C&D cup UMXs: Please share foob, bra & clothing links & tips

MellaBella

C&D cup UMXs: Please share foob, bra & clothing links & tips

MellaBella

I'm one week post-op and would love to hear from you who had a UMX w/o reconstruction about your tips and links.

Is this the best group for that or am I missing a better forum for that on this site?

I know I COULD read all of the many posts, but to be honest, I am having trouble doing that emotionally. I'm in a really good place right now, but when I read about someone who had my situation, that had a sad surprise later on, well, I'm not emotionally ready yet for that, yet I need the links so I can leave the house without feeling uncomfortable about my appearance.

I know I'll have to wait a while until I can get fitted for a heavier foob and all, but I'd like to have foob tips and links for now (lighter) and later (heavier that stays in place).

I made a pillow foob but it doesn't stay in place very well. I guess I could sew it in place every day if I HAVE to.

Ariom

Hello Mella, I am sorry I didn't see this post earlier! Another member sent me a message to say you were needing some Foob advice! That's what is so great about this site, everyone is always looking out for each other! 

Congratulations! One week out and your are "Foob"  hunting. I was just the same and so were many others here.In fact, I turned up at the lingerie shop in the next big town from the small one I live in one week after my surgery. The ladies were very kind, asked me if I was having a Mx, but when I said I'd had it a week earlier they just shooed me away and said they couldn't fit me for at least 6 weeks. I was back 6 weeks to the day for my fitting and really haven't looked back.

I am the same size as you, had a UMX 15 months ago and have acquired such a wardrobe of Boobs Foobs and Prosthesis that one of our members here named their home in my dressing room "The FoobMoire!"

I would suggest you take a look at the website breastfree.org, it is run by one of our members Erica and she has put together an extensive range of options for Prosthesis. Their is a lot of great information on that site.

I discovered very early on, that my low neck tops, even T shirts had to go, and I have replaced everything with higher necklines so that when I bend forward, the gap is not visible. When you get into a silicone Prosthesis that gap can be more visible as the heavy prosthesis falls forward.

I have also discovered that I like to wear sports crop tops that can take a light weight foam foob. They are not as structured as a real Mx bra and feel very light, firm against the chest, which I like and they prevent "fall forward"! Obviously they can't be worn all the time, but they are a great alternative for casual wear. I find I am wearing casual yoga pants, crop bra, with an Active Wear jacket zipped up to show the crop a little as my casual or relaxing wear.

I would definitely suggest that you get properly fitted for your silicone prosthesis and Mx bras. I did that and then started to find things after I knew what worked for me. I have bought many prosthesis and bras, all new, on Ebay, with great success. Their are a multitude of styles out there, many of them are nice to look at too. You don't have to sacrifice nice lingerie, just because you need a Mx bra. Remember you need to wait at least 6 weeks!

Also, take a look at the Mx camisoles, there are quite a few manufacturers who make them, my fave is the Valletta by Amoena. They have a bra inside, more structured than say a Genie bra, but less structured than a full Mx bra. They work very well alone, under a shirt, cardigan or jacket. I have them in about 4 colors, once you get the straps fitted right, it will sit flat against your chest and it feels great.

I had the same problem that you do, in the very early days. The balancing act with a heavy " C/D" cup on one side can be a bit of an issue. I just put up with the riding up of the fiber filled foob, till I got fitted. I did buy Genie Bras from a department store, you know the knitted type with no wires or hooks, and I found a Target Post Surgery stretch cotton bra that had the hooks in the front because I had a bit of an issue with cording, so stretching to get the other ones over my head was a bit of a challenge. I also bought some micro bead Foobs from a lovely lady named Mary at mastectomysolutions.com she has the pattern for making them if you are a sewer, or she will make them for you for a very small charge. Mary's website is great too, she has lots of very good info there, in fact it was Mary who taught me to hand wash my Mx bras and use a salad spinner to get the water out before hanging out to dry. Great advice for caring for expensive bras.

Although I have several silicone Prosthesis, even one called the "Contact" which has a sticky surface so it adheres to the skin of your chest and can be worn with a normal bra, without pockets. I do tend to wear my Tru Life weighted foam form a lot these days, but it is all just a matter of personal choice.

