Need help with prosthesis

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crazylady55
crazylady55 Member Posts: 92
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I was wondering if anyone can give me advice about how to make my prosthesis (I hate that word must be a better one, maybe breast replacement) more comfortable. I had a right mastectomy 4 weeks ago. I am healing well and was told I could start wearing the weighted prosthesis.

I was fitted at the hospital boutique for the bra and prosthesis. It looks better under clothes than I expected. My problem is “it hurts”. After about an hour of wearing it I get pins and needles down my arm and my chest aches. I really need to find a way to make it work because I am going to a graduation and dinner next week and really want to wear normal clothes.

Does anyone have any hints or am I just expecting too much too soon?
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  • ladybug22
    ladybug22 Member Posts: 646
    #2
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    crazylady
    Ihave had my breast replacement now for a year i have no pain with mine .you should called and asked why this is happening.i have no trouble out of mine at all. good luck
  • tasha_111
    tasha_111 Member Posts: 2,072
    #3
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    ladybug22 said:

    crazylady
    Ihave had my breast replacement now for a year i have no pain with mine .you should called and asked why this is happening.i have no trouble out of mine at all. good luck

    Crazy......
    I never thought about padding until a couple of weeks ago... The Canadian Cancer Society sent me a temporary jobbie........It looks and feels great even though my nipples are facing north and south........I have a well-sturdy brassier

    I need to just cover my "Chapel Hat Pegs" and I'll look ok
    Hugs Hun........You rock Jxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • crazylady55
    crazylady55 Member Posts: 92
    #4
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    tasha_111 said:

    Crazy......
    I never thought about padding until a couple of weeks ago... The Canadian Cancer Society sent me a temporary jobbie........It looks and feels great even though my nipples are facing north and south........I have a well-sturdy brassier

    I need to just cover my "Chapel Hat Pegs" and I'll look ok
    Hugs Hun........You rock Jxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    Thanks
    Thanks,
    I am going to start radiation on Monday and can not have reconstruction surgery for at least 6 months after that is finished. I wish it was winter because I would just wear bagging clothes or sweaters and not worry about the prosthesis but in warm weather clothes it is very obvious that I have no breast. Of course right now people look at my bald head first.

    I did get a new sturdy brassier with the prosthesis. I am wondering if it is the bra pressing on some nerve that connects to the arm. I still have some numbness since the lumpectomy(they took 17 lymph nodes) and added to by the mastectomy.

    I am in a hurry to get back to "normal" or at least find out what my "new normal" is going to be.
  • pretty in pink
    pretty in pink Member Posts: 13
    #5
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    crazylady55 said:

    Thanks
    Thanks,
    I am going to start radiation on Monday and can not have reconstruction surgery for at least 6 months after that is finished. I wish it was winter because I would just wear bagging clothes or sweaters and not worry about the prosthesis but in warm weather clothes it is very obvious that I have no breast. Of course right now people look at my bald head first.

    I did get a new sturdy brassier with the prosthesis. I am wondering if it is the bra pressing on some nerve that connects to the arm. I still have some numbness since the lumpectomy(they took 17 lymph nodes) and added to by the mastectomy.

    I am in a hurry to get back to "normal" or at least find out what my "new normal" is going to be.

    Can certainly relate!
    Crazy
    2 weeks after my mastectomy 3/18/09, I was bound and determined to get whatever it was I needed and for myself suck up any discomfort I needed to to wear a device and feel what I perceived was my "normal" I too after 2 hours felt pain excrutiating~with that said I obtained what they called a temporary prosthesis from the Cancer Society which was not weighted(Like the silicone device but it was tons more tolerable in the comfort zone) it was a foam almond shaped piece that fitted in my bra~ JC penneys also has a catalog which has these foam pieces of course once I put the foam form in then I was lop-sided so I found a partial water form lift insert as they called it which they sell in Wal mart! $6.00 for a set!that was my saving grace as that uplifting form created an illusion of being more balanced~on my side with my exhisting breast~Had my recon surgery last Friday(Grateful) but now I am back to the beginning drains and braless again for the time being~so now I can tell you from my own exp.that little pc of foam and the insert sure did make me happy and lent to a comfort zone!
    Hang in there!Much Love
    PIP
  • mmontero38
    mmontero38 Member Posts: 1,510
    #6
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    Hi Crazy, I also had much
    Hi Crazy, I also had much discomfort in the beginning. My Doctor gave me the go ahead about 6 weeks after surgery for the prosthesis. Prior to that I was wearing camis with soft batting inside. I was still sore for about 2 months and every now and then would feel pins and needles at the mastectomy side. It does take a while for everything to heal. Try wearing cotton batting for a little while before you start with the prosthesis. It will feel much more comfortable. Hugs, Lili
  • JoyD
    JoyD Member Posts: 81
    #7
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    mmontero38 said:

