No reconstruction- Happy w/your decision?

Hi FLwarrior,

To get an idea of what's out there in the way of breast forms (prostheses), you might want to take a look at my non-profit website, BreastFree.org. While fitters can be wonderful (I, too, have found some nice ones at Lady Grace, which is a lingerie chain in the Boston area), they tend to try to sell you what they have in stock and can be resistant to novel solutions.

Many women here on these boards have found non-silicone breast forms to be more comfortable for everyday use and/or like ultra-lightweight silicone forms, like the Silique Comfort-Lite, which doesn't seem to be sold yet in many retail shops. If you go to the "Breast Forms" section at BreastFree.org, you will find recommendations for breast forms that I and many other women have found comfortable and attractive (with links to photos and further information). There's also a "Bras and Camisoles" section, where I recommend attractive, comfortable bras, again based on feedback from many other women in addition to my own experience. It might be helpful to look at the range of your options before heading for your first fitting, so you'll have an idea of what's out there.

It can be overwhelming at first trying to find what works. I've come to feel that adjusting to non-reconstruction is a process, requiring a bit of trial and error. Don't hesitate to return your breast forms or bras if you find, once you're back home, that they're not comfortable or that they seem too big or too small. Check about the return policy before you purchase. At Lady Grace, where I got my first forms, they had a 30-day return policy, which I did take advantage of! Once I got home, I realized the breast forms I'd purchased were larger than I wanted. They may have been what the fitter thought I should be wearing, but they didn't feel right to me. It was great to be able to return them and pick out a size that felt more comfortable.

Barbara 

My decision was based on the fact that a.) radiation had already compromised my skin with my first round of cancer.  Elasticity of skin was ruined by the 33 rounds of rads. b.) I thot it seemed weird at my age,57, to need the ego boost for the price. "i am my insurance company".  c.) like others said  I didn't want to be at risk with another surgery and recovery time.  I'd had enuf infection with the drains.  Two years later in all honesty, I still struggle with self acceptance naked in front of a mirror. Guess I'll never be the "proud of my scars" type.  and we are all different.  I had no idea that this surgery decision which was easy to make at the time, would start to haunt me so far out from surgery.  But everything is back to normal.  except my body's appearence. I found a really good landsend swimsuit.  I have a variety of prosthesis. $23.00 to $150.00  I prefer patterned tops in case I'm not flying level!!  I'd describe myself as outdoorsy, active, very modest/discreet, outgoing and positive.  Hope this info encourages someone struggling in this area.  Embrace the struggle; admit it and pray for contentment.  arby   

arby, that's sad. My body is a mess from various surgeries over the years, so I've always hated myself naked. I don't look for too long.... But it must be tough for those of you who wear prothesis' during the day and then you're flat again at night. Kind of like a switch. I remember when I got my hearing aids. I HATED when I took them off at night and it was so quiet!! I hated the on/off so much that I only stood them for a couple of years.

I'm flat all the time and very happy with my physique. I HATED my big breasts!

Norma June,

So happy for you!!!!!  Thanks for letting us know!

Dawn 

sam, it was about 10 days. You don't realize how much chest muscles you use to look behind you backing up and changing lanes. Try it out on your driveway first to make sure you can handle it!!

Norma Jean!!!! You GO girlfriend!!!! Here's to a boring recovery with no drama!! Congrats, sister!

FLwarrior, what part of FL are you in?  I am in Panama City and that looks amazingly like the beaches here!  I am also and ILC girl.  Ooops.  Nope.  I used to have ILC!

Susan

Thanks everyone for your feed back on when being able to drive. I will be having to go to Miami from Cayman Islands for my operation, and I will be there alone, so was wondering if I should rent a car while there. I will just wait and see how I feel after the operation.

I am 9 days out from surgery, UMX, and I have not driven yet.  I have a 5 speed which will make it a little tricky.  My mom is still here, so she is driving me. 

Hello all, haven't visited for a while. Hope you are all well and on the recovery road...I am feeling GREAT!! Had drains out day 6, driving since day 8. hardly any pain and great ROM. Having fun buying new clothes to suit my new flat look. I haven't felt this good all year; my only consistent worry is about our continuing earthquakes!! Still scary....

Hi Rowan47,

Nice to hear from you and really glad you're doing so well. What type of clothes are you finding best to suit your flat look? 

I hadn't realized that you're continuing to have earthquakes. My sister was in Christchurch not long before the big one and told me what a lovely city it is. I felt so sad about the injuries and damage caused by the (first) quake. It's typical of the media that once the big story is over, there's little follow-up, so the subsequent earthquakes haven't really been covered in the U.S.

Barbara

Barbe, Barbara and RiverRat, thank you for your supportive comments. This is my favourite thread, full of positive and happy thoughts. You have all been so helpful, especially Barbara's website. I have been so comfortable with my decision, and am going from strength to strength. I am "re-inventing" myself, style wise. I am finding lacy, pocketed and ruffled type tops are just great. I am 5ft7inches and clothes hang nicely...yes, we are still having earthquakes one year on. Since our first big one (M7.1) we have had 8,552 aftershocks....I know!!! Everyone is still jumpy, but nothing under a M5 really gets our attention now, lol. My next decision is re whether I start Tamoxifen. I don't like the idea of compromising my liver! Any thoughts?? Hope you are all well.  

I was on Tamoxifen for five years and did well on it. I think I decided to do all in my power to try to prevent a recurrence. It is definitely an individual decision but I am glad I did do it.

3 weeks out from PMX and still feeling sore. The 2nd drain came out after 2 weeks - at my insistence so I could go on vacation. The highlight - dinner with some BCO gals in NJ, including Chrissy on her 1st stop on her US tour. The drain probably came out too soon. I have some fluid accumulation, which, I think, is part of the reason I'm still sore. I have a BS appointment 1st thing tomorrow. Hopefully aspirating the fluid will make me more comfortable. Meanwhile, back to wearing the damn binder. I truly hate this thing. Other than the soreness, I'm loving my new flat look.

I had my BMX on Aug 8 and had drains removed at Day 8.I have been back to the surgeon 6 times to be drained. She removed 26cc from 1 side and 38 from the other on Friday . It is slowly coming down in volume. She said until I am under 10cc I will have to keep coming back. I am a nervous wreck about it because no one else on my surgery thread has had to do this but maybe once.BS said she doesn't want it to build up-that is why I am going twice a week. She said it isn't abnormal but still haven't seen anyone else post about it.

  It is pushing back the start of my Rads-and my return to work.

I was thinking truncal LE as well. The regular masseuse wouldn't know how to massage AWAY from the lymph nodes properly. In fact, she would go torwards them to drain your lymphs. You need to be seen by a PT that is trained in LE.

lilylady, it sounds like your drains came out too soon! Your doc should be giving your body a chance to learn to absorb the excess fluid. Going twice a week is pretty extreme in my opinion. But that's all it is, my opinion!

kmpod, your next surgery may not present any problems at all! I had one great side and one poo-poo side.