Boredom and bras...

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toria1212
toria1212 Member Posts: 136
edited April 2020 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

My lumpectomy surgery is tentatively scheduled for May 11(I say tentative due to the covid19, which has ramped up here in Michigan) and I am wide awake early and wondering what bras you suggest for post-op? I am fortunate to work for the schools, so post-surgery, I will be at home for the summer and will have a nice, long amount of time to rest and recover and heal. I had a reduction/lift four years ago, and honestly I think I wore soft pullover wireless type bras at home for awhile? I cannot remember. I do know that my breasts were sore and tender for a long time, so I anticipate the lumpectomy(my BC area is 5mm and at 6o'clock position) to not be any worse than that. But bras? What suggestions do you have for comfortable bras to wear? Must they be front open? Is pullover style too hard to get off and on? Thank you all! I feel blessed to have found y'all xx

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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited April 2020

    Lumpectomy is a very easy surgery with a quick recovery—like a day or two. It will probably be recommended that you wear a bra all day and night for up to a week, but that’s really only to keep things from flopping around too much. I wore old exercise bras, preferably a little stretched out. I kept up with it for 4-5 days but then it started to drive me nuts so I stopped wearing them at night. I did really like those little re-freezable pads you can slip in your bra over your incision. I had one excisional biopsy years ago at around 6:00 and I think that was a little more painful than the others because it had the full weight of the breast on it. It’ll help if you can stay off your feet for a day or two. After one of my surgeries I tried front-open bras but found them more difficult to cope with than ones that went over my head. And if you’re doing rads, I’d recommend trying to use what you already have around the house. They will likely get stained from the markings. Better to treat yourself to some new undies after you’re finished. :-) Sorry if this sounds rambling. I need more caffeine

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  • toria1212
    toria1212 Member Posts: 136
    edited April 2020

    Thank you ingerp,

    I am not a coffee girl persay(more tea and now green tea-which I don't love :( but this past winter, I really fell for coffee. A cup each morning, but I gave it up for Lent, so I have another week to go...

    I appreciate the bra insight-and makes sense where location of surgery will be may be a tad more painful. My breast lift certainly was! I am liking bras less and less and I don't know why-just feel uncomfortable and I don't typically even wear wires anymore. I just know I want to be comfy.

    Thank you for your insight-I hope you are doing well. I'm beginning anastrozole (sp?) next week and have decided to not look at another thing as I was an anxious mess over the SE. xx

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited April 2020

    toria - Will your doc send you home in a surgery bra? Most docs are very particular what they want their patients to wear so do ask your doc. Maybe to start get a couple of front clasp bras from Wal Mart - like fruit of the loom. Do a search for the Bras 101 thread. Lots of good ideas.

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  • flashlight
    flashlight Member Posts: 698
    edited April 2020

    Hi toria1212, https://www.shapewearusa.com/collections/post-surgical/products/clearpoint-medical-cotton-comfort-bra. You get 2 of these cotton bras in a package and they lasted me through radiation. (Clearpoint Medical Cotton Comfort bra) Very comfortable. I couldn't put a sports bra on that I had to pull over my head. I found it easy to put on and off for radiation. Good luck to you. Like Ingerp said those freezable gel packs are your friend! They have them on Amazon and Esty.

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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited April 2020

    I was sent home with a couple of the freezer packs. Toria—take it easy for a few days post-surgery and you will be fine. :-)

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  • AliceBastable
    AliceBastable Member Posts: 3,461
    edited April 2020

    I got zip-front sports bras from Wallymart before my lumpectomy. I think the brand is Danskin. They have a firm-ish foam under cup which I liked because it gave me protection from bumps and dog paws. I could also slip the ice disc between the foam and fabric against my boob. When I wasn't icing, I'd put a soft rolled-up child's sock inside the bra. It gave gentle pressure against the incision area. I wore the bra and sock 24/7 for three weeks. My surgeon was surprised that I had no swelling or bruising.

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  • toria1212
    toria1212 Member Posts: 136
    edited April 2020

    Thank you everyone,

    I really appreciate your input and suggestions. This is all so new to me and because I have a few weeks or more, I want to prep now for my surgery. Thinking about covid day and night, honestly I hope I am not in denial about my BC diagnosis, but I am spending my energy trying to keep the family fed and afloat.

    Great ideas and I am so grateful for each of you. xx

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  • Mouse57
    Mouse57 Member Posts: 51
    edited April 2020

    I had no trouble getting on a stretchy cotton bra over my head. I had one sentinel lymph node removed and could raise that arm over my head right after surgery but was able to work around that arm to get it on. With prescribed stretching exercises it wasn’t that long til I could lift my arm.

    Right after surgery I had a compression bra that they had given me which opened in front. Ihad bought a couple cotton open in front ones but they weren’t as comfortable as the over the head ones which have a racer back and are more supportive. Having something soft and which prevents skin to skin contact is important during radiation. I used cotton gauze to provide interboob separation.

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  • OnlyGirlof5
    OnlyGirlof5 Member Posts: 78
    edited April 2020

    Hi Toria,

    I don't have advice particular to lumpectomy comfort post surgery. I just noticed you said you live in Michigan.

    Me too. This COVID thing is driving me bonkers with all the cancellations and delay in treatment. It's already stressful enough to cope with BC, but then indefinite delays. Ugh!

    Who's your surgeon?


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  • toria1212
    toria1212 Member Posts: 136
    edited April 2020

    OnlyGIrlof5,

    My surgeon is Dr. K in Novi at St. John Providence. She's amazing-also affiliated with Beaumont Breast Center. How are you? I am going to begin my AI tonight, feeling awfully sluggish today though and this up and down weather is no prize! We need SUN and fresh air, not overcast and chilly, damp days...ugh

    The covid19 is so BIG I often forget about my BC...so strange.. So hopeful that my surgery in May will go on, and not be delayed, but Michy's numbers for the virus are high and still climbing....Fill me in on YOU today....

    I have been walking, yesterday was tennis with my adult son, so I am thankful for those opportunities to MOVE. Keeping a houseful of six clean? Um, I've reprioritized lol

    xx

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