How is life with one boob?

Options
1235»

Comments

  • SoCalLisa
    SoCalLisa Member Posts: 13,961
    edited April 2017

    mine did.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited April 2017

    Hop3ful,,, it can take a while. Nerves grow back really slowly.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2017

    My uni (right) was 12 days ago and I am recovering much easier than I expected to. However, it has also been more emotionally draining than I expected it to be to go out and feel like I am comfortable with how I look vs. what is physically comfortable. I know this is just new, and I will adjust, but it's a harder adjustment than I thought it would be emotionally. Part of it could just be the fact that I am now done with all my treatment and there is a lot of processing to do - the great sigh of relief brings tears with it.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jcpriest0469n
    jcpriest0469n Member Posts: 86
    edited April 2017

    Hi to all, yes I also found recovery easier than expected. I wear a lot of sport bras and sometimes forget to put my knocker in when going to the store. Luckily it's winter and with a coat on no one can tell. I need to put a spare knitted knocker in the car.(ha ha) Sometimes I wish I would have removed both, less hassle. Put then again it might not be all that great. It's all good.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ParakeetsRule
    ParakeetsRule Member Posts: 571
    edited April 2017

    I'm probably going to join the uniboober club this year! Still on the fence about whether to chop off the good boob or not, but leaning pretty heavily towards keeping it. I haven't told this to anybody yet but I have a feeling everyone assumes I'll be doing reconstruction, but since I'm pretty small and thin there doesn't seem to be much point in doing it. I don't want an implant and from what I've been reading it sounds like I'm too thin for a DIEP and I don't want any of the muscle-related options.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BellasMomToo
    BellasMomToo Member Posts: 305
    edited April 2017

    I had my UMX 4 weeks ago. I am more concave than I expected, but I don't regret my decision. I was already pretty flat chested, so it doesn't look odd for me to only have one boob. I will get a breast prosthesis cause insurance will cover it (and two bras), although I don't know if I would actually wear it. I was happy to see Nordstrom on the list of prosthesis providers cause the other nearby (small) businesses had mixed yelp reviews. I have an appt at Nordstrom next month.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2017

    I still need to find out how to have inuance cover prosthesis and bras. Should my surgeon have given me referrals for that? I have just started using my one knitted knocker and a regular bra that I cut a hole in to make a pocket. Lol.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BellasMomToo
    BellasMomToo Member Posts: 305
    edited April 2017

    Joy: Your BS should give you a 'prescription'. Mine is entitled, "Physician's Detailed Written Order Form"

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2017

    Thank you, BellasMomTo!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • erinr28
    erinr28 Member Posts: 7
    edited April 2017

    I only had one breast removed because there was no cancer in the other breast; also before surgery the Oncogist, Radiologist and Surgeon meet with tumor board and they decide what they should do. I had the BRC1 and BRC2 tsted and it came back negative. I did not want reconstruction on the breast removed because I don't want anything fake and you constantly have to get them checked and new implants every so often and they can hide any new cancer that may come back.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited April 2017

    Joy, yes, get a "prescription". Most places that supply MX bras and prosthesis will bill your insurance for you. You just need that RX. You can get RX from any of your doctors,, does not have to be the surgeon. I've gotten my PCP to write them for me.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SusanGA
    SusanGA Member Posts: 147
    edited May 2017

    This has been such good information for me. I am in the decision process right now. I have been given all three options for my surgery. I am a young active seventy. The idea of being completely flat with no extra surgery works but I am prediabetic and control that disease with diet. That requires constant finger sticks. I am therefore very concerned about what I would do if I developed lymphedema in both arms. My surgeon is wonderful but like all of them she pooh-poohed my fears of lymphedema. Is my thinking correct? I would still have the use of my good arm without fear of lymphedema or can finger sticks contribute to truncal lymphedema? I also go to Europe at least once a year and hope to continue flying. I feel like I have become irrationallynfearful of Lymphedema but my Aunt developed it and suffers very much from it. For today I am leaning toward unilateral mastectomy with no reconstruction. I am a D cup but very thin and have lived in tee shirts and jeans since retirement. I can't imagine being able to make that work. Thanks so much ladies. This is my first post so it feels good to get connected



    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • amygil81
    amygil81 Member Posts: 165
    edited May 2017

    Susan, so sorry you had to join us, but welcome here. I have a single mastectomy, my left breast off. I have an unpleasant case of LE in my arm and hand, and it's not something that you want. I don't know what the risk is of LE for a prophylactic mastectomy, where they don't take out any nodes. I suggest you also post this query in the Lymphedema forum on this site. You will find many ladies there with lots of knowledge and experience. I'm sure you'll find the information you need to decide what's right for you.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SusanGA
    SusanGA Member Posts: 147
    edited May 2017

