Any Kiwi's tired of limited choice?

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kt1966
kt1966 Member Posts: 1,326
edited June 2014 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

Hi. I have just got my funding thru to buy new bras & breast forms, but I am tired of the limited range available & of how expensive they all are!

Anyone else feel the same?

I have done a bit of surfing on the net, & bras & forms seem so much less expensive overseas. Even taking into account postage it would be nearly half price, but of course hard to try on before you buy....There also seems to be a much greater range available.

Does anyone have a better experience than I do, some shop I'm unaware of that has a better range & price here in NZ? ( I find myself getting resentful of the people who make money out of us!)

Hope there's someone 'here' who does Smile

Thanks 

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  • Racy
    Racy Member Posts: 2,651
    edited March 2012

    Hi kt1966, I'm not in your situation but just sending a greeting from across the Tasman. I hope you get some helpful answers.

    Tell me about your profile pic.

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  • kt1966
    kt1966 Member Posts: 1,326
    edited March 2012

    Thanks Racy!

    The pic is my daughters full size pony & our goat. I like to have the occasional ride too. We live on 6 acres with various animals (plus my husband & son).

    A bit of a zoo! Always plenty to do... 

    Do you have a horse? Do you ride?

    (back to the topic, I saw that bras over there are around $50- they are over $100 here & breast forms are $400-$700+....too much!) 

    (Edited for privacy considerations) 

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  • kt1966
    kt1966 Member Posts: 1,326
    edited February 2012

    Oh duh, that's probably your horse in the pic!

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  • Hils
    Hils Member Posts: 328
    edited February 2012

    Hi

    I am pretty new to all of this only diagnosed 3-4 months ago and awaiting a UMX next month as I did not clear margins the first time round. I totally agree that there seems to be very limited choice here in NZ and there seems to be lots more choice in other countries or via the Internet. But like you I would be concerned about purchasing via the Internet and receiving something that did not fit or was just rubbish! I found this store called NaturalWear and there are two stores in the Auckland area: Our store is located at 120 Symonds Street, Royal Oak (at the round-a-about, facing the red painted restaurant called "Royal Cuisine".

    We have a full range of prostheses, mastectomy bras and swimwear.

    Our hours of business are 9 - 5pm weekdays,  10 - 1pm Saturday.

    We also have a store on the North Shore at 89 Kitchener Rd, Milford, which probably would be closer for you. Website is http://www.naturalwear.co.nz/

    The only other place that I am aware of is http://www.anita.com/ which I believe has a store in Silverdale

    I also believe that if you buy a bra in Smith and Caughey they will adapt the bra for a prosthesis for FREE but I cannot confirm whether this is just wishful thinking or fact.

    Hope this info helps - but would be very happy to hear any other information

    Cheers

    Hils

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  • Racy
    Racy Member Posts: 2,651
    edited March 2012

    Kt, what's an axolotl? I'll have to look that up. Your menagerie sounds a happy one. I thought that was a goat in your picture with the horse. I have heard that horses often have goats as companions.

    I'll ask some of the Aussie ladies to pop in here to see if they can comment on any of the bras.

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  • kt1966
    kt1966 Member Posts: 1,326
    edited March 2012

    Thanks Hils. I have tried there but it seems there is so much more available in other countries.

    Racy, yeah the pony hangs out with the goats & the sheep a lot of the time. The axolotl is a bizaare looking thing, lives in a fish tank. My daughter brought him home from school & begged to keep him- I said ok so long as I don't have to do anything for him Tongue out

    I don't follow racing. Isn't there some horse we Kiwi's & you Aussie's both claim?! Pharlap?? No hard feelings anyway! Wink

    Cheers for your help

    (edited for privacy considerations) 

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  • kt1966
    kt1966 Member Posts: 1,326
    edited February 2012

    Oh, and Hils. I hope all goes well for your UMX. Sorry your joining the 'club'...

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  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 2,112
    edited February 2012

    kt I'm another from across the Tasman.  I have found that Ahhh bras are very comfortable, and quite cheap.  Do you have Target in NZ?  If so - check out their bras - they have some that are similar to the Ahhh bras and only around $15 - that's Aussie dollars though - so probably a bit more expensive for you.

    If you would like to join the Australian Sisters group - have a look under the Chemo board - we have a thread running and have a few NZ ladies on there.

    Hils - hope you do ok with your surgery, this whole business just sucks.

    Trish

    xoxo

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  • jezza
    jezza Member Posts: 698
    edited February 2012

    Hi Kiwis!

