T-shirt style compression top

Anonymous

T-shirt style compression top

Anonymous

Not sure if anyone has shared about this garment before, but I know there are several of us who have been longing to find a t-shirt style compression tee because of underarm and back areas that need coverage. I was in Kmart yesterday and found a t-shirt style top in with their shape wear. It is called Inspiration, but it is a division of Maidenform. I wish the sleeves were a little longer, but they aren't too tight and they don't cut in the wrong places. I turned it inside out so the seams weren't against my skin, which was even more comfy. They come in black and white, $16. Now I'm wondering if the regular Maidenform line has developed a tee. Need to go check a couple of dept stores since things are fitting differently without the implants.

hymil

Thank you Tina, that shoulder bit is awkward to deal with adn I had been wondering about teeshirt compression things.  Someone on a sleeve thread noted that black garments seem to compress more than the same size in flesh or white, I wonder if these tops do that too?

lisa-e

I like Under Armor shirts & wear them as a compression shirts.

KS1

Thanks for the info. I just went to the Maidenform site. I didn't see the exact type of controlIt camisole that I have used in the past, but there are other ControlIts. It also seems like they have a few new camisoles etc including a line -- low cal dressing - that hadn't heard of before



http://www.maidenform.com/shapewear/styles/camisoles--tops/



The pictures and descriptions don't make say whether they are seamless or not, but Maiden also seem to now have two bralettes that might be interesting for some:



http://www.maidenform.com/bras/collections/the-bralettes/maidenform-dream-bralette-40953B



http://www.maidenform.com/bras/styles/wirefree-bras/maidenform-dream-crop-top-bralette-40972B



Has anyone tried any of these?. KS1

Anonymous

Lisa-e, I've been wanting to check the Under Armor shirts, as my LE therapist had recommended when I was first seeing a couple years ago. My implants were too mushed and painful, so they didn't work then but might now. So nice to have more options without these implants! Where do you usually puchase? Sporting stores? I had originally tried at their outlet but there wasn't much of a selection.



KS1, thanks for checking Maidenform's website. Yes, it looks like they have quite a few different camisoles! Need to try some of these. The second bralette looks promising, as it might be higher on the sides. The first one looks nice, too, but I currently don't have anything to fill the molded cups. If I find, I will try with the fiberfill forms that came with my hospital tank. The band at the bottom looks comfortable.



This t-shirt on their website looks just like the one I got at Kmart. If this version is seamless, it definitely would be preferable. I am going on a reconnaisance mission today!



http://www.maidenform.com/shapewear/styles/camisoles--tops/flexees-fat-free-dressing-t-shirt-3066

Binney4

Lisa-e, what style of UnderArmor are you using?

Tina, can't wait to hear your report!

Thanks, all, for the suggestions,
Binney

lisa-e

I've purchased my UnderArmor shirts locally and on line:

http://www.underarmour.com/shop/us/en/ 

I have several different styles - men's short sleeve heat gear shirts and  women's heat gear shirts - both sleevelss and with sleeves.

Anonymous

Last night I went to Macy's to look for the new Maidenform t-shirt, camisoles and bralettes. I found a tank and t-shirt that were both called fat-free dressing (low cal), but they have two layers. The internal layer is what provides the control, and it has seams. The outer layer is looser and supposed to look like a regular tank or t-shirt and meant to be seen. The way it's constructed didn't allow for turning inside out to minimize the pressure from the seams. Besides, the internal piece wasn't anything you would want visible. There was another tank that was constructed more like the t-shirt I found at Kmart, but the straps were thin and it didn't provide enough coverage under my arm and around back. I saw the dream bralette, but didn't try on since I don't have forms. It did look comfortable though. I didn't see the crop bralette. The sales person said the new tank and t-shirt had just arrived and been put out on the racks, so perhaps the bralette isn't in stock yet.



