Tip for seat belts after surgery

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pat01
pat01 Member Posts: 1,005
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

Hi all,

 I've been lurking and reading these boards for a month now, so I thought it was time I introduced myself.  My routine mammogram showed an area of microcalcifications, and after another mammo and stereo biopsy, I was diagnosed June 1 with microinvasive DCIS ER+ PR+ HER- .  I had a partial mastectomy and sentinel node biopsy June 16, and have been recovering nicely.  I went back to work full time June 28, the day after my post surgery visit where I found out I had clean margins and lymph nodes, so my further treatment will include radiation and an aromatase inhibitor (I'm 57).

I wanted to share a small tip about seatbelts after surgery.  I had read on these boards about bringing a small pillow to keep the seat belt away from your incision.  It was my right breast that I had surgery on, so I found sitting in the passenger seat was not a problem, but once I started driving again, the seat belt was positioned right across my incision, and it was not comfortable at all.  I tried a pillow, but it just wasn't working for me.  Then I had an aha moment. Before my surgery, one of my co-workers gave me one of those plastic fundraising bracelets they sell for the 3 day relay for life.  I am just not a plastic bracelet kind of girl, so my co-worker suggested I just put it on the gear shift of my car.  As I was sitting there with the failed pillow idea, and thinking of duct tape solutions, I glanced over to my plastic bracelet.  It is perfect for adjusting where the seatbelt hits your chest.  I put it over the clasp, and adjust it to the left so that the seatbelt doesn't touch my incision.  Perfect!  My co-worker was tickled that her bracelet had such a practical use. 

I have gotten so much information from these forums, I thank you all for sharing.  However, as a word of caution to those just beginning your journey, sometimes too much information too soon is not a good thing.  I think a lot of times when people post, it is about a problem they are having that they want advice for.  When I first started reading these forums,  I was extremely emotional with my diagnosis, and I was overwhelmed with all that could go wrong, because I mostly was reading about problems.  So I stopped reading everything for a while, and just started again after my post surgery visit. Now I only look for things that are coming up next in my treatment, so I can be somewhat informed when I see all the new doctors I have, and ask appropriate questions.

The road is long in front of me, and I am grateful to all you ladies who help us on our way with your experience.  I hope I can do the same for others just beginning their journey. 

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  • redsox
    redsox Member Posts: 523
    edited July 2011

    Similar idea 

    I tried a pillow but the smallest one I had was too big.  After my lumpectomy I received a bouquet of flowers that also included a small teddy bear.  I tried the teddy bear to keep the seatbelt from binding across my breast.  The small size worked much better and the arms and legs helped keep the belt in place.  The people who sent me the flowers / bear were also delighted that I found good use for it.

    The teddy bear is still in my car (because we went through a lot together) and I sometimes use it in the summer if the seatbelt is directly on skin.

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  • agada
    agada Member Posts: 452
    edited July 2011

    OMG, what a great idea!!!!! 

    Agada

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  • suebak
    suebak Member Posts: 199
    edited July 2011

    I am trying to picture this and just can't.  I have a problem with the seatbelt touching my breast because it is burnt from rads.

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  • Daydreamernh
    Daydreamernh Member Posts: 45
    edited July 2011

    I was a bad girl and didn't wear my seat belt for a couple of weeks. Not recommending it in  any way! I just couldn't find a comfortable position for them at all. i tries all sizes of pillows and even child covers. Didn't think of a teddy bear and I had plenty of pink bears around. I live in New Hampshire ( no seat belt law for those over 18) so it wasn't any kind of legal problem. I wasn't doing too much driving, mostly local and residential speeds. Fortunately I work 6 miles from my house and all back roads. The bears would have been a great idea.

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  • pat01
    pat01 Member Posts: 1,005
    edited July 2011

    I'll try to explain the bracelt idea a little better.  By plastic bracelets, I mean the kind that was made popular by lance armstrong, the livestrong ones, but now there are lots of different organiztions using them.  Pull the seatbelt over toward where you usually snap it in.  Take the braclet and put it over the latch part - now slide the bracelet to your left over both parts of the webbing (the chest part and the lap part) - I move mine to a couple of inches to the left of my belly button.  Now latch your seatbelt.  The bracelet position moves the chest strap more to the left, so it misses your sore breast. 

    The bear idea is awesome - I tried a small pillow, but having short legs and a big tummy, the pillow was rubbing against the steering wheel.

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