    There are a lot of New Zealand ladies on the Aussie Breast Cancer Forum so it may pay you to post your questions there if you don't have much more response here.

    Its good that you get funding but as you say its still very expensive. I know most girls are thrilled when they get properly fitted bras and breast forms so I hope you can get what you want at a reasonable price.

    jezza

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  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 2,112
    edited February 2012

    I meant to add I wear an Amoena prosthesis - I don't know if they have any stores in NZ, but the website to check for their stores is here: http://www.amoena.com/au/StoreLocator/

    I couldn't look for one in NZ - it only lets me look for one in Australia.  Sometimes these computers are too darn clever! 

    Trish

    xoxo

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  • KiwiMum
    KiwiMum Member Posts: 704
    edited February 2012

    Hi kt. I totally agree. The choice here is limited and expensive!



    I have bought quite a few things online. With my original funding I went to Naturalwear in Royal Oak and got a prosthesis and 2 bras. Since then I've bought the same brand, Amoena, online for better choice, size and value.



    I also wanted a swim form and got one sent from the UK for half the NZ price, including postage. It is WRONG that we are being charged so much!!



    Nice to "meet" you fellow NZ and Oz ladies.

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  • kt1966
    kt1966 Member Posts: 1,326
    edited February 2012

    Thanks so much for all your replies! Some great suggestions Smile

    It is great we get funding, but it doesn't go far when the prices are as they are.

    I wear Amoena too & find it to be quite good. Trisha do you get pockets put in off the shelf regular bras? I think on-line shopping these days opens a whole new lot of choice & I may explore it, good to know you've had success there KiwiMum.

    I agree really nice to 'meet' you fellow Kiwis & Aussies.

    Night, night, I'm off to bed... 

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  • galena_79
    galena_79 Member Posts: 107
    edited February 2012

    I live in Christchurch.  My breastcare nurse showed me a good quality foob about a month ago, and it seemed really good.

    I was happy to hear that I can go to my usual bra shop (The Fitting Room, which used to be called UFitIn) to get measured up for one.  They have always done a good job with fitting me, and have my shopping history so I'm sure I'll like the results.  I will make an appointment with them in the next few weeks.

    I'm not sure how much funding we get from the govt for bras and breast forms.  I usually spend around $100 for a bra, but I don't know how much a foob costs.  I hope the funding will cover one good foob and one bra for me.  And then I might see if I can get a pocket sewn into my old bras.

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  • kt1966
    kt1966 Member Posts: 1,326
    edited February 2012

    Hi galena. It is nice to hear from another kiwi.

    The funding is around $600 so you should be able to get a good breast form & bra. I just hate how we pay more than anyone else for them tho. It seems unfair.

    Just watch it if you are going on tamoxifen! I bought my first foob before I started tamox, then after I had been on it for a bit my remaining boob got smaller & I had to get another foob or be lopsided!

    Just another fun fact about dealing with BC Smile 

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  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 2,112
    edited February 2012

    I got my foob about 14 months ago, and it was around $420 (Aussie dollars) and I got $400 back from Medicare for it.  So we get less than you guys.  Of course, I'm not sure how much a foob costs over there lol

    Kt - I don't use pockets at all, just tuck the foob into the cup.  Even with mastectomy bras that have the pockets in them, I don't use them. 

    Trish

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  • kt1966
    kt1966 Member Posts: 1,326
    edited February 2012

    Hi Trish, doesn't it get hot having the form right next to your skin? I know here in our hot humid summers I hate wearing mine- usually take it off at home.

    I saw that you can now get special designed by NASA foobs with silver coating & bumps on the back that help circulate air to keep you cooler. They are $700+ here tho! ($289 USD- which is about $345NZD in USA).

    Has anyone tried these? I wonder if they work... 

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited February 2012

    My suggestion is go to one of the stores and get properly fitted and jot down the brand and style number and then order it on line............kill two birds with one stone so to speak.......lol.......good luck!

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  • kt1966
    kt1966 Member Posts: 1,326
    edited February 2012

    Good idea Chrissy Smile

    How often do you get funding in Aus?

    I might ring up & see if I can get reimbursed if I order on-line. 

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  • Hils
    Hils Member Posts: 328
    edited February 2012

    Hi Everyone

    Some great links that I had not heard of before and I agree with chrissyb with her idea of trying and then seeing where to get the purchase price is probably a much better way to go. I cannot see that the $600 for four years will go very far as I really would like a swim foob as well as a regular one. But will have to see what I can afford and how I feel.

