First thing to do?

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CarylC
CarylC Member Posts: 230
edited June 2014 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
First thing to do?
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  • CarylC
    CarylC Member Posts: 230
    edited March 2011

    I had my bi-mx on Thursday.  I plan on going back to work on Monday.  I'm concerned about what to wear back to work.  I don't want to go back flat, maybe some time I will be comfortable with that but not yet.  Right now I feel even less than flat, I feel indented!  I'd like a little bit of a convex shape.  

    Any suggestions for right now, before I get fitted for prosthetics?   

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  • TokyoSing
    TokyoSing Member Posts: 140
    edited March 2011

    Do you have a soft bra you can wear? no underwires, no tight bands. I wore a spanx bra which fastened in front. You can pin or stitch-on the fluff-filled, puffy breast forms you get at specialty stores.  My oncologist sent me home with one. Because they are kind of weightless, they will tend to shift around.  I felt really uncomfortable going bra-less, so I was happy to wear the puff everywhere until my 5th week, when I got fitted with a silicone form.

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  • doingbetter
    doingbetter Member Posts: 117
    edited March 2011

    There are also really comfortable soft camis that have pockets for "fluff" that I was able to wear within a couple of days after surgery.  With looser tops, no one could tell anything was different.  For the first couple of weeks I stuck to button down shirts over the camis - not sure if you have a drain, but that was also hidden well.  Aside from immediate family, I had not told anyone about my surgery and while I felt a little awkward and uncomfortable at times, others did not seem to notice anything unusual.

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  • Mouser
    Mouser Member Posts: 245
    edited March 2011

    My surgeon recommended a cami - i actually got 2, the evening before the (single, left) mx. It came with fluffies to put in the pockets. But probably only specialty stores that carry products for mx will have those.

    It was not an entirely  happy solution for me, because it was not firm enough to hold up my remaining breast, so i probably was quite lopsided.  ... on the other hand, the remaining breast anchored things so i wasn't so worried about lateral drift. I also bought loose woven button-shirts instead of my preferred knit tops -- i don't think the students noticed a thing.

    I am amazed that you are going back to work so soon. Do try to take it easy for a while! I took 2 full weeks off, 3 weeks before going back full-time, and i only had a single (i'm assuming that's maybe 2/3 the stress? Or less?) and i still tired easily for another week or so.

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  • Kezzie62
    Kezzie62 Member Posts: 189
    edited March 2011

    I have 2 post surgical chamisols that I got on prescription and my insurance has covered them both.  They have pockets for drains and they come with soft puffy things that you can put in on each side.  I am amazed you are going back to work so soon.  My BS has said no work until all the drains are out and I have had my post op appointment...

    Good Luck

    Kezzie

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  • dawn31337
    dawn31337 Member Posts: 307
    edited March 2011

    I haven't had a bra on since my BLM, but I also had TEs put in.  Wear something loose and comfortable.  Try a jacket over that.  I got some pretty cami's for date nights.  That also helped minimize my real nipple and make it look more like my Barbie one.  You will do fine!!I

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  • CarylC
    CarylC Member Posts: 230
    edited March 2011

    I went today and got a post surgical bra that hooks up the front and has pockets, I looked at the camisoles but I liked the bra better.  It has two puffy pads that you can add or subtract fluffiness to and didn't look too too bad under my tank top, although I wouldn't wear it without adding a scarf or sweater over it.  It's just a little bit "bumpier" than natural.

    I'll probably wear it to work but I'm comfortable being flat around the house and out shopping and for dinner, etc. 

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  • sespebadger
    sespebadger Member Posts: 249
    edited March 2011

    Hi CarylC,

    I hope you are doing well and taking good care of yourself. I felt pretty good soon after my BMX but there is a lot of healing that needs to go on, so rest is important. I wear sports bras I get at Target. They come in all sorts of pretty colors and you can get them with wide straps or thin straps. I use microbead forms inside them. I am 8 months past surgery and I still haven't gone for silicon prosthesis fitting.....maybe someday! 

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