    Hi Crazy, I also had much
    Hi Crazy, I also had much discomfort in the beginning. My Doctor gave me the go ahead about 6 weeks after surgery for the prosthesis. Prior to that I was wearing camis with soft batting inside. I was still sore for about 2 months and every now and then would feel pins and needles at the mastectomy side. It does take a while for everything to heal. Try wearing cotton batting for a little while before you start with the prosthesis. It will feel much more comfortable. Hugs, Lili

    Camis with soft batting inside
    Crazy: Just like mmontero38 has said, I started mine with 2 camis w/ soft batting inside after my masectomy on the left breast (2/28/2009). It took probably 8 - 9 weeks after surgery to fit me with my prosthesis and 2 bras. The Hosp store told me that I needed to heal totally before they could fit me. For the first time today, I tried it on and it looks natural.

    I would suggest that if you need it next week or so, to go through ACN store (just go through this website and you will find stuff such as wigs, hats, prosthesis and bra that are for sale) and order a camis w/ the soft batting first.

    Probaby you need more healing before you could wear the prosthesis.

    Good luck.

    Joy
  • djteach
    djteach Member Posts: 273
    #8
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    Hi,
    My onc and my fitter
    Hi,
    My onc and my fitter would not allow me to wear anything except my hospital bra- the cheap sports bra- for 6 weeks AFTER all tubes and stitches were out. My fitter, also a b/c survivor, said any sooner and it can be painful and can contribute to lymphadema. I'm no expert, but I reluctantly followed her directions and I have never had a problem. Your bra should never hurt, if it does, the new breast is too heavy and the bra is too tight. I would go back to where you got it and tell them the problem you are having. If they say it's you, try another place. I wish you luck. Let me know what happens.

    Love and Gentle Hugs,
    Donna
  • crazylady55
    crazylady55 Member Posts: 92
    #9
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    djteach said:

    Hi,
    My onc and my fitter
    Hi,
    My onc and my fitter would not allow me to wear anything except my hospital bra- the cheap sports bra- for 6 weeks AFTER all tubes and stitches were out. My fitter, also a b/c survivor, said any sooner and it can be painful and can contribute to lymphadema. I'm no expert, but I reluctantly followed her directions and I have never had a problem. Your bra should never hurt, if it does, the new breast is too heavy and the bra is too tight. I would go back to where you got it and tell them the problem you are having. If they say it's you, try another place. I wish you luck. Let me know what happens.

    Love and Gentle Hugs,
    Donna

    Thanks everyone
    Thanks Ladies,
    I do have the cami with the cotton form. My main problem with that one is that it give no support to my 53 year old natural breast and the foam form keeps sliding up. I will definitely look at JC Penny and WalMart. I also plan on calling the fitter and asking her about a different size.

    I am sure you all can relate to my frustration. And Donna thanks I did not think about it contributing to lymphadema. Even before the mastectomy I had some minor swelling so I guess I had better be careful.

    I am thinking about stitching one of the cotton forms into one of my old bras. Has anyone tried that?
  • sunnygirl
    sunnygirl Member Posts: 57 Member
    #10
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    crazylady55 said:

    Thanks everyone
    Thanks Ladies,
    I do have the cami with the cotton form. My main problem with that one is that it give no support to my 53 year old natural breast and the foam form keeps sliding up. I will definitely look at JC Penny and WalMart. I also plan on calling the fitter and asking her about a different size.

    I am sure you all can relate to my frustration. And Donna thanks I did not think about it contributing to lymphadema. Even before the mastectomy I had some minor swelling so I guess I had better be careful.

