<p>My mastectomy was over two weeks ago, and I’m doing great. But now that I’m going out pretty much as usual, I have two problems. One is that anything that touches my skin bothers me, not pain, but irritating. The other is how do I camouflage my chest? I am very small busted to begin with, and I can’t wear a bra or anything constricting at all, no pressure. I am at the point between the mastectomy, and filling the expander (first injection tomorrow). So I now have one small breast and one no breast which will fill over the next several weeks and months. The size will change weekly, I’m told. At the end of all this, the right breast will also need an implant when the permanent implant is put in and the expander removed from the left. This is the stuff you don’t think about…If I don’t do the right also, I would have a saggy 59 year old small breast on the right, and a perky, fuller breast on the left!!! So I have to do both. Until then, 3-5 months away, what can I wear??? I don’t want any attention drawn to it so I have been wearing those jogging suit jackets over a tank top. And then a scarf. Good thing it’s cooler out, even here in Florida. My plastic surgeon said not to go to the breast cancer store yet, as the size will change constantly. I’m sure lots of us have gone through this, so any advice would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>No advice, Threekids but just wanted to say that I’m so glad you’re doing well after surgery and that it’s behind you. I’m sure some experienced people here will have suggestion. In the meantime, I will keep sending healing thoughts your way!</p>
<p>Glad your surgery went well! I agree you dont want to rush into anything.
This site has info about different kinds of forms for people who havent gotten implants.
[url=<a href=“http://www.breastfree.org/viewer.php?num=42]BreastForms[/url”>http://www.breastfree.org/viewer.php?num=42]BreastForms[/url</a>]
I haven’t had a reconstruction, but I’ve had a reduction, & you might consider just having one breast " lifted", if you have a small implant in the other.</p>
<p>How about a lightweight zip front fleece vest over a thin cotton long sleeve t-shirt.<br>
The vest would camoflouge the imbalance and you could still use the scarves wtih it too. You can get vests in lots of colors pretty cheaply. I bought one at Sam’s Club last week for $14.99.</p>
<p>It’s been 21 years for me, so what I remember may be out-of-date. I remember being given a very soft prosthesis in the hospital. I am(was) a AA, so it was not much of anything. I did not have reconstruction for 9 years, so I wore a regular silicone prosthesis for a long time. I wasn’t interested in having reconstruction(survivor’s guilt) until my insurance company started giving me a hard time about replacing the prosthesis. I guess they thought the breast would grow back! I finally went ahead and also because I was very young at the time of the cancer. I had the tram-flap, and had a lift done on the other breast so that everything would line up. The best thing I ever did for myself. You are lucky enough to have kept your skin and everything else, so your reconstruction will progress well with less invasion. You may need to have work done, because the two shapes may not be the same. The lift was done in the hospital, but I was home the same day, with little discomfort. Bless you and good luck. I am proof that there are good times ahead of you.</p>
<p>What about something like Under Armour or LuluLemon tight T-shirt or tank? Avoiding any seams or other bra like constriction, but just having an all over snugness? That as the undergarment, of course as it would not camouflage. I have some surgical scars and I cannot have anything tight on that area, but a compression shirt is very even in the pressure and does not bother them.</p>
<p>Nordstrom carries a very soft and comfortable post-mastectomy camisole that come with soft pads to fill in one (or both) sides of the chest until you’re ready for a more long-term breast form and/or reconstruction. All Nordstroms have trained post-mastectomy fitters in their lingerie departments. Call ahead to be sure one will be there when you go. If you’re not near a Nordstrom, call any Nordstrom store, ask for lingerie, tell them you’re looking for a post-mastectomy camisole, and they’ll help you decide on the right size (they’re just S/M/L type sizing) and ship it off to you, pronto. They can also advise you (and fit you) if/when you’re ready for a prosthesis. For now, the cami is really, really comfy and helpful.</p>
<p>No experience either, but so glad you’re doing well. Good luck to you.</p>
<p>Threekids - I worked with a reconstructive surgeon for years. In fact, I did all of the weekly expansions for his patients. Scarves are your best bet. I always recommended non-knit blouses for my patients - nothing stretchy or form-fitting.
As far as the skin sensation is concerned, that’s just part of nearly any surgery - it takes a while for those nerves to get back into shape.
Has your doctor suggested massaging the expanding breast between expansions? It helps two ways - it facilitates skin stretching and it also helps the nerves ‘reconnect’.
Also, ask your doctor about high dose ibuprofen. As an anti-inflammatory, it decreases the amount of developing scar tissue.
How ‘big’ are you going to go? You should be aware that over-inflation is recommended so the surgeon has extra skin to work with. Those final weeks can be pretty big! As ek mentioned a little lift on the other breast may be all you need - especially as you said you were small breasted to begin with.
