Bathing Suit Problems

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samon
samon Member Posts: 100
Bathing Suit Problems

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  • samon
    samon Member Posts: 100
    edited May 2008

    I had a bilat. mast. three years ago and I really need to get a better swimming suit so I can take my kids swimming and not feel uncomfortable.  I had a very nice swim suit before bc that fit me well, so I got some pockets from the tlc catalog to sew in them.  I have tried the bath puffs and a lightweight pros. in it.  Both look great (when the suit is dry), but when I try to swim with either I get an air large air pocket that forms on my suit in the chest area that I have to push on every time my chest comes above the water. 

    I was wondering if anyone else had this happen.  Maybe it's just my suit and I need to get a real mast. swimsuit instead of my old one with sewn in pockets.  I would really like to get a suit that doesn't do this because I need to start my youngest child in swim lessons soon and for the fist sesson I will need to go in the water with him and all the other parents. We will be bobbing up an down in the water and doing water games and he will be hanging on to me so I need a suit that can handle this without the air pocket thing happening or any breast forms moving about.

    Thanks for any help you may have.

  • karenmary
    karenmary Member Posts: 31
    edited May 2008

    I really think Lands End is the place to shop for mastectomy suits (www.landsend.com).

    Good luck! 

  • samon
    samon Member Posts: 100
    edited May 2008

    Thanks for the advice about Lands End.  I was wondering...if I get a real mastectomy suit, will the air pocket thing stop happening.  Or is it the type of prosthesis that I wear in the suit?  I remember last summer when I went swimming always getting the air pocket in the front and having to use my had to push it down.  I don't want to be doing that several times during his swimming lesson. 

  • Erica3681
    Erica3681 Member Posts: 1,916
    edited May 2008

    The forms that work best for me are the silicone forms designed specifically for swimming--clear silicone with a concave back, so the water can drain out. I swim laps and have never had the problem you describe.

    Barbara

    BreastFree.org 

  • Raye99
    Raye99 Member Posts: 1,350
    edited May 2008

    Barbara - These swimming forms - can they be worn with a regular bathing suit? I cannot find any type of mastectomy suit that I like so I wear regular suits and do my best to pad up - shower scrubbies, little foam inserts, etc. But as Samon mentions, there is always the fear and self conscienceness that the forms and/or scrubbies will move around or stick out. My bandeau bathing suit top snuck down on me in Florida just a bit  - I might as well have not been even wearing a top, I was so embarrassed.

    Thanks - Raye

  • purplemb
    purplemb Member Posts: 1,542
    edited May 2008

    Ok here was my solution, I swim & hot tub frequently...so instead of the pockets, which can hold air..I sewed the scrubbie right in... doesn't move about,  can't fall out,  I just get a matching color, or a natural peach one...I wear regular suits...

    good luck

    MB

  • Erica3681
    Erica3681 Member Posts: 1,916
    edited May 2008

    Raye,

    The silicone swim forms do need a pocket--I wouldn't risk using them without one. Some regular suits might work with a pocket sewn in.

    I have a friend who does something similar to what MB suggests--she sews the Amoena Style 126 foam forms right into her suits.  I've considered doing that with a couple of my old suits that I like, but haven't tried it so far. Those forms aren't too expensive (under $40). I sometimes use them in a pocketed suit instead of the silicone ones.

    At 59, although I'm slim, I don't go for the skimpiest suits anymore, which probably makes it easier for me. Still, I must admit, of all the aspects of living breast-free, finding bathing suits and forms that work has been the most challenging. 

  • Raye99
    Raye99 Member Posts: 1,350
    edited May 2008

    Erica and MB - thanks for the tips. I will order the Amoena forms and try to sew pockets into my bathing suits.

    Erica, You are so right about the challenging aspect of the breast free woman finding the right suit. I have no problems with other clothing.

  • OLBinNJ
    OLBinNJ Member Posts: 236
    edited May 2008

    On Barbara's suggestion, I tried the Amoena 126 Leisure forms, and found them to be the best for swimming.  The silicone swim forms have the hollow back that traps air.  If you lie on your stomach or someone hugs you, you have the dreaded "boob farts" and a vacuum packed boob that then needs to pop back out.  Not the most attractive sight.  The leisure forms are light and don't stretch out the swim suit.  They do soak up water, so when you get out of the water, wrap a towel around yourself and hug.  That drains the water from the form.  They do take a while to dry, so I have a spare.  I also found that I need different sizes for different suits.  I had recon and deconstruction a year later, and am very flat/concave on one side, up to @ 2" from my colar bone.  This makes finding swimsuits rather difficult.  I found the Lands End high neck tankinis to work best for me.  I get the regular suits and sew in a pocket when they are out of the mast suits. 

