Climate-control Prothesis
Comments
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I'm considering getting a prothesis with a climate control backing. I currently have an Airway form, which is a good match. However, even during the winter the pocket fabric on my mast bra gets damp. So does the cover when I wear it in a regular bra. So I know summer is going to be a big issue for me, as I'm quite a sweater!
I know Erica really likes the Airway form that has the backing. Does anyone have the Amoena form with the removable pads, and how do you like it? I was wondering if that might be easier to clean since you can remove the pad, plus you can get spares. I'm sure I'm going to soak through the pads pretty quick, so it would be nice to have something you don't have to wait for it to dry out before you wear it again. Since the Airway form backing is permanent, I would be afraid that the backing wouldn't dry out before I wore it again. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
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I tried the Amoena Climate Control form. For me, the backing was a bit uncomfortable, not as soft and smooth as the Airway. And I didn't love the shape of the form. But I've seen posts by a number of women on this board who love the Amoena. It's certainly worth checking out at a fitter's.
Regarding washing the Airway, I wash it just as I would wash a regular silicone form, then I pat it dry and put it in its cradle (front down). This allows the microfiber back to air dry. I always do this at night and it's always been dry by morning, so I'm not sure exactly how long the microfiber takes to dry. I agree that this is a slight drawback--you can't just wash it and pop it right back into your bra. Perhaps it could be dried more quickly with a hairdryer set on a cool setting. To be honest, I usually don't perspire at all when I wear the Airway (unless it's very hot out and/or I'm exercising), so I don't wash it every time I wear it.
Barbara
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Check out the sports prosthesis at:
http://www.janacsportwear.ca/index.htm
I've had one for 4 1/2 years - still like new. I haven't worn it for dress - however they say it is interchangeable.
J.
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sunshine,
I checked out the janac website--very interesting. I wasn't aware of these products. Can you describe the prosthesis a little more. Do you think I could wear it in a regular bra or a mastectomy bra? Do they run true to size? Are they lightweight? I'd love to hear more! Thanks.
Barbara
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Wow! Mast sport bras! Looks very promising! Thanks for telling us about Janac Sportwear. I'd also like to find out more.
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Me too!
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I went on-line and ordered one of the sports bras. Bit pricey for us weak US dollar-based consumers but it looks good. I didn't order one of the prostheses. Thought I'd see if one of my forms works in the sports bra.
Will let you guys know how it works out.
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Dear Sunshine,
Do you think the been-a-boob can fit into regular bra? I normally don't wear sportsbra and wearing normal dress with lower cut than sportsbra. I was wondering if it will work still. Does the material inside drop a bit while wearing to more similar to a breast shape, or it stay put? Thank you for helping out.
Also, any lady knows how long will it take after mastectomy can I start wearing any bra and prothesis. Is it really a pain to find one that will work?
Betty
Betty
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I'll be anxious to hear what you think about them.
I have two mast. sports bras that I am happy with. Anita makes one and I also have one that says Naturwear. The Naturwear is my favorite since it is gray. Anita only comes in white.
Also, Betty, I think it was about 4-6 weeks before I got a regular prosthetic. I wore the fiberfill stuff with the camisole for a few weeks. I healed pretty quickly but I think I remember my fitter suggesting we wait at least 4 weeks.
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Hi - sorry to be long in getting back.
The prosthesis is just as it looks on the website -mine looks the same 4 years later. It's covered in "dry-fit" fabric - so doesn't soak of moisture. It really feel like a "beany-baby in your hand....those little plastic pellets are inside. So very flexible - squishes to shape of the sports bra. I don't ever wear it with my regular bra - but I guess you could - the "beany" shapes might show through if it was a thin fabric on the bra - and clothing.
My regular prosthesis caused a massive blister while running last summer - so going back to this one.
J>
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I have the Amoena Climate Control and LOVE it! I got it for summer, but wear it all the time. I was miserable every summer until I got it. I have the extra pads and you can carry one in your purse if you need to change it out during the day.
~elaine~
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I, too have the Amoena Climate Control, but I still sweated with it. The removable pads are great and I took them into the shower at night and washed them while I took a shower. They dry overnight and are ready to go the next day.
Before my recent TRAM flap, which unfortunately failed, I gave my camisoles to a woman I work with for her cousin who's been recently diagnosed. I'm now going "commando" until my chest heals and I can wear my prosthesis again. Good thing it's winter and I wear bulky clothes!
Linda
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Some really good feedback here, ladies. I'm tempted to get a "been-a-boob" for exercise. I'm not very big (large A/small
, so I don't need a sports bra with a lot of support. If I did, the Janac sounds great, especially if you want to wear it without a shirt over it, but I think it'd be overkill for me! If I was young and sveldt, it would be great by itself, but at 55 I don't want to subject people to that!
