can get away with the Ahh Bras and Camisoles with department store enhancers, or even by packing some soft wadding in behind the modesty pads that come in those items. Vintage Girl, one of our members has discovered some really nice bras that can be converted that way.

If you are a larger size, then I would recommend you actually try a real form, there are weighted foam forms, as well as basic silicone forms. The Mx bras are cut completely differently to a regular bra. They have a different underarm, in case of discomfort after node removal and they have a different cut to the straps which prevents them from ever falling down your shoulders. 

There isn't much I haven't tried since my Mx in 2012, but although they can be expensive, I have found properly designed Mx products, fitted properly, are worth at least, some investment. 

Properly taken care of, these items last and last.

Take a look at Erica's site breastfree.org, she has a wealth of information on forms and clothing. There is also a closing down sale at womenspersonalhealth.com right now with great reductions on lots of high end items, but you would need to be sure of sizing first.

I wish you all the very best! 

 

gavinsgrandma

Hi ladies, I have not posted in this thread yet but I wanted to share with you about a couple of bras and a pair of prosthetics that I got in May prior to staring my radiation. I had my BLM July 28th 2013 and although I did get the micro beads and I do love them and I generally opt for those in the pockets of my genie bra while doing physical activities, a mastectomy specialist where I had all my treatments really turned me on to a great product. I got the new Silicone forms called "Impressions" by Trulife, they are the newest technology and the have a honeycomb core to ensure breathability and look natural and are lightweight. The bra that I just love that we got to put the forms in is also by Trulife and it is model 210 and it has a cool max lining so it helps to wick moisture away from your chest when you get sweaty. The forms stay great in the pockets and do not move, it is as close to natural as I have found yet. I also got a T-shirt bra called from ABC style 116. They are both very comfortable but I wear my Trulife bra and forms the most. I hope this info helps and I have been looking through all of the suggestions everyone has made and I will defiantly look into other options as well.

Shary

glennie19

Farley, another thing about MX bras,, is that they usually have wide shoulder straps. This is important to help prevent LE too. Those skinny straps can dig into your shoulders, so I only go with the wider ones now.

Best of luck finding things that suit you, it really is a process in the beginning.

glennie

Erica3681

Hi Farley,

Ariom is right that in the U.S. insurance will cover breast forms and bras. Medicare covers new breast forms and (I believe) six bras every other year. Some other insurance policies cover new forms every year. If you do have insurance, I recommend checking out silicone forms, as they are generally quite expensive, something you might not otherwise purchase. 

And I agree with Ariom about the value of a good fitting. It will give you the opportunity to try on a variety of forms with someone certified to find a shape and size that works for you. Of course, you may disagree with their opinion, but a good fitter can give very good guidance. I find that the right bra is even more important than which form you choose, so going to a mastectomy shop (or a department store like Nordstrom that has certified fitters) gives the opportunity to try on lots of options.

JulieMI

I have pretty weak back muscle so the chronic back pain.  With the silicon breast forms, my back pain is unbearable.  I now wear the foam form which is very light.  To solve the riding up problem, I just wear very loose bras hang loosely around my chest.  I love the Amoena Dorothy style I got lately.

I am going to see my doctor today to get another prescription for pair of new foam breast forms.  

Marisolita

Hi everyone,

I had a double Mastectomy, the first being 2008 and since then I've found wearing prosthesis has been so uncomfortable mainly in the warmer weather and hot summers due to my chest wall getting soaked with sweat and very hot and consequently the bra and prosthesis became wet also. However, I decided to try a little trick that I stumbled across on this website .i.e put the prosthesis in a child's sock. I put mine in trainer socks and guess what??....................... it works!!! This for me has been a major breakthrough and I can now wear the prosthesis without getting hot and sweaty all day long. Try it ladies, if it worked for me there's no reason why it shouldn't work for you. Good luck.

Marisolita

Hi Erica,

See my Post under March 2017

Erica3681

Hi Marisolita,

Fantastic that using a sock worked for you. That's an idea I hadn't heard before. Does the form fit smoothly inside the sock? Is the front still natural looking? If so, I'll have to try it. These days, I almost exclusively wear unweighted foam forms to avoid the heat effect of silicone forms. But I still have my silicone forms and there are times when I'd like to wear them.