However, I was thrilled to find a new tank I'd never seen before. It's made by Bali and called Comfortshape, light control ribbed tank. For me, less is more when it comes to compression, so this tank is just right. The straps are wide and set far apart in the back. It fits high under the arm and covers the back all the way to the armpit. The fabric is 360 degree stretch and seamless. The ribbing is very fine and doesn't show under a shirt. I have a long waist, and this tank definitely has a longer length that stays in place. In other shareware I wore a medium post-mastectomy and through the expansion phase until I got my permanent implants. The Bali tank seems to run larger than some, and a size small fit me just right. The control on this tank is definitely light and feels so comfortable compared to any other tank I've tried. I will talk with my LE therapist to see if she feels this has enough support for exercising. Comes in black, white, gray, and deep hot pink.



http://www.barenecessities.com/bali-light-control-comfort-shape-seamless-ribbed-tank-8019_product.htm?pf_id=Bali8019&search=



I did a search and found that Bali makes a similar tank in firm control but didn't see in store:




http://www.barenecessities.com/bali-comfort-shape-firm-control-seamless-tank-8623_product.htm?pf_id=Bali8623



The other tank I discovered that almost made the cut by a hair, was made by Jockey. It had light control, no seams, wide straps, a wide stance in the back, long length, a slight v-neck shape. I also wore a size small in this tank. The fabric was soft, quite nice and comfortable, but the armpit was a tad tighter. Several colors, and I think there were more than shown online. The second and third pictures on the link look more like how the tank fit me.




http://www.jockey.com/products/Naturals-Seamfree-V-neck-Tank



I plan to continue my search, but I feel good about having such a great start! I guess for a sizing reference, I weigh 118 and I am 5'4" and have truncal lymphedema. I've had a bilateral mastectomy and recently had my reconstruction undone, implants removed. I have a small frame, athletic build, broad shoulders.




I am off to the store again and will report back again later.

Binney4

Ooh, Tina, nice! Many thanks for all your work in making these products available for us to try. The first one looks nearly perfect -- long enough, wide straps, comes up high under the arms. Gotta try it!

Anxious for your next reconaissance report!

Hugs,
Binney

BoobsinaBox

Tina,

I found these Bali comfortshape light control camis at a Hanes outlet store and bought 8 of them in all, in black and beige.  I wear them most of the time, over my Barely There bralets, with PALs or Silique Comfort Lites or microbead forms or nothing.  They work well for me in every setting! I just found the tags from the last two I'd bought and realized we were liking the same thing!  Happy shopping!  I got mediums, partly because I haven't seen any shapers in small anywhere! I'm 5'6 and weigh between 125 and 135.  (Trying to get to 120, but it may never happen!)  These do the job for me, so a small might well have been too tight.

Dawn 

Lunakin

I've found cheap compression Tshirts & long-sleeves tops at Target. Look in the athletic wear. For those of us who are smaller the boys' sizes work OK. I wear mine inside out so the seams don't chafe as much on my scars & neuropathic-pain-sensitized skin.

I also have LE just medial to my shoulder, and find it hard to get anything to compress that area since I'm a uni MX w/out recon. The real breast tends to hold the fabric up away from the skin over the cleavage (or used to be cleavage ) area and then the LE area.  I'm thinking of doing a cut-out around my real breast. Yes, that'd look funny, but I'd wear it under another top or just at night.

Binney4

Lunakin, if you try it do let us know how it works. Sure seems like a good idea! That effect of holding the fabric up away from your skin actually has a name in the world of garment fitters: it's called "bridging." (Hey! Sometime we should all play "LE Trivia"!)

Another thought for that problem would be a Kimbe swell spot that would provide compression in front of the axilla despite the bridging. Mine stays in place fine in my cami. They're here:
http://solarismed.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=68

Be well!
Binney

hymil

Lunakin that's exactly my issue too, thank you for explaoining it so well. I have been working on this in my head, coming to conclude that I need to take one of those longsleeevies in a small size and cut off the good arm and shoulder, cutting so the remaining breast is also exposed (and thus none of this bridging) so as to compress the mastectomy scar area that always swells at night- i'm mostly side-sleeping with the LE arm upmost so fluid drains to the midline and then collects there.

deborye

I just ordered a bunch of shapewear online.  Number 1, I think I have trunk LE on my left side, is that possible?  When I wake up in the morning the wrinkles from my PJ's stay imbedded in my skin on my arm and left side of the back.  It is very mild but I do feel fullness in my left arm most of the time.  My BS and onc just look at me like I have 2 heads.  I'm almost thinking of changing doctors.

Anonymous

No further shopping as of yet, but I just wanted to report that I wore my Inspiration/Maidenform t-shirt from Kmart all day (still have it on) and it is incredibly comfortable! I was worried that the sleeves would be too short, but they are perfect. Had it on for the first hour right side out, when I suddenly remembered I needed to turn it inside out so the seams weren't a problem. It's really a nifty little garment. Stayed tucked inside my jeans very well and needed attention only a few times. Boy is it nice not having anything cutting under my arms or around back!! 

