Can finally "B" Me

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mom2two
mom2two Member Posts: 1,352
edited June 2014 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

Went today to get my first mastectomy bra. When she asked what size I was I just automatically said 36A or 36 almost A since that's what I've been most of my adult life. Then I start thinking why limit myself now that I have no boobs! Why not let this be a perk to all this breast cancer drama I've been going through for the last couple of months. So I ordered up a size B  and for the first time in my life I fill out a bra. My tops look so much better. I have been so tender with the bilateral mastectomy that I didn't think I could tolerate the mastectomy bras and only went to look for one today because of the holidays being upon us. I have worn mine all day and am so pleased with how well I'm doing with it on. It feels fine, it makes my tops look great and I feel so blessed to be done with this process. Just had to share with someone.

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  • ebann
    ebann Member Posts: 3,026
    edited November 2008

    mom2two; I am so excited for you this is wonderful news. I can understand that you would love to share this. I can not mine till radiation is done. I am looking  forward to it. I do hope that I am as pleased as you. It is a good feeling when you feel normal again in appearance. Is your hair coming back? Mine is coming back. I got my eyebrows and eyelashes and that was very exciting for me. Good for you in a  size B, yes why not!

    In God's Grace; Elizabeth

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  • SusaninSF
    SusaninSF Member Posts: 1,213
    edited November 2008

    mom2two,

    I love your attitude! When I first got my prosthesis I walked out of the store and sat down and cried in the lobby. I wish I could have had as positive an outlook as you have. You are absolutely right that it's a sign that's you are healed and ready to move forward. You are an inspiration!

    Thanks for your message!

     Hugs, Susan 

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  • mom2two
    mom2two Member Posts: 1,352
    edited November 2008

    Thanks for sharing this happy time with me Elizabeth and Susan. I actually felt physically better as far as the tenderness goes with the bra on, somehow wearing it helped. I wonder if the brain connections sensed something was back where it should be and stopped sending out so many signals. I don't know how to explain it but the tenderness stayed calmed down even after I took the bra off. So a very unexpected but appreciated blessing to this mastectomy saga. Elizabeth I hope that time comes soon for you, maybe Santa will bring one or two with him when he stuffs those stockings this year:)  Susan, just want to send a hug your way. This process brings a full range of emotions with it and wanted to let you know that I have shed a few tears along the way as well. Hope you both have a wonderful Thanksgiving and thanks again for taking the time to share a moment with me. 

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  • digger
    digger Member Posts: 590
    edited November 2008

    I got my drains out last night at the hospital, and before going home, I said to hell with my surgical bra which I'd been wearing for the last week and tossed it into the trash.  I kept a camisole on and figured I would love not having the tight surgical bra on.  Boy, was I wrong.  Entire ride home ( a couple of hours), I sat crying to myself because I couldn't physically feel that bra anymore.  It made the numbness felt by my left side mastectomy seem like this hole in my chest.  I've still got my right breast intact, so it brought home to me how different the two were feeling.  The right one has its normal sag and lays on my skin.  Without that same feeling on my left, I felt this huge hole, I don't know how else to describe it.  As soon as I got home, I immediately put on one of the mastectomy bras I had bought before the operation, and it was a  relief to at least feel the band of the bra on my skin on my left side.  That somehow made it feel better, like I couldn't feel the sag on my right so I didn't feel my lack on the left as much. 

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  • mom2two
    mom2two Member Posts: 1,352
    edited November 2008

    Digger I've heard it can be a rougher adjustment with only one mastectomy side so know we are sending ((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))) your way today.  I admire you for being able to wear the mastectomy bra right after getting the drains out. It took me weeks to get there. Just to encourage you though, with some massage (gentle massage), you will be surprised how much feeling does come back. I thought I would be numb from now on but am having feeling return already. I have always had a problem with the numb feeling even at the dentist so was relieved to know that it can return to some degree. I could hardly stand touching my chest at first, it bothered me so much with how thick and numb it felt,but as I continued with the massage I started having more and more sensation return. Hope you find the same to be true.

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  • digger
    digger Member Posts: 590
    edited November 2008

    Mom,

    Good idea about the massage.  I am hesitant to touch the site, but I imagine I would get the same benefit by massaging the site with my shirt on.  I was thinking about the one boob vs. two boobs on my short walk outside today, and I agree that by having just a single mx, it does drive it home a little more how different the feel and touch of one side is to the other.  Not that I have the right to complain, as I'm lucky my right breast is healthy. 

    The upside of all of this is that this Thanksgiving, I don't have to lift a finger preparing or cleaning up Thanksgiving dinner.  I'm trying to focus on other silver linings to this experience as well so I don't get too down on myself. 

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  • kerry_lamb
    kerry_lamb Member Posts: 778
    edited November 2008

    A-w-w-w-w-w! Well done! It's interesting, isn't it, that just LOOKING normal has a follow-on effect: FEELING normal. I've posted this before: I think the worst moment of my life was leaving the hospital with an enormous left breast and nothing on the right. No bra, no nothing..just horrible. I WISHED someone had told me that OF COURSE I could have worn a bra home (stuffed with socks if it came to that!) just to feel 'normal'. I was so gutted. As soon as I got home I took the underwire out of my bras (right side) and haven't looked back. But I can still remember that pain of having to walk out like that... 

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