The one great thing I can tell you Mella, is that it doesn't take long, till you just put the bra and form on and that's the last time you think about it, till you remove it at night.  

Please feel free to message me if there is anything else I can help you with. I am sure there will be others along to offer their ideas and tips too.

I know it feels a bit overwhelming at first, bu it gets better and as we become more used to the "New Normal" things fit into place. I even go half flat sometimes, a shape wear firm tank rails in that "D" puppy and no one ever seems to notice.

Take care Mella...have fun shopping for things that make you feel good! M x 

crystalphm

You got so much great advice from Ariom , and she is right, we do watch out for each other here. I was a uni for about 18 months and I also felt the need for balance, and I wore a foam foob and it works very well in the Valletta as well as the "still Me" cami. I think they call it a post surgery cami, but I have been wearing it for 4 years now because it is fantastic.

There is a website called Flatter your Flatness and there are some good ways of using disguise as a dressing technique. I used to wear scarves often too.

Moderators

MellaBella, as well as the great information and experiences you've received from Ariom and crystalphm, the article on Prosthetics from the main Breastcancer.org site talks about some of the options available, as well as some advice about insurance coverage that may be available to you to cover the cost of your foobs.

• The Mods

River_Rat

Crystalphm, that Flatter Your Flatness site looks very helpful. Many of the styles they feature are the things that I have found to work for me.

http://flatteryourflatness.com

And their Pinterest link:

https://www.pinterest.com/BreastHealing/flatter-yo...

MellaBella

Thanks everyone! This transitional first month seems awkward and I'm hoping it gets easier once I can get fitted, etc.

I don't like bras that have ultra support and control because for me that = uncomfortable. I'm hoping that my fitter can offer a variety, like stretchy tanktop bras with medium support for around the house and I have a feeling that those may not play well with foobs, etc. (For one thing, I think it would be hard to make a pocket for something so stretchy ...

 But I will try to keep my expectations positive. : )

MellaBella

I emailed my favorite bra company today and asked if they would consider sewing pockets in for me since searching for mastectomy turned up nothing on the site.

They emailed back with a few bra links that have POCKETS. I am ecstatic! I've worn these comfy organic stretchy bras for many years and am glad I can continue that.

They have also said they would try to link the pocketed bras to the word "mastectomy" so other ladies can find them also.

Here's the link for one of them if anyone else is interested:

http://www.bluecanoe.com/collections/organic-cotton-bras-and-panties/products/a185

http://www.bluecanoe.com/collections/organic-cotto...

Ariom

Hello Mella, the bra in the link you posted is almost identical the the Target brand bra I mentioned. The Target bra is a good cotton, with stretch and at $20.00 here in Australia it is a much better price than that one. I don't know if it is available in the US. Here in Aus, I just searched "Post Surgery" on the Target website and there were several that appeared. I have tried them all, but this one was my favorite.

Also, Amoena has a great range of all different types of Mx bras, try their website if you like the type featured in the link look for their cotton stretch, or there is a lace front hook style for leisure wear that you may like.

Take a look at the Valletta Camisole with built in bra and pockets, it is very comfortable and handles a full weight silicone Prosthesis, or a light weight  really well. I wore one of these to my first BC meeting after my surgery and I was asked if my surgery had been delayed. None of the girls had ever seen one of these camis before and they couldn't believe how good it looked.

I have also bought shape wear tanks that have pockets for those modesty pad things. I can get a weighted foam foob into those with a snip of the fabric, the firmness of the body of the tank keeps everything, including the foob in place. They work well under a shirt or waterfall cardigan. 

The one thing I should mention, is that Mx bras are cut quite differently to normal bras. The cups have more coverage to be able to hide the Form and any concave parts of your chest and the best design element is the straps are cut toward the inner chest so you never have to worry about the straps falling down and the Form being exposed.

Women who are smaller sizes seem to be able to get away with normal bras or having their old bras modified with a pocket, but my attempts to modify and keep some of my much loved lingerie failed, because the shapes are off now.