I forgot to mention in my original post that I wear a Medium in this garment. 

Lunakin

hymil, that's what happens to me too. And wouldn't you know, my favorite side to sleep on is the LE side. Grrr.

Binney, I tried cutting up a Target large boy's size compression T-shirt but the bias is of course stretchy, and needs to be bound with trim so it won't overstretch. Hmmm. I'll keep playing around with it. Makes me think of those Minoan priestess outfits from Art History.  Like this: http://www.ancientsculpturegallery.com/5082.html That's what I need 'cept in a one-sided version!

I did try a swell spot but due to the bridging (thanks; useful term!) it isn't kept compressed enough.

deborye, feeling fullness in the area can be a sign of LE. Indents in the skin from garment seams or wrinkles .... well, that can happen without LE. See if it's worse on your suspected LE side than on the other side. And if your BS and onc don't listen to you, switch! I'm a nurse practitioner and  tell my patients: "You know your symptoms better than anyone else does."

 Tina, I'm going to find a Kmart and try that t-shirt you described.

hymil

Woah, that Minoan priestess sure has good height in her boob-lift.. I want whatever those exercise bars are that she has! (but not if they are live snakes... .)

Binney4

Hymil, not only live snakes, but a lion cub on her head. This gal was no slouch. And she's not only a priestess but a princess too -- quite the role model for little Minoan girls!

Luna, let us know what you discover. All our local K-Marts closed awhile ago, so I'm going on a K-Mart search today.

Thanks, all!
Binney

Anonymous

Lunakin, when I saw the pic in your link, it reminded me of an idea I had. I found shapewear garments that are called a "torsette" and thought they would be great for me because they cover the back and sides of the chest only. They tend to come up high under the arm, too. I checked with my LE therapist and she said they can be a good solution and one of her patients already uses. Unfortunately, the ones I tried didn't work for me - maybe when my loose muscle and skin tighten further. They felt great across the back and sides though. The point of the garment is that you can wear your own bra with it or go braless. Here's one I tried on. Almost every brand makes them, and I noticed you can snap them up for a song at TJ Maxx and Marshalls. I didn't try on any with hooks in the front, just the seamless ones.



http://www.balicompany.com/detail.asp?col=29&cat=3&styleno=8619&color=LO

Anonymous

Lunakin, I just realized the torsette won't work for your situation and that you need coverage in the front. I get descriptive terms like "medial" confused sometimes. Maybe this type of garment will work for someone else though.

deborye

Lunakin~the indents from my PJ's when I wake up are more noticable on my left side (node removal side) and take a long time to go away.  I bought some shapewear online, it should be delivered in a few days.

Anonymous

Today I wore the t-shirt top for my first official post-surgery workout with my LE therapist. Woohoo! I actually felt pretty good. We are doing the PAL home workout protocol that the trainer had started me doing a while back before my implant pain became too intense. I think with my implants out I am going to be able to exercise more easily and hopefully with less swelling. LE therapist really likes this new garment. I showed her the Bali tank, and she thought it would be better to wear on days when I have limited swelling. Not quite enough support for workouts. She really liked the cut of the tank though.

SleeveNinja

Tina - can you post an online link to your Inspiration/Maidenform Tee? I tried all sorts of Google combos and can't fint any tee's (just bras and camis and more open front priestess wear) and have no K-Mart nearby.  

Thanks.

 PS: I recently tried Maidenform "Contril It!" cami - nice, soft compression for those who get enough coverage from camis which I don't . . . .

Anonymous

Ninja,



Here it is online from the Kmart website. In contrast to the Maidenform/Flexees t-shirt I tried at Macy's, while both say they are meant to be seen, this one can be turned inside out because of its construction. The t-shirt part and interior part are both formfitting and the interior looks just as nice as the exterior. If this garment had been seamless, it would be perfection.



http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_027B014668030001P?prdNo=21&blockNo=21&blockType=G21

SleeveNinja

Thanks Tina!     That looks very interesting. I will give it a try.  I need more coverage in front (crew neck instead of scoop for swelling/fibrosis beneath my collarbone) but looks like good coverage for back, side, axilla.  For sure, more than a cami.  

Yeah, I turn everything inside out too. The "Control It" looks virtually the same either way.