Another issue I have to always consider is my port. As I'm stage IV, the port is permanent. So many sports and regular bras (especially the mast bras) have straps that rub and irritate it. Almost all the sports bras I've seen have straps that would go over the port.
I actually found a decent sports bra that you could even wear with regular clothes. It's a Lily of France and has molded cups, so the been-a-boob wouldn't show through, and the straps don't rub my port. My outdoor exercise consists of walking and horseback riding, so I do need something that's comfortable and won't add to me sweating - don't need any help in that department!
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I was just told yesterday that Amoena is coming out with a new prosthesis. At the back, there is a clear gel (from the Nasa) that always stays cool. I rubbed the form in my hands for a while. The front part warmed up, but the gel part which would be against the body, stayed coll.
They should be out soon! I just wanted to let you know, in case somebody wants to wait for those.
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That sounds fabulous!! Do you know what it will be called? Please let us know when it comes out. Currently, I wear an Airway Tritex Triangle, which is a silicone form with a microfiber back that keeps me quite cool. I can and do wear the Tritex with unpocketed bras. Do you think this new form would work against the skin without a pocketed bra?
Barbara
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I'd be very interested! I've been sweating during the winter even with the form in a cover, let alone a pocket. I don't think my skin likes silicone! My insurance won't cover it, but it would be well worth the investment just for everyday wear. For exercise, I could get by with a fiber-fill form, but not so much for every-day wear.
Glad someone came out with something that would actually be cool while wearing. My form gets quite warm after wearing it for a little while. I'm not looking forward to summer, let me tell you!
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mthomp,
You should check out the Airway Tritex. It really keeps me cool. And can be worn in an unpocketed or pocketed bra.
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As soon as I know more, i will let you know. Erica, yes, it can be directly against the skin, like any other silicone prosthesis, if you don't mind the contact of the prosthesis on you.
You probably know about the Harmony silk plus from Trulife, the prosthesis with the white part. The new form from Amoena will be like that but instead of the white stuff, you will see the clear gel. And that gel always stays cool, no matter what. The Nasa uses it in the astronaut uniforms to regulate temperature.
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pinklemon,
I actually think I may have seen this form a couple of weeks ago. I went to my fitter to look at bras and I asked her if there were any forms she had that she thought I might particularly like--I wasn't planning to buy, but doing "research" for when my insurance lets me get new ones. She brought out an Amoena form she called Natura. It felt very lightweight and had exactly the clear kind of gel you're describing. But she didn't mention anything about it staying cooler. It was a very nice form--the covering on the front of the form felt velvety and soft, different from prior Amoena forms I've tried. I looked at their website and I gather they've introduced a new kind of covering.
As for the against-the-skin aspect, I'm one of those people who can't stand the feeling of the regular silicone forms directly against my skin. For me, it causes an unpleasant sticky sensation, not to mention perspiration. That's why I spent a long time searching for a form like the Tritex, which puts microfiber on the back. But maybe the gel you're describing feels better than the regular silicone against the skin.
Again, thanks for mentioning this new form.
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I just found a press release about the new forms. I did try one on, but only for a minute, as my fitter didn't even mention the climate control benefits. They sound pretty exciting, on paper at least. It would be great to have a contact form with fewer perspiration problems. Here's the link to the press release: http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=818725
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That's exactly it, Erica!
The Narura form is different. It does have a clear gel, but it is designed to move naturally, flattens when the women lies on her back and warms up to get to the same temperature as the body. That's where the name comes from.
The Amoena comfort stays at the same temperature, no matter how hot the body gets. It is a very soft prosthesis. It can be a regular prosthesis or contact, and they have the light version of both (12% lighter), so in total, they have for different models with this new technology. I know the number for the contact one is 381 for the regular, and 380 for the light contact. I don't know the numbers for the two others. It should come out soon in the 2008 catalogue.
Hope this help.
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I forgot to mention: the Contact prosthesis can be used as a regular prosthesis too. We just have to apply a soft backing (that comes with the form) and slip it in the bra and wear it as a regular breast form.
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Thanks for the information! I'll definitely have to look into this form when it's available.
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I've just finished radiation and am ready to wear the breast forms. I tried them with a shelf cami. I was glad to feel "whole" finally and looking OK in regular clothes. When I looked in the mirror hours later however, I saw that one was about 4" higher than the other. What's the secrect to keeping them in place? Good thing I'm taking antidepressants so I could laugh about it.
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Shrink, what type of prosthesis are you wearing?
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I have silicone forms off the shelf. If the bra or cami has a pocket in it, the forms don't move too much. In a shelf cami, however, there's plenty to room to meander.
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