I know I can sound like a broken  record about this, so forgive me if you've heard it before, but I will never wear an under wire bra again because a member here posted that she was stabbed by a wayward wire, in and area where she was still numb and she sustained a very bad infection from that.

Once you begin to research what is available and find what suits your individual needs, you'll be surprised by how much is actually out there.

Edited to add...I believe Nordstroms have a service where they will put pockets into bras bought from them.

MellaBella

Thanks Ariom! : )  I've never worn underwire for two reasons: 1. they are wretchedly uncomfortable and 2. I'd read they constricted blood flow which could be a link to BC. Seems logical to me. 

I'm going to check into all the items you mentioned. I'm happy that there are a lot of choices. : ) 

The reason I'm so thrilled about the blue canoe mastectomy bras is that their bras are the type that you buy and are still wearing a decade later b/c they're so well made and have held up all those years. I know at least two I have that I have washed every week for 12 years and I just wore one of those yesterday. It's not as pretty as it used to be but it does the job. haha

I'm concerned that a lot of the mx bras will be like steel fortresses and that's OK for a dress bra, but I also want to have several of these stretchy bras like your target bra and my bluecanoe bra.  I buy a lot of things online, but I'm having a hard time imagining buying bras online unless I have tried them out already from a store. I guess that is where the official fitting comes in and all.

I'll check out the links though so I know what's what. Thanks again!

Ariom

You're welcome!

I am not sure if you are searching for front closers, they do have a tendency to be a bit more structured to look at, but if you are just searching for Mx bras with pockets, take a look at the Amoena "Mona" bra, it has become one of my favorites and I know a lot of others here, have bought  this one too. It is a little structured with a stay in the side of it, but it is a very comfortable and doesn't feel like armor! 

The trick is to try on lots of different styles in stores and if you find some you really like, you can search them out on the internet. For me, it is worth my while to do it that way because everything Mx related in Aus is just so expensive. Although I would prefer to keep my money in my region by frequenting local businesses I just can't justify the huge disparity in price. For instance the Mona bra is $88.00 here but I can find them for 2 for $70.00US, even with freight, it is just too much of a difference. It is the same with Forms, $90.00 for my favorite weighted foam Tru Life in Aus and 2 for $72.00US in the States. I just ordered 2 more at that price to put away till the demise of the one I am wearing now . There are some very reasonable deals at different Mastectomy suppliers in the US, but even there you can find some pretty big price differences.

MellaBella

Ariom, that is exactly what I do too!  For certain items, like bras and shoes, I try to find the perfect thing at first via a local store, then once I use/wash it and all, I will seek out bargains online. Sometimes, like you said, it results in huge savings, but not every time. 

When I searched for the Mona today, I realized I had already seen that bra and put it in my shopping cart (like a bookmark). I'm glad you all told me it was comfy b/c for some reason the pics don't look comfy. That is why I am so glad you all are here!  You are a blessing to me all the way from Australia!

Ariom

Glad I could help Mella, good luck with your shopping and let me know if I can help with anything else.

crystalphm

Mella...Thanks for the link on your favorite bra, blue canoe, it looks wonderful and I have really appreciated the advice here.

In the beginning I spent so much money on bras, camis and foobs, that I now have to be content with what I have and weed out things that are not working.

I appreciate this discussion!

MellaBella

Today I used a safety pin to attach my one and only pillow foob (that I made) to my regular old bra (blue canoe).  After a 2-hr shopping outing, it stayed in place. Not bad ... for now. : )

Here's a pic of the one I sewed using an old pillow case and some pillow filler.

RamblingRose

so glad I found this thread. And then really pleased to have it validated with Moira's practical and down to earth advice.

36D, unilateral MX with no plans for reconstruction. 

Drain out today. Got a soft bra with pocket and a foob. I already now I am not wild about the foob, because its edges are sharp and irritating, even through the fabric of the bra. From reading what Moira has learned, I am philosophical about this small error, and feel brave enough to disagree with the sales person at my hospital's shop.

Ariom

Hi RR, don't worry, you'll find plenty of items that suit you, as the healing progresses. I found that some things irritated me, no end, in the early days, but since things have settled and healed internally I can wear a lot more clothing, and foobs. We all have slightly different needs, but I have found lots that work for me. M