    I am thinking about stitching one of the cotton forms into one of my old bras. Has anyone tried that?

    discomfort
    I had a mastectomy on Jan 8th--and just in the last couple weeks have I been able to wear the bra with weighted fake with little discomfort.

    The cami from TLC, with the form that has removable cotton padding, is all I could wear for 2-2 1/2 months. I just couldn't tolerate anything pressing against the scar tissue.

    Patience, I guess, is the answer. Hope this helps. Cheryl
  • tasha_111
    tasha_111 Member Posts: 2,072
    #11
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    sunnygirl said:

    discomfort
    I had a mastectomy on Jan 8th--and just in the last couple weeks have I been able to wear the bra with weighted fake with little discomfort.

    The cami from TLC, with the form that has removable cotton padding, is all I could wear for 2-2 1/2 months. I just couldn't tolerate anything pressing against the scar tissue.

    Patience, I guess, is the answer. Hope this helps. Cheryl

    Falsies.
    I got a false boob left on my doorstep by the deliveryman and thought to meself..."Woohoooooo! I can stuff this down there and look normal"...Would you belive it?..It was too big and stuck out at a very strange angle (A bit like a sign-post)..So I scraped out some of the stuffing and shoved it underneath, THAT WORKED!..They look balanced even though one nipple is about 3ft higher than the other. I also discovered my dogs' toys from the dollar-store (When she shreads them) are stuffed with the same padding. Now I am officially a "Shape Changer!"

    Hope this helps, though can't see how it would. Hugs Jxxxxxx
  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    #12
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    tasha_111 said:

    Falsies.
    I got a false boob left on my doorstep by the deliveryman and thought to meself..."Woohoooooo! I can stuff this down there and look normal"...Would you belive it?..It was too big and stuck out at a very strange angle (A bit like a sign-post)..So I scraped out some of the stuffing and shoved it underneath, THAT WORKED!..They look balanced even though one nipple is about 3ft higher than the other. I also discovered my dogs' toys from the dollar-store (When she shreads them) are stuffed with the same padding. Now I am officially a "Shape Changer!"

    Hope this helps, though can't see how it would. Hugs Jxxxxxx

    Changeling
    In Star Trek a person that can change shape is called a Changeling.
  • tasha_111
    tasha_111 Member Posts: 2,072
    #13
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    Marcia527 said:

    Changeling
    In Star Trek a person that can change shape is called a Changeling.

    BUGGERRRRRRRRR
    I just knew I'd got it wrong!... Thanks Marcia. Hugs Jxxxxxx
  • djteach
    djteach Member Posts: 273
    #14
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    crazylady55 said:

    Thanks everyone
    Thanks Ladies,
    I do have the cami with the cotton form. My main problem with that one is that it give no support to my 53 year old natural breast and the foam form keeps sliding up. I will definitely look at JC Penny and WalMart. I also plan on calling the fitter and asking her about a different size.

    I am sure you all can relate to my frustration. And Donna thanks I did not think about it contributing to lymphadema. Even before the mastectomy I had some minor swelling so I guess I had better be careful.

    I am thinking about stitching one of the cotton forms into one of my old bras. Has anyone tried that?

    My mother sewed several in
    My mother sewed several in the camis, but the weight of my own boob made it lopsided. So I got some camies and large blouses and just kept the blouses buttoned at the waist. The blouse hid everything and I was comfortable until I healed. Make sure you get a professional fitter. It makes all the difference in the world.

    Love and gentle hugs,
    Donna
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    #15
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    tasha_111 said:

    BUGGERRRRRRRRR
    I just knew I'd got it wrong!... Thanks Marcia. Hugs Jxxxxxx

    NOT wrong, tasha...
    Just different ways to describe the same species (species?)... I believe "Changeling" is UNIQUE to Star Trek. Of course - Marcia, our group's resident Trekkie, would use "Changeling"... Another version: "Shape Shifter" - it's all the same voodoo.

    So, you go right ahead and call yourself a "Shape Changer" - if that's what you like!

    Kind regards, Susan
  • zahalene
    zahalene Member Posts: 670
    #16
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    crazylady55 said:

    Thanks everyone
    Thanks Ladies,
    I do have the cami with the cotton form. My main problem with that one is that it give no support to my 53 year old natural breast and the foam form keeps sliding up. I will definitely look at JC Penny and WalMart. I also plan on calling the fitter and asking her about a different size.

