3 years out BMX and still can't wear......

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KANSAS65
KANSAS65 Member Posts: 17
edited October 2015 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

My wife still can't wear much more than a camisole to feel comfortable. Flat no reconstruction. She struggles through her day at work wearing her regular shirt. When she's home on the weekends she's fine, wearing just a camisole. She is miserable, w/tightness etc.. Any suggestions? None of the Drs seem to have anyone else having these issues. We have beat the cancer, but she doesn't enjoy life as she should. Thanks, Very concerned husband

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  • December
    December Member Posts: 108
    edited October 2015

    Kansas, so sweet of you to be looking after your wife. I don't have the answers - but maybe another doctor??? If she has implants, maybe it's time to consider different implants or the "flat and free".

    Will keep her in my prayers!

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  • KANSAS65
    KANSAS65 Member Posts: 17
    edited October 2015

    Thank-you December. I edited my original post that she had no re-con, I had forgotten to add that. Best wishes and prayers to you also!

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  • Jennie93
    Jennie93 Member Posts: 1,018
    edited October 2015

    Has she been to any PT? I did PT for several months and it helped a lot with the tightness, they also showed me some things to help with the hypersensitivity, although I think mainly it was "tincture of time" that improved that part of it.




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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited March 2017

    Someone mentioned Astym Physical Therapy and said it was really helpful. I never heard about it before last week, but keeping the info in the back of my mind.

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  • dstar
    dstar Member Posts: 72
    edited October 2015

    Mosturize! I use a natural calendula cream am and pm and over that a natural diaper rash cream (Welleda?) on my skin that was blasted w/ radiation to the chest wall after my Mx. when I have to go to work and wear clothing that touches my skin. It helps with the sensitivity and chaffing by providing a barrier. I moisturize (the entire chest wall, neck, arm and back so that all the skin is supple) and then stretch as the PT told me to.

    Plus, her nerves are all messed up. Take vits b-6 and b-12 to help w/ nerve regeneration. This was the advice of my MO. The tonic of time does help too, slowly. Plus it's a difficult transition mentally and emotionally. That can make everything feel worse. It takes buckets and buckets of patience.

    You are a good man. My best to you and your wife.

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  • crystalphm
    crystalphm Member Posts: 1,138
    edited October 2015

    I have this also, 5 years out. It has gotten better where I can tolerate silk camisoles against my skin, and then something over it. (wintersilk.com)

    My doctor feels at this point my nerves wired -healed wrong during the healing process. So my body feels slight pressure and my brain thinks this is *pain*.

    I also wanted to mention I am not numb at all, most people are numb and I have full sensation, even the slightest touch I can feel.

    I also have been told by doctors no one is like me, so I feel for your wife. The cancer is gone, yet we continue to have pain and inappropriate sensations.

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  • Metta
    Metta Member Posts: 84
    edited October 2015

    Have you researched fat grafting? I've heard that the introduction of new cells can lessen pain, but I don't know much about it.

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  • dstar
    dstar Member Posts: 72
    edited October 2015

    I just reread that it has been 3 years! I am so sorry to hear that. And crystalphm that is hard. We never know what side effects cancer treatment will throw at us. It's a lot of risk.

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  • KANSAS65
    KANSAS65 Member Posts: 17
    edited October 2015

    Thanks for the input ladies. She has had PT, but it hasn't helped much. We will look into all your suggestions. This has definitely been a life changer. Again thank you, prayers and best wishes to you all!

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  • Erica3681
    Erica3681 Member Posts: 1,916
    edited October 2015

    For what it's worth, I wear a very gentle camisole with pockets, with unweighted foam breast forms -- looks totally natural and is comfortable. Maybe this is something your wife could wear with greater comfort at work The camisole is by Still You and my current favorite breast forms are TruLife Tri-featherweight foam forms. I rarely wear anything else, as this combo is so comfortable. I was just at a wedding last week and wore the camisole and forms under a dressy top! Some women here like the Amoena Valetta camisole, but I find it more binding and structured than the Still You camisole.

    Perhaps your wife would find some other helpful suggestions at my non-profit website, BreastFree.org.


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  • magiclight
    magiclight Member Posts: 8,690
    edited October 2015

    There have been so many good suggestions so far and after 3 years I bet your wife has tried quite a few. Other than the camisole (which maybe she can wear at work under her work shirt) what other remedies have you tried? Lastly, even though a doctor may not have seen others with exactly what you wife is experiencing, though I highly doubt it, there are plenty of research articles on line that you could share with them about post mastectomy pain. If the docs do not keep up with the research in their area then maybe look for a more informed md.

    As an edited postscript maybe your wife could return to myofascial release that you mentioned in an earlier post that helped her a couple of years ago.

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  • crystalphm
    crystalphm Member Posts: 1,138
    edited October 2015

    I just wanted to ditto what Erica said, that combination is the only one I can wear all day.

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  • KANSAS65
    KANSAS65 Member Posts: 17
    edited October 2015

    Thanks for more input ladies, she's looking into a lot of your ideas. Erica she was really impressed by the Breastfeed.org link you shared. She hasnt had time to read through it all yet, but feels that a lot that she has read hit nail on the head. I think it great that we have the technology to share these things to help everyone effected by this thing called cancer.

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