I’m happy to answer any other questions you may have. Let me know via pm if you like!</p>
<p>Wow, thanks for all the answers! Zip, I’ll try Nordstrom tomorrow after my appointments, it’s about ten minutes from my second appointment. I meet with my oncologist for my post-op to start my next plan. No chemo!!! Yay, my Oncotype Dx score is 9, which means chemo is of little or no benefit. So happy about that. I made the mistake of going on breastcancer.org today. I’d rather get advice here, where I won’t hear horror stories! Woody, my doctor hasn’t mentioned massaging, we’ll see what she says tomorrow. I already take an anti-inflammatory for rheumatoid arthritis, but maybe ibuprofen will be a good idea. As far as the other breast, I’m not an A, really a small B or almost B, and my plastic surgeon thinks an implant will work best…I’ve had tissue removed for biopsies so I can use a little more on the right. Do you think cocoa butter will help? And yes, she told me that she will over inflate. I’m only going back to a full B, so it shouldn’t take too long. She does think most people choose to go a little bigger, but I think I’ll be fine as a full B. As far as clothes, I do wear scarves, but I need more bulk. Somemom, I think UnderArmor makes a “breast cancer pink” t-shirt! I’ll look for one. I’ll also look into a vest…that could work. Anything to add a little bulk. For once I’m glad I’m smaller on top than on the bottom! Anyway, thanks for all the advice, and good wishes!</p>
<p>I just read over what I posted, and it looks like I think cocoa butter will help the breast size! Ha, it should be that easy. I mean will it help the skin as it stretches!</p>
<p>Hugs to you threekids. My advice would be nearly 20 years out of date, so no specific products in mind.
Just hold this in mind… 20 years from now you will be scratching your head and trying to remember the details.</p>
<p>Threekids, I posted in a hurry earlier and mentioned “pads”. What I should have said is that the cami has little pockets for fiberfill-filled puffy things. I found it was pretty easy to look balanced by adding or removing the fill as needed. It’s also very light so it doesn’t irritate the skin at all. Hope it works for you!</p>
<p>Threekids no experience but thinking of you and hoping good old Nordy’s has a good solution. Keep us posted.</p>
<p>First fill was easy but my doctor said that one is the easiest. So then I went to Nordstrom. Shoot, won’t work for me, the inserts that my Nordstrom has are way too big and the long-line type bra that they go into will be way too uncomfortable, especially at over $50! So I’ll head to Joanne Fabrics later today, because they have some light inserts as well as those silicone types. I bought a nursing camisole from Target, and I think this might work. On the off chance that anyone heading down this road is reading this thread, maybe I can give some advice based on my travels! And my Oncotype Dx number is a 13, still in the low (1-17) range. Still no chemo, and a 9% chance of recurrence, reduced to about a 5% chance once I take the Aromatase Inhibitor. Which I will pick up today. Still all good news!</p>
<p>See if this “Right After Surgery camisole” might be something that would work for you -
[mastectomy</a> bras , silicone forms , mastectomy forms , breast forms, mastectomy swimwear from jodee](<a href=“http://www.jodee.com/itemDetails.jsp?cid=AC&style=958&stlnm=RIGHT-AFTER%20SURGERY%20CAMI.&imgsb=ac958.jpg]mastectomy”>http://www.jodee.com/itemDetails.jsp?cid=AC&style=958&stlnm=RIGHT-AFTER%20SURGERY%20CAMI.&imgsb=ac958.jpg)
The website also sells various sizes and styles of breast forms that might work for you during the transition. </p>
![http://www.jodee.com/itemDetails.jsp?cid=AC&style=958&stlnm=RIGHT-AFTER%20SURGERY%20CAMI.&imgsb=ac958.jpg]mastectomy](http://www.jodee.com/itemDetails.jsp?cid=AC&style=958&stlnm=RIGHT-AFTER%20SURGERY%20CAMI.&imgsb=ac958.jpg%5Dmastectomy){kind=link}
<p>A good friend of mine is one of the fitting counselors at this company. If you’re interested, PM me and I will give you her contact information. She can advise you about what others have used while having the expanders. I see that you’re in Florida – this company is located in Hollywood, Florida.</p>
<p>Hmmm, I wonder if they showed you the right product. My size 2 and very slim friend used this one (me too, though in a different size). The inserts are bits of fiberfill that you can remove or add as needed. “Drain management” mentioned in the description is just velcro pouches that would be removed at this point. At least I think this is the one I bought from Nordstrom:</p>
<p>[Amoena</a> Post-Surgery Mastectomy Camisole 2105](<a href=“ThePinkBra.com is available at DomainMarket.com. Call 888-694-6735”>ThePinkBra.com is available at DomainMarket.com. Call 888-694-6735)</p>
<p>patsmom: That’s perfect! I’ll pm you.</p>
<p>zip: The one they showed me looked like that with a big zipper up the front…really kind of heavy and large looking (and it was a small) but the area for the breast inserts was large, and so were the inserts, although I understand you can remove as much of the fill as you want. </p>
<p>I guess I shouldn’t dwell on this temporary glitch, it’s just that I hate drawing attention to myself because I feel great, and I don’t think anyone would suspect anything if I didn’t look so flat. I feel kind of guilty even worrying about it at all, but then I’m afraid people will wonder and then THEY’LL feel uncomfortable and I don’t want that either!</p>
<p>Gosh, I’m sorry. The one you describe is nothing like the one I had, which was very light, soft, stretchy, and suitable for any size. Who needs a zipper?! The pockets are really helpful since they enable you to have shape without pressure on your chest. The one Patsmom found looks great – sounds like it has pockets, too.</p>
<p>^^The woman I work with didn’t ever use a filler and she’s a “big girl.” I really never noticed at work that she was ‘lopsided’ until she pointed it out and decided to show all of us women her scars and then I realized she wasn’t using an insert. I think we, as individuals are more cognizant of the lopsided because we see ourselves without clothes.</p>