Do your bras ride up?

Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited June 2014 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

Hi ladies,

Im a uni lady but Im looking at having a prophy in the next 6 weeks or so. Reconstruction is OUT for me. Period.  My intention is to go flat but when I go out or when Im wearing tighter fitting tee shirts like in the summer, then I want to wear something that is as light as possible (so I wont have any restriction on my shoulders upsetting my lymphoedema arm) I would go for something that is not too small but a lot smaller than average. Ideally what Id really like is just some thick padded bras. 

I've only just started researching all this and Im particularly keen to know if a lot of ladies are having problems with riding up that are opting for just padded bras or very light "fillers". It would drive me nuts if I was forever having to pull my bras down.Just to be a little more difficult, I dont want anything with wire underneath. Ive always avoided these bras anyway. 

Would appreciate any thoughts on this....

Thanks, Musical

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Comments

  • coonie
    coonie Member Posts: 7,618
    edited May 2010

    Hi Musical

    I tried mast bras right after my bilat and I had the same problem. Ever since then, I've been wearing camisoles with pockets for breast forms. I've just gotten in the micro-beed forms and love them. I started a thread of some camis that I found at Target......it's under this same forum.

    Good luck. I've tried several different things and so far, this is my favorite!

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  • Erica3681
    Erica3681 Member Posts: 1,916
    edited May 2010

    Musical,

    I had a bilateral mastectomy and I find that if I wear a form with just a little bit of weight, like the Still You Illusions or the Silique Comfort Lite, I have no problem at all with my bra riding up. Even with totally unweighted foam forms, it's not that my bra rides up, but the forms sit rather high on my chest. That's why I prefer just a slight amount of weight to none at all. 

    Barbara

    BreastFree.org

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2010

    Thanks ladies for your responses. Coonie, Im going to do a google for my country to see if I can look into the micro-beed forms. Thats a good point worth considering Erica, about the falsies "sitting high". .  My Mast left me not totally flat and I'm not sure whether that was done as a "skin sparing" mast or not. I cant remember at the time whether the BC mentioned it or not. Anywayz I kinda think it might help to keep a bra in place. Im certainly going to aim for as near as the same on the other side.

    Musical

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  • KristyKay
    KristyKay Member Posts: 3
    edited June 2010

    I had problems with the bras riding up as well as the elastic hurting my ribs on the side I had radiation.  I found that if I got a bra with the wider band on the bottom, it doesn't ride up as much and doesn't hurt.   Jodee has one called the "embrace" that I really like.... if it's possible to like a bra! 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2010

    Thanks Kristy for your input. Ive just been in browse mode since I started this thread, and really theres all sorts of styles of bras that might do the trick, but it would definitely be a case of trying on. I like the idea of a broad band at the bottom too, so I'll keep that thought in my arsenal...... Oh and I agree that its getting really hard to like bras especially after my Mast.

    Musical

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  • LindaLou53
    LindaLou53 Member Posts: 929
    edited June 2010

    Musical, especially with your lymphedema I would consider camisoles with bra pockets instead of a bra, and use a small light weight form.  Tight bra bands around your trunk are not good for lymphedema.  I have LE also and find the camis much more comfortable.

    Wearing a camisole with a light weight form like the TLC Micro Bead also has the advantage of staying in place because you can tuck the bottom of the camisole inside the waistband of your slacks or skirt.  They don't ride up like a bra does with a light weight form!  I am working now on adapting several of my camis and tank tops to hold the Micro Bead forms.  I'm doing the trial and error method for now but once I get my process refined I will post something with pics.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2010

    Thanks LindaLou for that! I certainly dont want anything that is going to "cut me in 1/2" Im thinking that with the forms being so light you wont need to have the tight waist band part so tight.  I know this might sound stoopid, but going on the premise that the only dumb question is the one you dont ask ..... What EXACTLY is a camisole?   Im a little confused as  Ive looked at pik 's on websites and they look anything  from similar to a petticoat top to a slightly more "covered in" or "less skimpy" bra  (I hope Im making some sense  Embarassed ) 

    I would love to see your piks when you are ready to post them! .  

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  • lassie11
    lassie11 Member Posts: 1,500
    edited June 2010

    A year after a single mastectomy, I think I finally have an arrangement that works.  My first problem is that I am, ummm . . . . not tiny, and am mighty unbalanced without doing something.

    My daughter knit me a few foobs. We filled them with quilt type batting at first with a river rock for weight. Then I tried filling one with little silicone type beads from a craft store. The little beads leaked out of the knitted form. Next bright idea - I bought some knee high nylons (never wear such things any more), cut them and sewed them into a square, filled them with the beads and put them in the knit forms. Finally - a lightweight foob with some movement, the size and shape I need, and no drippings. With lymphedema, I now use a stretchy sports bra. The longer one (almost t-shirt style) needed a pocket so I used a pre mastectomy bra and sewed the cup into the inside of the sports bra. The smaller, bra shaped one doesn't even need a pocket - just tuck it in, it stays put and off I go!