    I am sure you all can relate to my frustration. And Donna thanks I did not think about it contributing to lymphadema. Even before the mastectomy I had some minor swelling so I guess I had better be careful.

    I am thinking about stitching one of the cotton forms into one of my old bras. Has anyone tried that?

    Yes, I did that...
    I sewed foam forms into old, comfortable bras and I still wear them a lot, even after all these years (23 year survivor next month). It kinda depends on what type of clothes I am wearing on the outside. Sometimes I wear camis with weighted prostheses (I am 'breastless' on both sides). For dress-up occasions I find that a dress with a soft, draped bodice covers any imperfections in my bosom (sheesh, is that still a word?) and makes me less self-conscious.
    Hugs. You will find what works best for you in time. And remember, other people are much less focused on your figure than you are. You don't go around looking for imperfections in others, and if you do notice some you don't give it more than a passing thought, except perhaps to send a 'good vibe' to that person because you relate.
    Trust me....NOBODY out there is perfect.
  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    #17
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    Christmas Girl said:

    NOT wrong, tasha...
    Just different ways to describe the same species (species?)... I believe "Changeling" is UNIQUE to Star Trek. Of course - Marcia, our group's resident Trekkie, would use "Changeling"... Another version: "Shape Shifter" - it's all the same voodoo.

    So, you go right ahead and call yourself a "Shape Changer" - if that's what you like!

    Kind regards, Susan

    Yes, shape shifter is how
    Yes, shape shifter is how they describe Changelings. But like anything else different descriptions apply.
  • zahalene
    zahalene Member Posts: 670
    #18
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    zahalene said:

    Yes, I did that...
    I sewed foam forms into old, comfortable bras and I still wear them a lot, even after all these years (23 year survivor next month). It kinda depends on what type of clothes I am wearing on the outside. Sometimes I wear camis with weighted prostheses (I am 'breastless' on both sides). For dress-up occasions I find that a dress with a soft, draped bodice covers any imperfections in my bosom (sheesh, is that still a word?) and makes me less self-conscious.
    Hugs. You will find what works best for you in time. And remember, other people are much less focused on your figure than you are. You don't go around looking for imperfections in others, and if you do notice some you don't give it more than a passing thought, except perhaps to send a 'good vibe' to that person because you relate.
    Trust me....NOBODY out there is perfect.

    Ok, Ok,....
    I know you are looking at each other with raised eyebrows. YES, I do have 23-year-old bras. So? LOL
  • EveningStar2
    EveningStar2 Member Posts: 491 Member
    #19
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    zahalene said:

    Ok, Ok,....
    I know you are looking at each other with raised eyebrows. YES, I do have 23-year-old bras. So? LOL

    Uh, ya ...
    Actually, I'm pretty impressed. None of mine would survive that long--just a ball of threads in the washer.

    Maureen
  • zahalene
    zahalene Member Posts: 670
    #20
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    EveningStar2 said:

    Uh, ya ...
    Actually, I'm pretty impressed. None of mine would survive that long--just a ball of threads in the washer.

    Maureen

    Well,...
    when you consider that I only wear the darn things when I am in public....and I lead a VERY quiet life....the bras tend to last and last and last and last....hahaha.
  • crazylady55
    crazylady55 Member Posts: 92
    #21
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    zahalene said:

    Well,...
    when you consider that I only wear the darn things when I am in public....and I lead a VERY quiet life....the bras tend to last and last and last and last....hahaha.

    thanks
    I started rad yesterday and for some reason am already sore today so I am definitely going to be wearing nothing but the cami with cotton batting. I still will need to find a way to keep my "natural" breast from pointing so far south. I also read in some of the info that the doc gave me (I think from ACS) that you can weigh down the cotton form with stuff like fishing weights, sounds weird to me but I guess it might work.

    Thanks for all the ideas.

    Zahalene you are right none of us is perfect and soon I will stop dwelling on this. And I am jealous that you can wear 23 year old bras because I have gained so much weight in that amount of time it is not at all possible. Back then I was a 98 lb. weakling and now I am a
    ***lb weakling (oops the censors must have deleted it) haha

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