  • purplemb
    purplemb Member Posts: 1,542
    edited May 2008

    Olbin..I too had 2 implant surgery and one deconstruction... but have no problems.. I did forget to say.. i revamp the bath poofy..I actually undo it and re form it ..then sew it directly into the suit... my DH says it looks pretty good and smooth.. PM me if you have any questions

    MB

  • samon
    samon Member Posts: 100
    edited May 2008

    MB,  how do you revamp the bath poofy.  I have tried to use them in my suit that I had sewn the pockets into, but it was never really smooth.  When I used mine, I cut part of the bath poofy off so I had a flat back and a rounded front, but like I said it still wasn't all that smooth in the front.  I felt like I could tell it wasn't normal looking when I looked in the mirror.  Of course, part of that is being aware of what really is in there and noone else but my hubby whould know. 

    Also, how do you sew it directly into your suit??  Does it come into contact with your skin or what.  I would think that would scratch a little.  Or do you sew it in some type of pocket?

  • purplemb
    purplemb Member Posts: 1,542
    edited May 2008

    samon... I actually buy th 94cent ones at WalMart, they are very soft... one poofy = A cup.... I carefully cut the string holding it together... then unwrap..it is a big tube.... now..make a  small ball..roll it.. kind of like making a snow ball ...lol... twist and pull into the tube.. keep rolling, I make it not so ball like but oblongish... I continue this until there is about 12" left... the twisting helps keep it in shape... now.. make a small knot...(the nipple)...lol... push this into the tube, and gather the rest,, now you can stitch it close.. this is the side on your skin... ..I will try to post a picture of the finished product... I kind of flatten it and sew the outer ring to the cup of the suit... I'll see if I can get some pictures together soon..

    PM and I can give you info...

    MB

  • lvtwoqlt
    lvtwoqlt Member Posts: 6,162
    edited May 2008

    MB, maybe you could have a class on making a poofy boob at pinkstock?

  • suemed8749
    suemed8749 Member Posts: 1,151
    edited May 2008

    I just ordered the high neck mast suit from Land's End today (want to cover up my port scar.) I'm going through reconstruction right now - but only have about 60 cc's so I'm definitely lopsided, but I don't want to invest in a prosthesis right now. So I'm definitely interested in the poofy boob! I'll try to make one, and I'll PM MB if I screw it up (this is definitely a probability since my sewing skills are minimal.)

    thanks,

    Sue

  • purplemb
    purplemb Member Posts: 1,542
    edited May 2008

    here is a picture... good luck...

  • samon
    samon Member Posts: 100
    edited May 2008

    MB - Thanks for the picture and instructions.  I will try making it next week (this week is too busy with end of school activities).  I hope I can figure it out and that it will look as great as yours does.  Thanks again!

  • Sandra56
    Sandra56 Member Posts: 9
    edited May 2008

    Hello MB,

    Thanks for your description and picture.  In order to make a bigger size, I guess you could just sew the ends of 2 or more tubes together and just keep rolling and twisting?  I bought the scrubbies at Wal-Mart about a year ago, but could never figure how to keep them from looking lumpy, your idea is great!   

  • suemed8749
    suemed8749 Member Posts: 1,151
    edited May 2008

    Thanks so much for the instructions! I just got the Lands End high neck mast suit, and I really love it. I wanted to get something to hide my port scar, and it works well. I tried it on with the poofy from the surgical camisole, and that looks fine, but I haven't tried it in the water yet, so I'll probably be trying the poofie pros.

    Sue

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2008

    OLBin, MB et all:

    I haven't tried swimming with my regular proths yet....too new with it however, I did find a couple suits i liked just recently and had pockets sewn into them. About the boob farts....lol.....will that happen with my regular silicon foob??? What is it like to swim with a regular silcon foob???

    MB....your poofies look great! I agree.....we need lessons....I am useless in figuring stuff like that out! How do they compare to silicon for swimming????

  • mthomp2020
    mthomp2020 Member Posts: 1,959
    edited June 2008

    I made a foob froom a poofie this weekend using purplemb's instructions, and it turned out pretty darn good!  As my remaining boob is an A, it worked out just right.  My biggest concern using a silicone form is that the weight would pull that side of my suit down - it does that with my bras and makes me uneven.  So the poofy foob will work out great!  I'm going to sew it in place so it can't shift.  Using her instructions is easier for me than trying to cut it to size with scissors.

  • SoCalLisa
    SoCalLisa Member Posts: 13,961
    edited June 2008

    For what it is worth..

    I am a swimmer and taught swimming for forty years

    I had a mastectomy seven years ago and bought an

    amoena tria swimform and an ameona bathing suit

    I have had zero problems and still use them both..

    Hugs all around from sunny San Diego

    SoCal 

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