need more info

Fairchild

Trying to get ready for bilateral mastectomy. What did you wear home from the hospital? Did you wear bralettes or sports bras or what afterwards? What kind of mobility issues did you deal with?

I saw bras that close in the front recommended somewhere....where does one find them? Thanks!

SpecialK

fairchild - most of us wake up in a surgical bra or camisole. Ask your surgeon what he/she uses - it can be good to get a spare if they want you to wear it for a while, so you can wash one while wearing one, and have a clean one ready. The most popular front close soft bras - here onBCO - seem to be Fruit of the Loom. Inexpensive and does the job! Here’s a link:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Comfort-Front-Close-Sports-Bra-2-Pack-Style-96014PK/23091830

I wore a lightweight zip up hoodie and pull on track pants with flip flops home from the hospital. Basically, athleisure stuff works well. Leggings and a long button front shirt that is not fitted is another option. Good luck!

LisaK12

I woke up in a surgical bra that had a velcro closure in the front. They subsequently allowed me to change into one a larger size up because I had swelling that made it too tight. They sent me home wearing that one and with an extra one in the smaller size. Once the swelling went down after a couple of weeks, I went back to the smaller size because the larger one wasn't giving me enough compression any more. After about a month my doctor told me I could wear a sports bra instead as long as it was supportive and had no underwire. I just wear stretchy ones that go on over the head, that have a soft band underneath so they don't irritate my inframammary incisions too much. (I haven't had any issues with raising my arms over my head though -- some people do and that's why they often tell you to get ones that close in the front.). On the rare occasion that I have tried to take a break from wearing one, I noticed that I had increased swelling, so I do think that keeping the compression on is helpful. I am almost two months out now and am still wearing sports bras 24/7. I was told that eventually I won't need to wear one at all, but for now I'm still healing so the support and compression seem to help.

LisaK12

I woke up in a surgical bra that had a velcro closure in the front. They subsequently allowed me to change into one a larger size up because I had swelling that made it too tight. They sent me home wearing that one and with an extra one in the smaller size. Once the swelling went down after a couple of weeks, I went back to the smaller size because the larger one wasn't giving me enough compression any more. After about a month my doctor told me I could wear a sports bra instead as long as it was supportive and had no underwire. I just wear stretchy ones that go on over the head, that have a soft band underneath so they don't irritate my inframammary incisions too much. (I haven't had any issues with raising my arms over my head though -- some people do and that's why they often tell you to get ones that close in the front.). On the rare occasion that I have tried to take a break from wearing one, I noticed that I had increased swelling, so I do think that keeping the compression on is helpful. I am almost two months out now and am still wearing sports bras 24/7. I was told that eventually I won't need to wear one at all, but for now I'm still healing so the support and compression seem to help.

Fairchild

Thanks for your help, SpecialK and LisaK12!

Spookiesmom

Have a small pillow or folded towel for under the seatbelt on ride home.