Bathing suit came today

I used my new tankini for the first time on Tuesday when I went to my post-mastectomy water exercise class. Afterwards, when we were getting changed I had great trouble trying to remove the top. I had to call for assistance and two other women had to help me wrestle with it! Eventually we were able to get it off. It was a bit like skinning a rabbit!! Perhaps I should have bought a larger size...but lots of my other clothes are a size smaller than the tankini.

gb 

otter, I got  a nice front hook bra at walmart, Iloved it, then when my mom had a difib put in i got her one, so soft and easy... good luck

MB

I went onto the Nicola Jane web site and requested a catalog which came very quickly. Definitely a nice selection of swimsuits. Interesting that this kind of specialty mast store seems to do well in the UK (3 branches) but not in the US.

I just received my Janac sports bras. Also arrived very quickly. I wore one to dance class today and it was very comfortable. The pocket for the prosthesis is a little small for my regular prosthesis. I suppose that's because it's made for the Been-a-Boob that Janac sells. It's not a style that I would wear as a top but it's fine under a shirt. Also wish it came in a more cottony fabric. Overall a good product.

I just bought a regular suit and cut and sewed in an old mastectomy bra into it

I've noticed that many regular forms are now okay for swimming. Manufacturers used to recommend a special form for swimming (usually clear silicone, hollowed out in back). I guess they've improved the covering on the regular forms so they can withstand salt water and chlorine. The other benefit of the special swim forms (Amoena makes one) is that the hollowed out back allows water to drain out easily. I have a swim form but have also been swimming with my regular silicone form and both work for me. So, no, you probably don't need a special one.

Carol,

I just received a Nicola Jane catalog, but have also been looking at suits at Land's End.  I like the Nicola J. styles better and am wondering if you're happy with the suit you ordered.  Thanks!!

Hi ladies:

I had my mastectomy in August last year.  I developed a huge seroma, surgeon said it might take a year to go away.  I have no idea what it's supposed to look like, but it looks like I have a C on side and an A on the other.  I haven't been fitted for any prothesis or bras yet, because I think I should wait until the site is flatter.  Does that make sense?  I had a huge amount of swelling, much has gone away, but he said the dried blood part would take a long time.  I am done with chemo (thank goodness) and am thinking about swimming.  I have no clue what to do.  I guess I need a suit, but I want something modest, I am down to a size 18 finally.

Any good places I should look?  I guess I can use a shower puffy until I get a prothesis.  I have been using the puffy foam things I got with my surgery camisoles.  For a long time I did nothing, just decided to use one and look semi-equal.  :-)

Thanks.

Nancy

What type of bra do you have in your suit?

My suits have the cups that look like a thin layer of foam; the cups hide the bumps.

Before using, I ran my puffs through the washing machine (in a lingerie bag) and had a fabric softener in the rinse cycle. Made the puffs nice and soft.

I was on a cruise three weeks ago and had a shore excursion that included snorkeling.  I needed to wear my swimsuit.

I used the puffs instead of my silicone prostheses.  What a treat to feel weight free on my shoulders. 

I was told that I could wear my silicone prostheses in the water.

At home, I go in my pool wearing a tank suit and no forms.

Lat October I was on (another) cruise, and wore my prostheses in the ship's pool.

Since I didn't sit around in my suit after swimming, my suit wasn't dry when I returned to my cabin to changed.  I made sure I washed the prostheses off with a mild soap, rinse them and patted them dry with a towel.  They were ready to pop back into my bra when I got out of the shower.