Hawaii, need fitting for prosthesis

NicoleRod

Hi, My husband and I live on Oahu on Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay. I am in California right now to have my surgery Bi-Lateral Mastectomy with no reconstruction. Surgery is Monday March 11, 2019. When I return in about a month to Hawaii I need to get fitted for a prosthesis does anyone know of a good store for this on the island?

TIA

Nicole

SpecialK

Hey! I was just on Oahu in January! I just googled "mastectomy bra Oahu" and found two options, linked below. The first one indicates that they accept Tricare, so that is a plus - I assume that you would be using Tricare since you are military. Some shops will bill directly and they know what Tricare will cover, others will have you pay up front and the shop will provide the purchase info and receipt. You can fill out a Tricare claim form and submit the info provided, with a prescription from your surgeon, and be reimbursed.

http://www.cocoslingeriehawaii.com/fittings-and-services.html

https://www.yellowpages.com/honolulu-hi/mip/honolulu-orthopedic-supply-18563793?lid=18563793

Here is a copy of the Tricare medical claim form. I used this form when I purchased a wig, I filled it out and sent it in with a prescription from my oncologist and the receipt from the shop.

https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/forms/dd/dd2642.pdf

If you purchase a regular bra from Nordstrom, and they are also certified fitters, they will sew a pocket for the prosthetic in any bra or bathing suit they sell. My local Nordstrom also carries prosthetics, but they don't bill insurance, you have to follow the reimbursement as described above.

Once you know what prosthetics work for you, you can also get additional ones online, which may be less expensive. I also recommend Knitted Knockers, they are super lightweight for right after surgery, adjustable, and free! Here is their website. I used one and initially wore a Genie bra because it was stretchy and comfortable and the form was as well. Good luck!

https://www.knittedknockers.org/

Micmel

SpecialK~You are a perfect example of why I love these boards. You are a special wonderful person to go that extra mile for your sister in need. I just wanted to say thank you for being you.

Nicole I wish you nothing but luck finding your prosthetic breast. I hope your surgery is a quick one. Watch for dis comfort under. Your arm or any tingles occur. Keep a heads up for lymphadeama! It happens usually within a month after the surgery. If there is any node involvement! I hope there is not! But just in case... because no one told me! I am sending hugs

NicoleRod

Thank you both so much. Special K thank you so much for all that information. I will check all that out. I did try googling it and came up with only 1 store that was why I wanted to see if anyone lives in Hawaii also and knew of more options. I am glad you found 2 for me .

Thanks for the well wishes.

Nicole

SpecialK

micmel - you are sweet to say that! Being able to offer any assistance based on my experience is the silver lining! Besides being a sister in breast cancer, I also share being a military spouse with the OP, we support each other! It is just what we do!

Nicole - you might also check with Tripler and see if they can point you in a helpful direction.

NicoleRod

I didn't even think about triple because I am tricare select (standard). Is your spouse still in military? If so where are you stationed. What branch were you guys?

SpecialK

Nicole - I think if all you are looking for from Tripler is resource info about mastectomy bras and prosthetics they would supply that regardless of which Tricare plan you are enrolled in. My husband is now retired from 28 years of active duty in the Air Force, and continues to work for Special Operations Command at MacDill AFB here in Tampa. He was a B52 aircrew member for 12 years, then got involved with USAF and Joint budget after his flying days were over. We were stationed in Guam for 4 years and stopped in Hawaii many times as we traveled home and back on leave. We also spent a week at Bellows on leave one time - loved it, so pretty there. It had been many years since we had last been to Hawaii but we went in January for an Oahu and Kauai trip - had a blast! When on active duty we were in Sacramento CA, Fort Worth TX, Guam, Rome NY, Merced CA, Spokane WA, Hampton VA, Washington DC, Montgomery AL, Washington DC, then Tampa FL. Do you have family in California, is that why you chose to be treated there? I am a California girl - that is why I was curious! Born and raised in Los Angeles.

NicoleRod

No family here most all my family is in Long Island. If it wasn't for such a long flight from Hawaii to NY I would have chose NY for my surgery. I didn't do my surgery in Hawaii because there are no specialized Breast Cancer Surgeons there. There are General Surgeons and 2 that do mostly mastectomies. 1 of them had only 3 star reviews on line, the other had decent reviews but again, she was not a a specific breast cancer/breast surgeon and that was what I wanted. A surgeon who deals only with breast cancer/surgery all day every day. My neighbor in Hawaii moved in 3 weeks before us and she was previously stationed at Camp Pendleton when she had her Mastectomy and reconstruction 3 years ago. She told me about City of Hope and her surgeons. This is a whole cancer facility. The surgeon that is doing my surgery (which also did hers) is not only specificially a breast cancer/breast surgeon but she is the Chief of Surgery there. I saw her work on my friend. So I chose cali because of the doctors and because of this facility. My husband is on PTAD so he is able to be here with me this whole time. Also we are lucky enough to have gotten a spot in the Fisher House on Camp Pendleton. After my surgery and healing time we will be going back to Hawaii.

SpecialK

Nicole - I am familiar with City of Hope and their great rep - I am glad that you were able to stay at Fisher House as well. Over my time as a mil spouse I did many fundraisers for Fisher House - glad that someone I "know" is benefitting from being able to stay, and also excellent that your husband is there with you. I too had an oncological breast surgeon, and personally feel it is the right way to go. I was fortunate that he was the former surgical department head at the only stand alone NCI center here in Florida. His vast experience and opinion has come in handy on more than one occasion for me, and I am comforted by knowing he has seen and done it all. Being in a somewhat remote location makes it more of a challenge to get the right medical care, and arranging to receive it in another location has its own set of logistics and stress, I am glad you were able to get things set up at COH, I hope everything goes perfectly for you.

NicoleRod

Thank you so much this past week was rough because my surgery was canceled on the day of surgery due to me getting sick. So we are now rescheduled for tomorrow Monday the 18th. I just want to get this over with now. Praying all goes well.

SpecialK

Oh no! The anticipation is so hard, then to be cancelled at the last minute, ugh! I had a short notice surgery for an issue related to reconstruction and was told after arrival at the hospital that they had to cancel because they didn't have the auth from Tricare. I said nope, not cancelling, I had the auth number in my hand. Hold on to them cancelling out of concern for a good outcome, and hang in there for tomorrow. Wishing you the best.

NicoleRod

Thanks so much. Believe it or not..at the time I was glad they cancelled I wound up being really sick bad cough. So in the end it was for the best. Yea though praying all is good tomorrow Will try and update you as soon as possible.

SpecialK

Know I will be thinking of you - being sick would have made everything more difficult, so I am glad too.

NicoleRod

SpecialK Hi I am all good. Haven't taken any pain meds and I feel good. I did have a bit of nerve pain yesterday so I took the nerve pain pill. My recheck is Wednesday please pray for results to show NO CHEMO needed I hope the drains come out then. I contacted the store in Kailua for prosthesis they seem to have a lot of stuff which is great!! I am going to get fitted there now instead of here in cali.