Breast Prosthetics

DZLassie

Sorry I posted this in the wrong forum initially. I think it really belongs here. I have had a hard road with respect to my reconstruction. Since my mastecomy back in October 2012, I have had constant seromas around my tissue expanders that had to be drained essentially weekly. My surgeons hoped that switching the TE out for the implant would solve the problem, but a week after the drain was removed, I began leaking fluid from the incision. It became infected and we finally decided that we needed to remove everything, clear the infection and start over in a few months. I am having a hard time dealing with this because I am now faced with the one situation I had not anticipated - having only one breast. Frankly, this is hitting me harder than losing my hair in chemo and I don't know why except that it was so unexpected. So while part of me is in total denial that I must deal with this, the more rational part of me needs some information about breast prosthetics etc. I would love to be able to swim this summer (assuming I can lose the drain) and I would rahter not spend too much money as I am HOPING that the situation is really only going to be temporary. Any advice or thoughts? Plus anyone who wants to tell me that the prosthetics aren't that bad would be good too because right now all I can do is cry.

coraleliz

You might try the breastfree.org website http://www.breastfree.org/   They have a lot of info on prostheses. There are also some older threads where this is discussed. Hopefully others will be along soon. I've chosen to go breastfree & prosthesisfree so I'm not much help.

Ariom

DZLassie!

Hi! don't cry....I promise, it isn't that bad, not at all.

I am a Uniboober, by choice, and although it has only been 6 months for me, I have no regrets! I am used to it, and barely think about it now.

You've had a rough time, and I feel for you, going through all that, to end up here. No wonder you are feeling flat and in denial. No pun intended!  It's just a blip in the radar, you'll get through this, and then get on with your reconstruction. Take some big breaths, it will be fine!

Let's take a look at the situation for you. You are not likely to want, or need a silicone prosthesis, and I assume you still have pain, since you have the infection.

I had a bit of trouble with seromas, and I got an infection too.

I have found lots of options. The humble AhhBra, which is just a soft knit bra with pockets and little enhancers in it, works very well with a softee, or a microbead form. Also,there are camisoles with the same pockets available from Amoena and the other prosthesis companies. Depending on the size you are, you can make your own little, or large pouffy things with dacron cushion filling. The microbead forms can be used in the pool, but the other filled ones can not. Some ladies here have great success with those shower ball, net, things. They unravel them, and then roll them to the right size, and stitch them into a swimsuit.

Coraleliz, above, has good advice. I spent a lot of time at the Breastfree site before I had my Mx. There is a lot of great advice there, including photos if you are interested in seeing how others look after surgery.

Another wonderful site is Mastectomysolutions, Mary is a wonderful, helpful lady who had a BMX, and set up her site to help others navigate their way through this. She has the patterns for microbead foobs, or she can make them for you, for a very small cost.

There are always the chicken filet thingies at department stores too, again, that depends on the size of your other side. I actually, often get around in a very firm fitted shapewear tank. My remaining side is a "D" cup, so can be like a rogue puppy up my shirt if I don't restrain it this way. I have found that no one seems to notice when I wear those tanks, and it is really a comfortable option.

I hope some of this may be of use to you, if you want to ask anything more feel free to PM me.

I wish you all the very best, and send hugs to you, please don't let it upset you too much.

Take care of you! 

DZLassie

Thank you ladies. I will look into the websites you mentioned.

stride

You might consider an Amoena camisole or bra with molded cups. You can fill the empty cup with one of those stuffed forms that come with post-surgical bras and it will not look lumpy. Then you can just wear the bra without the form after you finish reconstruction. If you will be flat for awhile, spring for the silicone form. I love mine.