Bras

katznc
katznc Member Posts: 70
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi, I'm new! Having a right mastectomy on Tuesday and not planning on reconstructiion. This whole bra thing is confusing. i bought a camisole to wear home and at first. No one has talked to how to buy and what to buy. I hear sports bras are good in the beginning I hear bras ride up so you have to have the mastectomy kind. What about weighted foam vs silcone (so expensive). I see TLC has bras and JC Penny has a catalog also but what to buy? Help please
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Comments

  • Balentine
    Balentine Member Posts: 393
    #2
    bras
    Hi Katznc,
    I also had a right mastectomy and bought a foam breast form from TLC until I was able to buy a prosthesis 6 weeks after surgery. I put the breast form in a camisole since my right side still hurts 2 months after my surgery. I wear my prosthesis with the mastectomy bra for about 2 days and then I have to go back to the foam breast form and camisole because my side starts hurting too much so I just switch back and forth. The only thing with the foam breast form is it gets tore up pretty fast from having to wash it everyday where the prosthesis is made of silicone and is easy to wash off. So camisoles have become my best friend.
    Lorrie Balentine
  • trugrit
    trugrit Member Posts: 10
    #3
    bras
    Katznc,

    Ask your nurses when you are in the hospital but don't buy any now. If the hospital has a Cami bra that has pockets on the inside you will be way ahead of the game, they are for the drains that they will send you home with, mine came with a "puff" poly fill pillow that can be added to or made smaller. Ask the nurses they will know. As for a bra after surgery skip it until you get the ok from the surgeon and they will refer you to a fitter at a pharmacy, usually a big one that handles wheelchairs and the like. I bought mine through "To Life" But the American Cancer Society in your area should be a big help. I bought two and my favorite is made by Amoena as well as my prosthesis by them also. Where are you located. If you can get into Gilda's Club there will be women that will be glad to help. Don't be afraid to ask while you are at the hospital or call the Oncology department where you will be treated, I can't say enough about my patient navigator, she is a God sent angle, I can call her and ask her anything and I do mean anything. I cried the day I got my prosthesis and bra but it was weeks after the surgery. I did wear a front closure sports bra with my puff before the "real" bra came in. I got mine at walmart if I remember (you really have to look for them but they do make them) the front closure is the only way to go at first.....it is way too hard to put one over your head trust me.. been there done that. but I did have a couple already and learned the hard way.

    best of luck,
    trugrit
  • Mama G
    Mama G Member Posts: 762
    #4
    trugrit said:

    bras
    Katznc,

    Ask your nurses when you are in the hospital but don't buy any now. If the hospital has a Cami bra that has pockets on the inside you will be way ahead of the game, they are for the drains that they will send you home with, mine came with a "puff" poly fill pillow that can be added to or made smaller. Ask the nurses they will know. As for a bra after surgery skip it until you get the ok from the surgeon and they will refer you to a fitter at a pharmacy, usually a big one that handles wheelchairs and the like. I bought mine through "To Life" But the American Cancer Society in your area should be a big help. I bought two and my favorite is made by Amoena as well as my prosthesis by them also. Where are you located. If you can get into Gilda's Club there will be women that will be glad to help. Don't be afraid to ask while you are at the hospital or call the Oncology department where you will be treated, I can't say enough about my patient navigator, she is a God sent angle, I can call her and ask her anything and I do mean anything. I cried the day I got my prosthesis and bra but it was weeks after the surgery. I did wear a front closure sports bra with my puff before the "real" bra came in. I got mine at walmart if I remember (you really have to look for them but they do make them) the front closure is the only way to go at first.....it is way too hard to put one over your head trust me.. been there done that. but I did have a couple already and learned the hard way.

    best of luck,
    trugrit

    has anyone used the "cling on" prosthesis?
    I guess it sticks to your body so you can wear your old bras. Very expensive, but I wonder if they work. Anyone try it?
  • Miss Murphy
    Miss Murphy Member Posts: 302
    #5
    Left Out!
    After reading the posts about bras and several of you had a masectomy on your right side - I feel kind of "left" out - mine was on the left side - lol!!! I had mine two years ago and didn't reconstruct. At my mamo center I had a navigator person who stayed in contact with me thru the whole process. She suggested I go to a local boutique ( I refer to it as the fake boob shop!) that has whatever women breast cancer patients need. The owner is a 14 year survivor and the insurance gal there is also. They were both so helpful and made me feel comfortable from the get go. I couldn't get fitted for a prothesis till about 6 weeks after surgery. In the meantime I made do with the fiberfill stuff inserted in the cami pockets. Plus I had some Vanity Fair bras from before that actually had a pocket and I got these forms that come in pairs and they are soft and sort of like a shell. They fit in my VF bras till I got the prothesis and the bras to go with it. In fact I still use them in my padded masectomy bras or tankini tops at the beach as sometimes the silicone prothesis contributes to hot flashes in the summer.

    I would suggest in addition to the other suggestions, you look in your yellow pages as you may be able to find a place like mine to get what you need. Also insurance should help with your prothesis and mine even pays 80% for 2 bras a year. At the time of my surgery, the insurance I had paid for 4 - such a deal!!!! It's nice if you can be fitted for a bra - I wound up with a different size than I used to wear do to a proper fitting.

    Good luck with your surgery. The only bad part for me was the drains and they were a pain. I didn't need pain meds other than OTC.
  • katznc
    katznc Member Posts: 70
    #6
    Miss Murphy said:

    Left Out!
    After reading the posts about bras and several of you had a masectomy on your right side - I feel kind of "left" out - mine was on the left side - lol!!! I had mine two years ago and didn't reconstruct. At my mamo center I had a navigator person who stayed in contact with me thru the whole process. She suggested I go to a local boutique ( I refer to it as the fake boob shop!) that has whatever women breast cancer patients need. The owner is a 14 year survivor and the insurance gal there is also. They were both so helpful and made me feel comfortable from the get go. I couldn't get fitted for a prothesis till about 6 weeks after surgery. In the meantime I made do with the fiberfill stuff inserted in the cami pockets. Plus I had some Vanity Fair bras from before that actually had a pocket and I got these forms that come in pairs and they are soft and sort of like a shell. They fit in my VF bras till I got the prothesis and the bras to go with it. In fact I still use them in my padded masectomy bras or tankini tops at the beach as sometimes the silicone prothesis contributes to hot flashes in the summer.

    I would suggest in addition to the other suggestions, you look in your yellow pages as you may be able to find a place like mine to get what you need. Also insurance should help with your prothesis and mine even pays 80% for 2 bras a year. At the time of my surgery, the insurance I had paid for 4 - such a deal!!!! It's nice if you can be fitted for a bra - I wound up with a different size than I used to wear do to a proper fitting.

    Good luck with your surgery. The only bad part for me was the drains and they were a pain. I didn't need pain meds other than OTC.

    Thanks Miss Lefty
    Thanks for the suggestions. I hope I get a navigator as it sounds like they are lifesavers. I hope I don't need pain meds either. Its nice to know that not everyone does. 6 weeks seems like the approx time. I guess I am rushing things but I will have to go back to work and I don't know how to do that without some sort of bra. the puffy things are weird but I will obviously treasure them as everyone suggests.
  • katznc
    katznc Member Posts: 70
    #7
    trugrit said:

    bras
    Katznc,

    Ask your nurses when you are in the hospital but don't buy any now. If the hospital has a Cami bra that has pockets on the inside you will be way ahead of the game, they are for the drains that they will send you home with, mine came with a "puff" poly fill pillow that can be added to or made smaller. Ask the nurses they will know. As for a bra after surgery skip it until you get the ok from the surgeon and they will refer you to a fitter at a pharmacy, usually a big one that handles wheelchairs and the like. I bought mine through "To Life" But the American Cancer Society in your area should be a big help. I bought two and my favorite is made by Amoena as well as my prosthesis by them also. Where are you located. If you can get into Gilda's Club there will be women that will be glad to help. Don't be afraid to ask while you are at the hospital or call the Oncology department where you will be treated, I can't say enough about my patient navigator, she is a God sent angle, I can call her and ask her anything and I do mean anything. I cried the day I got my prosthesis and bra but it was weeks after the surgery. I did wear a front closure sports bra with my puff before the "real" bra came in. I got mine at walmart if I remember (you really have to look for them but they do make them) the front closure is the only way to go at first.....it is way too hard to put one over your head trust me.. been there done that. but I did have a couple already and learned the hard way.

    best of luck,
    trugrit

    Thanks Trugrit
    My cami has puffs and pockets so I should be good for awhile. I never thought about asking the nurses so I will try to do that while I am there. I have been looking for a front hook sports bra, only seen the front zip one online TLC so far. I was just at Walmart yesterday stocking up on food I wish I would have thought to look there. Maybe online. With all the great advise at least with some stuff I won't have to learn the hard way. thanks so much I am writing down all the good hints.
  • katznc
    katznc Member Posts: 70
    #8
    Balentine said:

    bras
    Hi Katznc,
    I also had a right mastectomy and bought a foam breast form from TLC until I was able to buy a prosthesis 6 weeks after surgery. I put the breast form in a camisole since my right side still hurts 2 months after my surgery. I wear my prosthesis with the mastectomy bra for about 2 days and then I have to go back to the foam breast form and camisole because my side starts hurting too much so I just switch back and forth. The only thing with the foam breast form is it gets tore up pretty fast from having to wash it everyday where the prosthesis is made of silicone and is easy to wash off. So camisoles have become my best friend.
    Lorrie Balentine

    Thanks Balentine
    I am so sorry to hear you are having a struggle with the pain. I'm glad I got the cami. It looks like the foam is not that great. I was worrying about the heat and weight of the silicone. I guess I am way ahead of myself. I am worried about going back to work though. Good luck with your side hurting so much. I know everyone is different and perhaps you just need some more time. Thanks for the good advice.
  • katznc
    katznc Member Posts: 70
    #9
    Mama G said:

    has anyone used the "cling on" prosthesis?
    I guess it sticks to your body so you can wear your old bras. Very expensive, but I wonder if they work. Anyone try it?

    "cling on"
    I saw those too online. It will be interesting to hear the reports back. And then there are the bras with the foam breast in the bra..What about those ????
  • Miss Murphy
    Miss Murphy Member Posts: 302
    #10
    katznc said:

    Thanks Miss Lefty
    Thanks for the suggestions. I hope I get a navigator as it sounds like they are lifesavers. I hope I don't need pain meds either. Its nice to know that not everyone does. 6 weeks seems like the approx time. I guess I am rushing things but I will have to go back to work and I don't know how to do that without some sort of bra. the puffy things are weird but I will obviously treasure them as everyone suggests.

    More Pointers
    How long do you expect to be off work? I know my drain was in for about a week. I would guess about two to three weeks after surgery I had healed enough to be comfortable wearing my old bras with the stuffing and also those shells I told you about. You may be able to manage with some sort of tee shirt or tank underneath a blouse that you leave unbuttoned so that it fits kind of loosely for the office. Also scarfs are so popular now that I think you could use one to help too. This is kind of a bad time of the year with the weather starting to warm up. Winter is better - you can hide under sweatshirts and sweaters!!!!!! But I had my surgery in March too so had to deal with warm weather.

    Like I told you my navigator was at the mamo center and she was terrific. There was also someone at my hospital that I met with during my pre admission testing and she saw me the morning before I was discharged and went over the drill about the drain and any other questions I had. The surgeon was helpful and so were the nurses. So I hope you have that too. I read somewhere on this board I think that you can call your local cancer society and they will send someone to you who has had your same surgery and can give you advice and moral support. I was pretty clueless about the whole thing and didn't know that a lot of this kind of stuff was even available. I'll keep you in my prayers on Tuesday,katz,nc
  • KayNYC
    KayNYC Member Posts: 495 Member
    #11
    katznc said:

    Thanks Trugrit
    My cami has puffs and pockets so I should be good for awhile. I never thought about asking the nurses so I will try to do that while I am there. I have been looking for a front hook sports bra, only seen the front zip one online TLC so far. I was just at Walmart yesterday stocking up on food I wish I would have thought to look there. Maybe online. With all the great advise at least with some stuff I won't have to learn the hard way. thanks so much I am writing down all the good hints.

    front closing bras
    Hanes Place online does carry a few front closure sports bras. I just ordered another one yesterday. Just my size, as well as, JCPenney online also has front closure leisure and sports bras. I tried my local target store but they didn't have them.
    THe suggestion to ask the nurses is an excellent one. They are great resources.
    K
  • Skeezie
    Skeezie Member Posts: 586 Member
    #12
    Miss Murphy said:

    More Pointers
    How long do you expect to be off work? I know my drain was in for about a week. I would guess about two to three weeks after surgery I had healed enough to be comfortable wearing my old bras with the stuffing and also those shells I told you about. You may be able to manage with some sort of tee shirt or tank underneath a blouse that you leave unbuttoned so that it fits kind of loosely for the office. Also scarfs are so popular now that I think you could use one to help too. This is kind of a bad time of the year with the weather starting to warm up. Winter is better - you can hide under sweatshirts and sweaters!!!!!! But I had my surgery in March too so had to deal with warm weather.

    Like I told you my navigator was at the mamo center and she was terrific. There was also someone at my hospital that I met with during my pre admission testing and she saw me the morning before I was discharged and went over the drill about the drain and any other questions I had. The surgeon was helpful and so were the nurses. So I hope you have that too. I read somewhere on this board I think that you can call your local cancer society and they will send someone to you who has had your same surgery and can give you advice and moral support. I was pretty clueless about the whole thing and didn't know that a lot of this kind of stuff was even available. I'll keep you in my prayers on Tuesday,katz,nc

    Also right mastecomy and no
    reconstruction. Before my surgery, I went to a store (check out your yellow pages, my onc has a whole list) that carry mastecomy bras, prosthesis, wigs etc. Make an appt. and go in before your surgery, handle the prosthesis, see the bras, you will feel so much better. Make sure your fitter is certified so if your insurance pays or helps pays for your bras and prosthesis they will pay. She must have tried on 10 bras and 7 different prosthesis before we found the right one. This was after my surgery. The shop is pretty and the fitting room is lovely and private. The right shape and size is important. It should be the same weight as your remaining breast so you have the right "drape". No one can tell it's fake, it feels real and I love it.

    I have seen the stick on ones in the TLC catalog but wouldn't like them. I don't want that silicone right on my skin. I think it would be hot and I would perspire. I did try the fake boob in my regualr bra and it looked pretty good. TLC sells "pockets" you can sew in your bras to keep the fake one in place, but I don't think mine would go anywhere, but again, I don't want the silicone right next to my skin. I wrapped it in a hankercheif and that worked real well.

    Before you buy, check with your ins co and see what and if they pay and what the requirements are. Mine bought the fake boob ($300) and will replace it annually and pays for 4 bras annually too.

    The TLC websute is: www.tlcdirect.org You can see their products and also request a catalogue.

    Hugs, Judy :-)
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #13
    Balentine said:

    bras
    Hi Katznc,
    I also had a right mastectomy and bought a foam breast form from TLC until I was able to buy a prosthesis 6 weeks after surgery. I put the breast form in a camisole since my right side still hurts 2 months after my surgery. I wear my prosthesis with the mastectomy bra for about 2 days and then I have to go back to the foam breast form and camisole because my side starts hurting too much so I just switch back and forth. The only thing with the foam breast form is it gets tore up pretty fast from having to wash it everyday where the prosthesis is made of silicone and is easy to wash off. So camisoles have become my best friend.
    Lorrie Balentine

    My cancer center gave me the
    My cancer center gave me the names of a couple of shops in town that specialize in bras for women with breast cancer. You might ask yours for some names. They have everything, bras, swimsuits, cami's, lots of stuff for bc survivors.
  • katznc
    katznc Member Posts: 70
    #14
    DebbyM said:

    My cancer center gave me the
    My cancer center gave me the names of a couple of shops in town that specialize in bras for women with breast cancer. You might ask yours for some names. They have everything, bras, swimsuits, cami's, lots of stuff for bc survivors.

    Thanks DebbyM
    I'm a Debby too. Used to be a M but I never changed back to my maiden name so I'm a D now.
    I hope my town has something although I have not found it online or in the yellow pages.
  • katznc
    katznc Member Posts: 70
    #15
    KayNYC said:

    front closing bras
    Hanes Place online does carry a few front closure sports bras. I just ordered another one yesterday. Just my size, as well as, JCPenney online also has front closure leisure and sports bras. I tried my local target store but they didn't have them.
    THe suggestion to ask the nurses is an excellent one. They are great resources.
    K

    Thanks KayNYC
    I will try Hanes and Penny's.
  • katznc
    katznc Member Posts: 70
    #16
    Miss Murphy said:

    More Pointers
    How long do you expect to be off work? I know my drain was in for about a week. I would guess about two to three weeks after surgery I had healed enough to be comfortable wearing my old bras with the stuffing and also those shells I told you about. You may be able to manage with some sort of tee shirt or tank underneath a blouse that you leave unbuttoned so that it fits kind of loosely for the office. Also scarfs are so popular now that I think you could use one to help too. This is kind of a bad time of the year with the weather starting to warm up. Winter is better - you can hide under sweatshirts and sweaters!!!!!! But I had my surgery in March too so had to deal with warm weather.

    Like I told you my navigator was at the mamo center and she was terrific. There was also someone at my hospital that I met with during my pre admission testing and she saw me the morning before I was discharged and went over the drill about the drain and any other questions I had. The surgeon was helpful and so were the nurses. So I hope you have that too. I read somewhere on this board I think that you can call your local cancer society and they will send someone to you who has had your same surgery and can give you advice and moral support. I was pretty clueless about the whole thing and didn't know that a lot of this kind of stuff was even available. I'll keep you in my prayers on Tuesday,katz,nc

    Thanks Miss Murphy
    I have no idea how long I will be off work. No one really said and I was guessing 2-3 weeks but maybe I was wrong. The only thing I could think of to ask was when can I drive. Silly of me but then again the fog was kickning in. I am clueless too about a lot of things and you guys are already such a great help and I was telling a friend how wonderful it was to have all these teachers and support. I can probably get away with almost anything at work for awhile so I am lucky there (if I still have a job, we are on our last leg and paychecks are slow but at least the health insurance is paid til March 31 and my surgery is the 30th)

    thanks for your prayers
  • katznc
    katznc Member Posts: 70
    #17
    Skeezie said:

    Also right mastecomy and no
    reconstruction. Before my surgery, I went to a store (check out your yellow pages, my onc has a whole list) that carry mastecomy bras, prosthesis, wigs etc. Make an appt. and go in before your surgery, handle the prosthesis, see the bras, you will feel so much better. Make sure your fitter is certified so if your insurance pays or helps pays for your bras and prosthesis they will pay. She must have tried on 10 bras and 7 different prosthesis before we found the right one. This was after my surgery. The shop is pretty and the fitting room is lovely and private. The right shape and size is important. It should be the same weight as your remaining breast so you have the right "drape". No one can tell it's fake, it feels real and I love it.

    I have seen the stick on ones in the TLC catalog but wouldn't like them. I don't want that silicone right on my skin. I think it would be hot and I would perspire. I did try the fake boob in my regualr bra and it looked pretty good. TLC sells "pockets" you can sew in your bras to keep the fake one in place, but I don't think mine would go anywhere, but again, I don't want the silicone right next to my skin. I wrapped it in a hankercheif and that worked real well.

    Before you buy, check with your ins co and see what and if they pay and what the requirements are. Mine bought the fake boob ($300) and will replace it annually and pays for 4 bras annually too.

    The TLC websute is: www.tlcdirect.org You can see their products and also request a catalogue.

    Hugs, Judy :-)

    Thanks Skeezie
    I don't think I would like the silicone on my skin either. I asked last week what the insurance covered as I can't find a thing online and they still haven't gotten back to me. I have a couple bras I would still like to wear but I thought I wouldn't be able to do that as the bra would ride up on the right side. If not that would be great also.
    thanks so much for the advice.
    Debby
  • Miss Murphy
    Miss Murphy Member Posts: 302
    #18
    katznc said:

    Thanks Miss Murphy
    I have no idea how long I will be off work. No one really said and I was guessing 2-3 weeks but maybe I was wrong. The only thing I could think of to ask was when can I drive. Silly of me but then again the fog was kickning in. I am clueless too about a lot of things and you guys are already such a great help and I was telling a friend how wonderful it was to have all these teachers and support. I can probably get away with almost anything at work for awhile so I am lucky there (if I still have a job, we are on our last leg and paychecks are slow but at least the health insurance is paid til March 31 and my surgery is the 30th)

    thanks for your prayers

    No Apologies
    Hi Debbie!

    Don't feel bad about not asking more questions of your doctor. I think most of us just go blank when we hear those three little words - you have cancer. You'll know more after your surgery about when you can return to work. If you have a desk type job, I think you may be able to get away with wearing your regular bra till you can get fitted with a prothesis and a bra for it - just sitting there I wouldn't think it would ride up too much. Now if you want to exercise......it could be a problem! I'm hoping your surgery will go as smoothly as mine did - I came home the next morning and had virtually no pain. I took some Tylenol the first day and that was it and I don't even think I needed that but didn't want to take any chances. The only bad thing and the thing everyone complains about was the drain. Please let us know, when you are able, how everything goes for you. I'm wishing you a quick recovery and am sending postive thoughts for tomorrow.

    Hugs, Sally

    PS - Do you live in NC - I was wondering from your last two initials?
  • katznc
    katznc Member Posts: 70
    #19
    Miss Murphy said:

    No Apologies
    Hi Debbie!

    Don't feel bad about not asking more questions of your doctor. I think most of us just go blank when we hear those three little words - you have cancer. You'll know more after your surgery about when you can return to work. If you have a desk type job, I think you may be able to get away with wearing your regular bra till you can get fitted with a prothesis and a bra for it - just sitting there I wouldn't think it would ride up too much. Now if you want to exercise......it could be a problem! I'm hoping your surgery will go as smoothly as mine did - I came home the next morning and had virtually no pain. I took some Tylenol the first day and that was it and I don't even think I needed that but didn't want to take any chances. The only bad thing and the thing everyone complains about was the drain. Please let us know, when you are able, how everything goes for you. I'm wishing you a quick recovery and am sending postive thoughts for tomorrow.

    Hugs, Sally

    PS - Do you live in NC - I was wondering from your last two initials?

    Yep I'm in North Carolina
    I couldn't think of a good name so I just used that. Originally from Michigan, spent 12 years in Florida and moved to Charlotte in May 2008. I'm doing good. No real pain, but very numb above my incision all the way to my collarbone. I had a hematoma in the hospital and almost had to go back to surgery but my doc bound me up in ace bandages and was good to go. But oh the drains(2 on my right mast). My skin is so sore from the tape and the plastic touching me. I have been reading all the "drain" messages and had no idea that they could stay in so long. Mine are doing good keep dropping every day. Have my first post sugery appt on Wednesday. I am unable to get a good bandage around my tubes as I have only one friend to help and she passes out at blood needles etc so I have not let her see my incision.