    Thank you Amygil81. I will go to the Lymphedema board. I'm so sorry that you are enduring that along with cancer.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Hanging_in_there
    Hanging_in_there Member Posts: 226
    edited May 2017

    A question for uniboobers. I am 2 weeks post mastectomy, so too early for a real prothesis. I have some fiberfill breast protheses that came with a camisole. I have extras. I ordered some shelf bra tank tops and was wondering the best way to attach the fiberfill form to the camisole. Right now I just have it stuck under the shelf bra but was hoping for something where the possibility of it falling out were less. I don't have enough of these forms to sew it in to each tank top. Is velcro the way to go or is there something I'm missing?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • HoneyBeaw
    HoneyBeaw Member Posts: 212
    edited May 2017

    I bought sport bras, the ones that zip up because they have pockets for the breast form to go into so they are secure and don't have to worry about them falling out . I have been wearing them since about 3 weeks after my mx and they work great , I now use the sports bras that you slip on over your head as the ones that zip up can get hot. Mx bras are just to expensive and I just cant stand wearing a bra after it get stained that it not longer pretty white , no matter how well you clean it .

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Hanging_in_there
    Hanging_in_there Member Posts: 226
    edited May 2017

    HoneyBeaw, thanks for the advice, would you mind linking to some of those bras, especially the zip up ones. I'm not able to shop, due to the driving situation, I need to find something online. I just got my Knitted Knocker today.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • HoneyBeaw
    HoneyBeaw Member Posts: 212
    edited May 2017

    Well I got mine at Walmart but I did see them on Amazon. I did not order from Amazon just because I could not figure out my size and hate having to send stuff back, Link below are the same ones I got . Just make sure they have the pockets which the breast forms will go into with no problem. Hope you find what you need .

    https://www.amazon.com/Womens-Sports-Wireless-Impact-Active/dp/B01M4RQH83/ref=cts_ap_2_vtp?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=2897711222&pf_rd_r=5Y4343ZMC35MZSQQFXPT&pd_rd_wg=VDU0x&pf_rd_s=desktop-detail-softlines&pf_rd_t=40701&pd_rd_i=B01M4RQH83&pd_rd_w=4nPnb&pf_rd_i=desktop-detail-softlines&pd_rd_r=5Y4343ZMC35MZSQQFXPT&_encoding=UTF8
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Hanging_in_there
    Hanging_in_there Member Posts: 226
    edited May 2017

    Honeybeaw thanks for the links. Do you mind looking at the size chart (S, M, L) on Amazon and see if the size you ordered is the size the Amazon site suggests? That would help me. I am 35 minutes away from the nearest Walmart and can't drive yet. I already ask friends to do a lot for me.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • HoneyBeaw
    HoneyBeaw Member Posts: 212
    edited May 2017

    They were not the same brand as what I bought at WM but same style . , I got xxl at Walmart and could not find it on the web site. If I cant get the exact same thing on line that I have bought in the store I will not buy

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Hanging_in_there
    Hanging_in_there Member Posts: 226
    edited May 2017

    Thanks HoneyB. I think I will order 1 size larger than they say I should. i don't want it tight. I sort of wish they had XXL, that would be 2 sizes bigger and that sounds even more loose and comfortable.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • HoneyBeaw
    HoneyBeaw Member Posts: 212
    edited May 2017

    I was very surprised how comfortable they really are. I would never have wore a sports bra before but now its the only thing that does not cause pain and still give you support, course Im small busted so not much support needed . I love the fact they have pockets and keep the forms from moving . I also ordered light weight breast forms off Amazon and they are great and you can go swimming in them , so much better then the heavy silicone ones the store tried to sell me at 10x the cost . I will post link below but if they don't have your size just do a amazon search for lightweight breast forms. They are several types...

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R59FXB0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


    Huggs

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Hanging_in_there
    Hanging_in_there Member Posts: 226
    edited May 2017

    Thanks for the link, I think I will order something. The big problem is that I have lost 30 lbs since I last measured my breasts (I was a 36B then), so I'm not sure how to measure missing a breast. I think I am between and A and a B now, but they don't have size 4 (A), only size 5 (B). Any suggestions on how to measure cup size without one breast?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • HoneyBeaw
    HoneyBeaw Member Posts: 212
    edited May 2017

    I was a 36-c but also lost about 40# with chemo so bought a 6 the first time not thinking about the weight loss and it was just way to big , ended up going with a 5 and they are perfect for a B cup. If you end up with a little difference you can always add a pad to the existing breast which is what I had to do. Using the pockets in the sports bras makes it easy and its not noticeable at all

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Bekadawn1
    Bekadawn1 Member Posts: 3
    edited November 2017

    I hated being uneven. Had I had the option at the beginning I would have removed both and went flat. I was lopsided for 11 months then did a stacked diep flap. I am souch happier now. It's not perfect but it is dang close.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories