post surgical underwire bra and LE

mnmbeck

I have LE in my arm, and I think I have had a couple of flares in my trunk (felt like excruciating pain under/around the TE).  I had my exchange surgery and PS requires me to wear an underwire 24/7 for 4 weeks.  It will be 4 weeks tomorrow.  Over the last week, I feel like things have changed....sometimes for the better (my hand swelling seems a lot better in the mornings), but also a lot worse....I am pretty sure I have truncal LE.  My 'foob' on that side just seems more swollen than on the other, and I just feel swollen on that side, although I'm not sure I can always see it.

I think I recall that wearing an underwire bra is not a good idea with LE.  Could this be causing some of the problems?  I also had liposuction to remove mudflaps, and that area is still tender and hard.  My PS said (before any of these extra problems), that this could be problematic with lymph flow.  So, I'm wondering if those tough areas, combined with the underwire bra....could be causing some of these problems?  He initially said I would need to wear bra off 4 weeks....which is tomorrow, but I don't see him for another week.  I will likely call his office and ask if it is OK to take it off tomorrow.

Binney4

mnm, there's no research on underwires, but some women have had problems with them, and it makes sense that they would, since it creates a constriction to the area below the breast where lymph should be draining. Liposuction has been studied a bit more, but not so much in this context. Liposuction can actually used to reduce excessive LE swelling that does not respond to Complete Decongestive Therapy, but that is a specialized kind of liposuction and there are not many doctors who do it. Hopefully all will resolve as you heal, but good idea to ditch the underwire at the earliest opportunity, and plan to see your LE therapist as soon as possible.

I'm really sorry about this new worry. Please keep us posted. Chocolate!
Binney

cookiegal

for what it's worth I wear underwire every day, and honestly it seems to slightly help my LE sine the breast is compresses and the bra fits.

carol57

My favorite shaper cami is by Maidenform, and it comes with underwire cups.  I like it because it compresses my truncal area on my back, but it doesn't squish the breasts, although it does provide support and snugness, if not actual compression there. The wires I was not so wild about, so I snipped one end of the sewn-in channel that holds each wire and pulled it out, hoping that I hadn't ruined the garment.  Nope-it fits, works and feels just fine without the wire! I can't say that this solution will work for every underwire garment, but in this case I find that the sewn channel for the wires provides support and holds up the bra cups without the wire, and with no feeling of cutting in. The only aspect of the bra portion that I think works less well is there is now a bit of 'bridging' --separation between the breasts is not quite as well defined, as I think the wires were forcing the inner curves of the bra cups against my sternum more than the empty channel does.  But still, it feels great, plenty supportive, and there's no appearance difference under my clothing.

Kicks

I wear UW because I like them - always have.  Never thought there was any problem caused.  I also wear 'cammies' during the hot times which are not underwire and can say there is any difference.  We are each different in what we individually like and what works 'best' for us.