    I am just starting to feel very sad and alone. For the past week I have focused on not being constipated lol and now that I have that fixed I don't know what to focus on. I stopped going outside 2 days ago as it is so hot here now and I cant hide the tubes well. I was walking around my little apt. block a couple times a day. I'm going to go shower and try to go out in a few minutes.

    Thanks for the hugs
    Debby
  • Skeezie
    Skeezie Member Posts: 586 Member
    #20
    katznc said:

    Yep I'm in North Carolina
    I couldn't think of a good name so I just used that. Originally from Michigan, spent 12 years in Florida and moved to Charlotte in May 2008. I'm doing good. No real pain, but very numb above my incision all the way to my collarbone. I had a hematoma in the hospital and almost had to go back to surgery but my doc bound me up in ace bandages and was good to go. But oh the drains(2 on my right mast). My skin is so sore from the tape and the plastic touching me. I have been reading all the "drain" messages and had no idea that they could stay in so long. Mine are doing good keep dropping every day. Have my first post sugery appt on Wednesday. I am unable to get a good bandage around my tubes as I have only one friend to help and she passes out at blood needles etc so I have not let her see my incision.

    I am just starting to feel very sad and alone. For the past week I have focused on not being constipated lol and now that I have that fixed I don't know what to focus on. I stopped going outside 2 days ago as it is so hot here now and I cant hide the tubes well. I was walking around my little apt. block a couple times a day. I'm going to go shower and try to go out in a few minutes.

    Thanks for the hugs
    Debby

    Hi Debby,
    I was sad to read that you are feeling sad and alone. :-( But every one of us here has gone thru that and I promise it will get better. The drains were the absolute worse part..hopefully your will come out soon.

    Is it cooler to get out in the evening for a walk? I'm glad you're up to taking a walk, that is really good.

    Keep us posted on your progress. When the drains come out, maybe you could go mall walking with your friend, in the great air conditioning.

    Hugs, Judy :-)

    PS I live in Algonac,Mi near Port Huron...where were you from?
  • Youcandothis
    Youcandothis Member Posts: 79
    #21
    katznc said:

    Yep I'm in North Carolina
    I couldn't think of a good name so I just used that. Originally from Michigan, spent 12 years in Florida and moved to Charlotte in May 2008. I'm doing good. No real pain, but very numb above my incision all the way to my collarbone. I had a hematoma in the hospital and almost had to go back to surgery but my doc bound me up in ace bandages and was good to go. But oh the drains(2 on my right mast). My skin is so sore from the tape and the plastic touching me. I have been reading all the "drain" messages and had no idea that they could stay in so long. Mine are doing good keep dropping every day. Have my first post sugery appt on Wednesday. I am unable to get a good bandage around my tubes as I have only one friend to help and she passes out at blood needles etc so I have not let her see my incision.

    I am just starting to feel very sad and alone. For the past week I have focused on not being constipated lol and now that I have that fixed I don't know what to focus on. I stopped going outside 2 days ago as it is so hot here now and I cant hide the tubes well. I was walking around my little apt. block a couple times a day. I'm going to go shower and try to go out in a few minutes.

    Thanks for the hugs
    Debby

    Hey debby!
    I used a big safety pin to attach the drain collector to my cami around my lower ribs. Then I put a handkerchief between it and my skin. You use sports trainers tape to hold it down where it's attached to you. Then the fitted sports cami holds the tubes down, holds the collector in, and you either go out like that--I did, was proud of being a survivor and if folks were turned off by the outlne of the drain under the cami it's their prob, not mine--or throw a loose shirt overtop.
    Is there a mall nearby? Walk there, air conditioning, something to look at, no worries about overdoing in a weakened condition as there are benches etc. Why not concentrate on physical conditioning next?!

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