Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

PontiacPeggy

Walmart seems to do well in the front close sports bra department, OutRunning. You may have to go brick & mortar for this particular item. You definitely don't want underwires and they were not recommended for me when I did my rads. Genie bras work well - you step into them. I'd go up a size from what they recommend on the package, I think. Good luck!

HUGS!

Tresjoli2

bought my genie bras online...the tlc shop if I remember correctly right here on this site.

Molly50

Hi everyone, thank you for the prayers. My surgery was canceled today and I think it's the result of being covered in prayer. There was some questions about the sterilization of the surgical instruments the past 24 hours and they kept me there until my BS and PS could decide to go ahead with the surgery or not. They decided it wasn't worth the risk so I am tentatively scheduled for the 4th of September.

Radgirl, so happy you are doing well. I need to catch up with you all!

PontiacPeggy

Molly, obviously the right and safe decision to cancel your surgery but oh my heavens what a letdown! I'm sure it presents challenges too, adjusting your own schedule and the people helping you. Argh. You must be bummed out to say the least. Just glad you weren't exposed to un-sterile conditions and instruments.

HUGS!!

octogirl

FWIW, I think the underwire or no may depend in part on where your incision is? In my case, I didn't wear underwires for the first weeks after surgery but I am wearing them now with no problem at all.

I found that while I woke up in a front close (provided by the hospital) I didn't really need it for more than a day or two. Am I the only one who puts on my bras by putting the front part upside down across my back, fastening the back fastener in front and then once it is fastened, twist the bra around my body until the front part is in front, and then pull it up and over my breasts? I've been doing that most of my bra-wearing life, thanks to a childhood injury that left me with less than full range of motion in my left arm... and after surgery I was able to do the twisting part one handed with my good arm. :-) the other factor for me is that the front close bras I've found tend to be smaller cupped, and I am large chested. obviously, everyone is different, but after being concerned about it bras for the most part turned out to be a relatively small issue for me.

I should say that the 'relatively' qualifier is based on the fact that I have had a problem with bras made of certain materials: I guess my skin was really sensitive but I got an almost immediate rash on the bad breast only when I put on a bra with lace or any material that wasn't very, very soft. Switching to only cotton helped. For the last week or so that problem seems to have resolved itself and I am wearing all of my old bras without problem.

octogirl

Molly, so glad to hear from you...I know the additional wait must be anxiety producing, but the last thing you want is to take the risk of infection from unsterilized instruments! That had to be the right call if there was any uncertainty at all.

You are still in our pockets!

xoxox

Octogirl

PontiacPeggy

Octogirl, I never put on my bras backwards like you do. Just isn't in me to do it. As mentioned, my RO said no underwires. My incision ran from just under my nipple straight down at 6 o'clock. I don't like underwires anyway and I'm small, barely an A. I went braless once I was healed and all through my rads. But I do know with the BC journey, everyone is different and what worked for me may not work for you. Nice to be back to normal, isn't it?

HUGs!

octogirl

yes, that is right about underwires and rads. forgot about that. Unfortunately, not there yet. :-(

queenmomcat

Octogirl: I put my bras on that way (inside out, upside down and backwards) Why? lost in the dark ages of my first few years of bra wearing.

PontiacPeggy

Okay. Now I know this is really weird, but I think one reason I don't hook my bras backwards is that I don't like the feeling of twisting the bra around to the front. Told you it was peculiar! Maybe I'm just way out there

HUGS!

octogirl

Peggy, we are all out there one way or the other! :-)

PontiacPeggy

Octogirl, you are too kind. Now stop laughing please

HUGS!

Molly50

I do the same thing with my bras, that's what I was taught to do.

queenmomcat

Wouldn't dream of laughing,Miz Peggy. I can well imagine it feels funny to do bras up a different way, and I'm just grateful to be wearing a bra!

PontiacPeggy

QueenMomCat, You don't need to dream of laughing because you are laughing! I'm not offended! It's nice just to be, isn't it?

HUGS!!

queenmomcat

Well, OK. I AM laughing. But in a nice way. Really.

PontiacPeggy

HAHAHA!!! I know you're kind, Queen!

HUGS!!

Nash54

Ringelle congrats on the great post op!  I know you will enjoy no more doc visits for awhile.  What a relief. 

Radgirl...so glad everything went well today...take it easy for the next few days.  You've been through a lot emotionally and physically.  You're rockin that surgical bra!!

Outrunning....I wore cheap sports bras from Target and Walmart. I bought them a size larger.  I think I bought Jockey brand.  Some were front closure and others were large enough that they weren't difficult to pull off. 

Horsegirl

---

Wishing everyone well & good healing from surgery!


Six weeks since sentinel node surgery & just recently noticed I can't feel the incision without looking. Still numb but not painful anymore. Surprised to be feeling some deep aches in my breast. I think it is nerves getting back to normal, so I'm feeling what has been probably going on all along.