    The store bought standard plastic foob and mastectomy bras sit in my cupboard. I do take out the swim form on those occasions when I go swimming.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2010

    Ha,  Lassie11 I know the feeling with the unbalanced thing.   That and other reasons is why Im have a phophy on 29thJune. My prozzie weighs a ton and bra straps just dig into my shoulder top and irritates the shoulder blade area, which then developes a DEEP itch and drives me spare. 2 hours and Im soundly and roundly FED UP. As such Ive been just going bra-less. Where I am its winter so bulky clothing is a great cover up, in more ways than one LOL. My PT tells me though that I need to watch it as the lopsidedness can eventually cause strain on your back and suchlike.

     Hahaha what a hard case! I had to laugh about the river ROCK!!!  Cool  GOOD ON YOU for trying things. Nothing like a bit of ingenuity.

    Oh, what is a preMast bra? 

    Hey Lassie I would LOVE it if you and any others would post piks of their "innovations". Especially the stretchy sports bra idea. Would love to see that.

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  • Alyson
    Alyson Member Posts: 4,308
    edited June 2010

    Musical where in NZ are you? I have found some quite successful bras over the last 3 years. PM me and we can chat about such things.

    I do wear my prosthesis most of the time even when travelling. I have two and tend to wear them with different bras.

    Alyson

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2010

    Hey Alyson, NEAT to see another NZer here! Not that the reason is so great but you know what I mean. Yes I will PM you. Im quite interested to see what these Micro bead ones are like, but I THINK they are relatively new. At the moment this is really prelim stuff and Im doing a bit of "spadework" 1st before I go into anything. I'll have quite a bit of time post surgery. As I say, nothing likely bulky winter cloths to hide a multitude of things.....heh, not that you guys up in Auckland have too much to worry about with winters.

    Musical

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  • lassie11
    lassie11 Member Posts: 1,500
    edited June 2010

    I love your NZ notion of winter! 

    Musical - the "pre mastectomy bra" is just a bra I had before all this nonsense started. Had to do something with it. I think the beads I have might be like the micro beads - I have yet to find the perfect beads. Sorry I can't take credit for the river rock idea. It was on the "tit bit" pattern my daughter found online at http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall05/PATTbits.html 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2010

    HA HAHA! Lassie, thanks for the link! These made me laugh         Laughing

    Warning: Do not wear a Tit Bit with a weight onto an airplane, as it may be confiscated as a dangerous projectile. Make yourself a non-weighted travel titty instead.)

    A Cautionary Note: If you have made a truly original tit bit, and want to show it to others, please do so in the privacy of your own home. I have a friend who used to take her out in public all the time. "See my tittie? See? See?" Then she met a cop at her LYS who informed her that what she was doing was technically considered "flashing" and therefore against the law.

    I needed that laugh as Im starting to get a bit nervous now with surgery only a week away : -|. My back ached this a.m and so I put my "one tonner" on to even up the score for a while. No back ache now.

    Cheers

    Musical

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  • Rainenz
    Rainenz Member Posts: 93
    edited June 2010

    Hi Musical and Alyson

    Another Kiwi here. Am also interested in finding out more about these Micro bead forms. Need something I can use when out tramping as silcone forms don't last very well in the extreme conditions.

    Hope your surgery goes well

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2010

    Hey Rainenz, notwithstanding the horrid reason we're all here, its just great to see another Kiwi ! Thanks for wishing me well. Going by your dx it looks like youve had nodes moved from both arms? How are you with the lymphoedema thing, or do you not have any probs with that? LE is a huge issue but I only have a mild case and thats bad enough. For me, with both breasts gone it will give me much more scope as to what forms to get, and Im certainly in no hurry. Interesting that you mention about the silicon not lasting too well. I take it that would be to do with sweat?

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  • Rainenz
    Rainenz Member Posts: 93
    edited June 2010

    Hi Musical

    So far I have been lucky re LEhad it mildly in one hand but got that under control. got some under my arm. manage that with some gentle massage.

    What part of the country are you I'm in P Nth 

    The problem I have had with the silicon form is extremes of Temp and altitude when I'm out in the hills.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2010

    Hi Rainenz, I'll PM you with my location when Im done here. Great that you aren't too bad off with the LE!...as if there isnt enough to deal with already. Fortunately my hand is OK but I get a little trouble further up just above elbow, but under the arm if you hold it out straight. My PT says this is a very common trouble spot. Like you, Ive found gentle massaging helps. I also still do some post Mast exercises.

    No doubt youve looked at LindaLou's thread ?  HOW TO MAKE A MICRO BEAD BREAST FORM... She has an amazing  tutorial on making these and some really neat piks.

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