Another bathing suit/swimming dilemma

Thanks, everyone, for all your advice. I knew I'd get help here!

Regarding bath scrunchies, I've read about them here, but just haven't seen anything in stores that wouldn't look lumpy in a suit. Is there a picture online of what you use?

Regarding the Land's End suits, although I already have an Anita and a Classique suit, I decided to try a Land's End one, too, which just arrived yesterday. It's great! It's a tankini. The front part of the tank top does come up rather high, but that means I won't have to worry about what's showing when I bend over. And my DH thought it looked really cute. I love my other two suits (which I use for pool swimming), but for my first day at the beach, I think this one will provide a bit more "protection." By the way, I actually ordered two different tankinis, both same size. One fit great, the other didn't and wasn't flattering, either. So I'll send that one back. Like everything else regarding post-mastectomy, I guess finding swimsuits involves a lot of trial and error. Also, I've heard that Sears now carries Land's End suits. I doubt they have mastectomy suits, but I guess we could try on the non-mastectomy versions and see if they fit properly.

As for swimming with my regular prosthesis, since I have an Airway that's silicone but with a microfiber back, I'm a little worried about doing that. It would probably be fine, but I don't want to take the chance with salt water. Susan, I have occasionally used my swim form in a regular bra, so using that for double-duty is a possibility.

Thanks for all your helpful comments about how to travel with forms. I tend to be an extra-careful type, so have been carefully putting the forms in their plastic nest every night. But I'll experiment with other alternatives like socks, towels, and other clothes.

Regarding my name, when I first joined the boards, after my 2003 diagnosis, I was shy about revealing my name, so chose Erica as my username. But I've long ago gotten over my shyness. My real name is Barbara.

OLB,

Where do you get the pockets that you sew into regular suits? I'm not a great sewer but think I could handle that if I had ready-made pockets to work with. I have a couple of pre-mastectomy suits that would still work for me if I could manage to sew pockets in them.

I agree about buying extra suits if you find one you like. I find I'm very insecure about having enough mastectomy stuff--I've bought more bras since my surgery than I probably did during the rest of my life (and I'm 58!). I found one I particularly like and now have four of them!

I think I'll take your advice and order a second suit of the new Land's End one I like. I already do that with shoes, as I have very hard-to-fit feet. Comes in very handy when they discontinue a style that's actually comfortable.

OLB,

I've posted a number of times on various threads about using the Amoena 126, but you're the first person I've read about here who also uses it. I got the idea from a woman I met before I had surgery. She'd had bilaterals and had tried silicone but didn't want the weight. She uses the 126's for everything. She said sometimes she just sews a pair into her bathing suit. She said the unweighted forms made her feel "free" and she was part of the reason I decided not to do recon. For me, like you, I've found that having a variety of options helps. Sometimes I like the softer feel of silicone. I also use the Still You forms, called Illusions. They are very light and soft, but only work in some of my bras.

I'm glad to hear the 126's work with unilateral mastectomy. I wasn't sure about the balance issue if you still have one breast.

Thanks for suggesting Park Mastectomy. I've actually ordered some things from that site (Janet, who runs it, is very nice), but never noticed the pockets.

I agree with you about simplifying. I have larger size silicone prostheses that I almost never wear, plus a few bras that don't fit right. Once I get over the need to have lots of "backup", I plan to donate them so someone can get use out of them.

OLB,

I haven't done that, but I have washed them in the washing machine (front loader, so no agitator). No problem there. Maybe you could soak them in very hot water as an experiment and see how it goes.

I do have backup 126's, in case of disaster. I just got back from the gym, where I walked for an hour on the treadmill, wearing my size 4 126's in a Still You bra. I worked up quite a sweat everywhere else, but my chest was nice and cool. I still feel kind of sad in the locker room, when I see other women parading around naked, but I'm getting over it. Glad to be alive and exercising!

Have a great vacation!

The woman who originally recommended the 126's to me is an avid swimmer and has been using hers to swim with for years. She said she usually buys regular bathing suits and either pins or sews the forms in. I haven't yet tried swimming with mine, but she says they're just fine. The Land's End suit I recently bought looks better with the 126's than with my silicone swim forms, so I hope to try swimming with them soon.

Sassi,

Definitely NOT hot, nothing like the silicone, just cool cotton backing on an unweighted foam form. Not as soft as silicone, of course, but I like the shape of them.

I gather you had a single mastectomy. I'm not sure how it will look with your regular breast. With bilaterals, they look quite natural and (of course) symmetrical. Which bra you use will probably make a big difference. BTW, I wear my 126's in unpocketed bras as well as pocketed ones.

I also like the other inexpensive solution I found, Still You Illusions -- http://www.parkmastectomy.com/Merchant2/...tegory_Code=SBF

They're under fifty dollars and come with an empty curved cup to use on the healthy breast so they'll match. They run a bit big.

I feel like I'm on a crusade, but I think there are solutions out there to make our lives more comfortable (even my silicone forms have a microfiber back, so I don't sweat in those, either; I've mentioned them ad nauseum on this site, so PM me if you want more info).

Thanks Mellen. I'm so glad my posts have been helpful to you. I find myself feeling quite passionate about sharing information with others in our situation. And I feel that I've learned so much from other women here.

When I first ordered the Illusions forms, shortly after my surgery last October, I ordered size B, as I'd been a 34B before surgery. They felt huge to me, though, so I decided to try size A. They feel right to me, about the same size (though different shape) as the size 4 126's. For me, the big trick with the Illusions (like with various other forms) has to find the right bra. I wear mine with a little Maidenform bralette. The Illusions provide just the slightest amount of weight, enough to keep the bralette in place. Unfortunately, Maidenform has discontinued the style. I can wear them in other bras, too, so I'm sure that with a little trial and error, you could find one that works.