Post Surgery Bras/Camis and other thoughts

My bs wrote a script for a Cami. Took it to a place that fitted me, then insurance paid 100%. Had pockets for foobs, and drains.

Melgirl - yay on the Her2-!

I woke up from my BMX swathed in the biggest ACE bandage I had ever seen in my life. (My PS didn't use any adhesives on me... just Xeriform, bandages, and a wrap.) My drains were pinned to the ACE bandage.

I'd bought one of those fancy mastectomy camis with the drain pouches, and never wore it, for at least a month. I just pinned my drains to my wrap with diaper pins after I got home. And by the time I got a new wrap, the drains were out.

I also had expanders, and lots of "slithery" camis that I loved, because they not only fit tight and felt supportive, but they didn't catch or rub on my pajama tops when I was in bed.

Wishing you the best!

They put me in a MX bra right before the surgery. Maybe they took it off right before. A bit of a blur. I know they gave me one though. I wish I had asked about insurance coverage for addf'l ones. It was a pain to wash and wait for it to dry. My old bras were all old VS underwire. I tried to buy some online but they were too big. And so hard to measure oneself.

Good luck!

If you don't need a surgical bra (and you are going to have TEs inserted for reconstruction) a lot of us wore Genie bras. You can get them at places like Target, Walgreens, and Walmart, and they are two for $19.99. You can step into them and pull them up. I threw away the stupid plastic inserts because they were useless. But the bra fit me from BMX all the way through my last fills, and I still wear them today.

Also, zip front sports bras are very popular. Lots of support, stretchy cups, and easy to get on.

Mine were from JCPenney, but I don't think they make them any more.

I was allergic to the compression bra too. I had to wear it four weeks. I cut a mans soft tee down the middle and wore it over the dressings but under the bra. Ahhhhh sweet relief.

I got a post-surgical camisole and lived it. I ordered a second in fact. It took three weeks for the last drain to be pulled so I was I those campus forever. I have them for after my DIEP too!

Exchange was yesterday. I'm doing great compared to BMX. Pain is tolerable. They put me in a tight compression bra...no Velcro...just the hook and eye closure in front and top of straps. The bottom band is right on top of where the drains exit my sides. For some reason the right side drain exit site is much more sore than the left side.....after BMX it was the left side that was super tender....who knows why. Oh, and my incisions are inframammary so that complicates things.

Anyway, I'm stuck in this for at least 10 more days with the drains. They put it on me while I was under anesthesia so I don't know the brand or size, and I only have the one. I'm allowed to take it off for shower but I'm not allowed to shower in my Flint water per my PS. Anybody have suggestions for brand of compression bra? I'm almost afraid to take it off to look for a size tag....might not be easy to get it back on LOL. But, I can't wear this thing for 11 days and show up at the PS appt with a stinky dirty bra. I want to order a few of them cause I'm not allowed to do laundry for a month or so which means DH is ruining...oops I mean doing my laundry. LOL.

Suggestions for stores or brand names I can buy online? Here in Flint I can't find any store that carries anything close to a postop compression bra. Closest store is a Nordstroms in Novi about 45 minutes to an hour away....and no driving for me which would mean taking my DH to a lingere store with his form of humor.... In 35 years of marriage I've taken him into a lingere store exactly twice...hard to shop when you are dying of embarrassment LOL.

Any suggestions welcome....I need to buy some extra bras ASAP.

Hi,

I did get a script for post mast camisoles from the surgeon’s nurse. I was glad she mentioned it as I would not have known to ask for a script. Turned out my insurance covered two so I went to the boutique located in the cancer center and got two. I could have gone elsewhere and “shopped around” but at that point I wanted what was easy. The choices were limited as were the colors but again I just wanted to not make another decision so I got what they had in the size that fit me (got to try them on) which was a small, I am normally an XS for tops, but it worked out.

Amoena 2105 is what I have. But I do have to say the band of soft fabric inside that goes around the soft cami (where you velcro the drain pockets) just happened to be where my two drains were coming out and the rubbing really bothered me even with the drain covered with gauze. It got better over time. So I wore those a few days out and now I wear them to sleep. I am nearly 4 weeks out. They are comfy.

I woke up in one of these binders (see below) and I had one at home already from my second biopsy which was at the same hospital (first was at a different hospital and they told me a sports bra sufficed). I have to say it was handy and I kept wearing it and washing it and wearing it because it was more comfy in the early days.

http://www.hightidehealth.com/expand-a-band-breast...

If you google mastectomy bras or a brand like Amoena, you’ll see a lot of choices. Also look for medical equipment stores. My insurance also provided a list of places that carry the items in my local area once I get my prosthetic and can go shopping for bras.

I just bought some built in bra tanks at Uniqlo. I am small so they work for me. I posted pics on another thread called all things bras and prosthesis.

HTH. . .

NIght OWL

Thanks for the input, ladies. When I Googled them, sooooo many came up. But, nothing beats personal experience. I'll look into both of your suggestions today.

BTW should I use my usual fabric softner or not use any since the bra does come into contact with my incisions? Incisions currently covered by papertape...but that will be removed in One week at my post-op appt.

Thanks for the help. Cyber hugs....

Jan

After contacting my insurance company who apparently can't find what # of bras they cover, if they cover them, unless I have the surgery billing code....urgh! So instead of pulling out my hair I ended up calling the Surgery Center I went to. The operator was kind enough to go back, ask the nurses, then literally bring with her back to her desk a package with the only type of compression bra they use....then she read off the brand, style #, and as she said every # she could find on the wrapper to me. Unfortunately they can't sell me one or just give me one (they are an hour away anyway).

Coincidentally, not long after that my BS office called to change the time of my 6 month follow up appt. Since I had them on the phone, I asked if they had any in the office I could get (pay for or free....at this point it doesn't matter to me) OR if they knew of a medical supply co. that carries the Marena Comfortfit brand. This is the brand I currently have on so I want exactly the same thing so I know it will fit right. Incisions are inframammary fold so I have to be careful about where the bottom band of the bra sits, so They don't get irritated. They said they would call me back.....never did but that particular office is my BS's part time office close to Flint....she's only there 4 days a month so not getting my hopes up there.

So I got a list of participating medical supply companies in my area and phone numbersl and started making phone calls. No go on 2 and left messages with 3. If I don't get call backs tomorrow morning, I'm going to order online. Problem is by buying online IF insurance does pay for it I would have to go back and fill out reimbursement forms (major pain) AND I can't even use my HSA (Health Savings Account) card which is untaxed money used for medical expenses only.

At this point I don't even care that they cost $50 a piece with $12 shipping (and that is snail slow ground shipping). I just want at least one so I can wash one and wear one, especially since I have to hand wash it in heated bottled water....no Flint water on my post op bra!

My saga continues, but at least I have a brand name, style #, and size post op compression bra to look for. I WILL succeed......"for tomorrow is another day!"

Thanks for the help y'all......