Getting my rads simulation next week and also starting Herceptin. Feeling confident about it.

Reader425

Molly so glad you are safe. Sounds like a good decision was made. I'll bet some heads are going to roll in that place!

Rad girl glad things went well today.

I too put my bra on the way I was taught when I was twelve, backwards, etc.... I did like the front close ones i used during recovery but nicer ones seem harder to find for bigger chested girls like me.

plumster1

Molly- wow! Glad they put the surgery on hold for these reasons but talk about adding to an already anxiety filled moment! Ugh

Ringelle- yea! Signing off for awhile with your BS is a nice feeling. One more step to putting BC in the rear view mirror.

Radgirl- glad it all went well! Seems like you are doing great!! Rest and recuperate!

Horsegirl- I too no longer am really bothered by the slnb which is so nice. It's weird how that seems to bother everyone more than the Lx incision.

And for the record...I'm like Peggy...buckle in the back...no twist and flip

PontiacPeggy

Horsegirl, glad you are doing so good! That's wonderful. You'll do fine with your rads and Herceptin! Will you get tattoos? My oldest son has tattoos and he thought it was funny when I told him I was getting them. Of course I can barely find them but no matter, it's something we share!

Reader425, You might check out QVC's Breezies bras. Those bras are pretty and designed for the well-endowed. And they come in a wide range of cup sizes.

Now that we know we all put on bras differently, I was wondering if size of the girls makes a difference? Is it easier for those of you who have real curves to put your bra on hooking in front? I'm very small. Just another one of life's little curiosities

HUGS!!!

Horsegirl

Molly, what a protection for you! Praying you continue to flow is His provision and protection.

Peggy, I think they will use stickers, no tatoos. Perhaps because it's the shorter treatment protocol.

PontiacPeggy

Horsegirl, if they do do tats, no big deal!

HUGS!

queenmomcat

Rads sim today, over and done with, phewph. I start that next Tuesday.

no idea about the backward/forward bra thing. I'm decidedly topheavy/backward donning, but no recollectio of when I started doing it that way.

PontiacPeggy

Queen, that simulation is tedious. Did you get tats? Mine were one on each (of my body, not my breast) and one right in the middle of my chest, all below the bra line. I can still see the one in the middle, I assume the other 2 are still around You certainly shot my theory about breast size making a difference in frontward, backward. Guess it just depends on what your mother taught you. It is interesting to me though!

HUGS!

queenmomcat

(counting tattoos) Five? One on each side--the 'carpenters' level' marks. Then above and below my breast and one in the middle.

Outrunning

octogirl My grandmother totally put her bra on that way. Often my Mom too. I do so occasionally depending on the garment.

For the record, when I bought my undergarment for my wedding the shop taught me to bend over (like Grandma did) and let the girls hang. hen pull the bra up to cover the girls. Then stand up. This gets better cleavage and support.

I have a sports bras that completely open and I could put on by the hook in front and twist method. Then if I want the straps in a race back I hook them together. If I'm not running and don't need the support I can wear without hooking the straps together. I wear that bra on the tightest hook, so maybe on the loosest it will work. I actually have three of this style. I went back to buy a second and they were on sale so I got two.

The other sports bra I have that opens has crossed straps. You do have to get the one over your head and hook it. It is better for high impact immobilization.
I also have a couple pull over soft Jockey bras I wore to sleep after both biopsies. They aren't good for any work out with more impact than yoga. If I can move enough to get them over my head maybe they'll work again.

Molly-Glad they waited. Infection is nothing to mess with. (My mother actually died of a pos op infection following hernia surgery, so the whole idea freaks me out.)

Radgirl - Glad all went well.

PontiacPeggy

Octogirl, I also was taught sometime along the way to bend over to get a better fit of my bra. I rarely do that. My girls just aren't going anywhere. But every once in awhile I don a bra that I need to do that. Maybe most of the time I don't care and it doesn't matter for my small girls. I have some padded camis I get at Walmart that can either hook in back racerback style or not. I still don't twist the back around to the front to hook the straps together. I try to hook them before pulling the cami over my head (holding the hook in place with one hand). I can't imagine that if you were much larger than a B cup that these camis would be very comfortable or supportive for anyone.

HUGS!

Ringelle

This discussion about bra wearing is cracking me up! I had a friend over last night and asked her "How do you put your bra on!" She looked at me like I'd lost my mind and then told me (just as I was taught): backwards and upside down, clasp in front, swing around, then pull up! At some point I think I started putting it around my waist and clasping around back in order to not have to twist it around but it also depends on the kind of bra it is. A few years ago I had bought these really expensive bras (not attractive at all) They looked more like nursing bras and had a thick under band but no underwire. I was taught to literally Pull my breast through the "frame" and then pull the flap up to clasp it closed. They were so comfortable and I could run and jump with no jiggle. As my weight was fluctuating, they got too expensive to keep up with.