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  • kt1966
    kt1966 Member Posts: 1,326
    edited February 2012

    Yay, thanks everyone I think we are getting some great ideas

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  • Hils
    Hils Member Posts: 328
    edited February 2012

    Found another supplier in NZ that supplies the following products by

    Amoena; Trulife and Silima

    This link will take you to the main prroduct sites as well

    http://univexindustries.co.nz/breastcare.html

    You would need to contact them directly to find out if they have a showroom in NZ so that you can have a test run or just go to see what is available

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited February 2012

    KT sorry I didn't answer your question but I've just checked back in.  We get funding every two years to the value of $400 per prosthetic so if you need two, it is $800. Bras we have to cover ourselves.  Lymphodema garments are not funded at all by the government but if you have private health cover at a certain level they cover two garments per year.  If I order on line, as long as I have an official receipt I can still claim.  Hope it's the same or similar for you.

    Love n hugs.  Chrissy

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  • kt1966
    kt1966 Member Posts: 1,326
    edited February 2012

    Thanks Hils I will look at that site in a mo. I emailed a UK based company to see if they ship to NZ but they didn't. I'll try some more soon.

    I am determined to get good value! 

    Chrissy, thanks for checking back. We get $600 every 4 years. We can get bras with it but not LE garments. I will ring our provider & see what I need to do, its hopefully like in Aus.

    Have a nice day all- looks like its gonna be nice & sunny here Smile 

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  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 2,112
    edited February 2012

    Make the most of your sun kt - it's rain, rain, rain here in the south east of Oz - and that means it'll find its way to you in a couple of days lol. 

    Here in Canberra we are looking at 100mm over the next day or so apparently!
    Trish

    Edited coz I can't spell!

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  • kt1966
    kt1966 Member Posts: 1,326
    edited February 2012

    Oh yay! Thanks for the heads-up Trisha-Anne. We've had such a horrible summer, a non-summer...

    On the foob front I've found 2 sites overseas so far that deliver to NZ- one in the USA & one in GB.

    So now I'll just see how my ultrasound on Friday goes and order a new form & a bra or 4! Should be able to get as much as that because of the cheaper prices over there Smile

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  • Hils
    Hils Member Posts: 328
    edited February 2012

    Hi Kt1966

    Are you able to tell us the sites that will deliver to NZ? How does this work with the $600 grant or do we have to purchase here in NZ first and then for anything we are purchasing can we go overseas. Sorry for being so dumb - long day at work Embarassed

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  • kt1966
    kt1966 Member Posts: 1,326
    edited February 2012

    Hi Hils, hope you have had a chance to sit down, relax & recover after work...

    I haven't rung healthpac about funding but I think I read somewhere that if you have the receipt they'll refund you. I'll call them when I have the chance!

    The websites, I will PM you with them, I think if I can figure out how, never PM'd before. I'm a bit of a technophobe Undecided 

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  • Wren44
    Wren44 Member Posts: 8,585
    edited February 2012

    Apologizing for jumping in when I'm not in NZ or Aus. If anyone sews, there is a website called mastectomysolutions.com. She has very clear instructions about how to sew a pocket in a regular bra, convert a camisole, and make a foob filled with microbeads. The microbeads are extremely light and reportedly cool in hot weather. 

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  • kt1966
    kt1966 Member Posts: 1,326
    edited February 2012

    Thanks Wren! Anyone's welcome to jump in- all good ideas gratefully accepted Smile

    I will have a look at that because I quite like the idea of having 'normal' bras.

    Don't know if my sewing will be up to it tho! 

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  • Moiralf
    Moiralf Member Posts: 1,056
    edited February 2012

    Hi everyone,

    I'm a kiwi too and thought I would chip in with my experiences.

    Got my first foob four years ago and am just about ready to get my new one. Bought the mastectomy bras the first time but yeah they are over $100.00 each and I thought they were not very attractive. After a couple of years I thought I would experiment with ordinary bras. One of my best buys was a maternity bra. It had an insert to hold the breast while the cup was down for feeding and funnily enough it was good at holding the foob in place. Made me smile with the weirdness of life. It was sexy black with red bows so was much nicer than white/black tent bras.

    My problem has been that my own breast has grown at lest one size bigger(thankyou menopause and femara) Wonderful to finally have a decent bust size but great, only on one side. Had to pack the foob with padding to even out the size. Geez, I'm a bit old to be padding my bust and not even to impress the boys.

    I will definitely look around at other options and adapt other bras when I get my new and bigger bust.

    For me, I would rather try on any bra before buying it but if it was exactly like one I had tried on then that would be OK to get another one off the net.

    Moira

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