Ladies....Only!

[randinicholle]

I am having my OHS in 3 weeks, but am wondering from some Post-Op ladies about a bra choice...I am a full figured woman and obviously concerned about the weight of my breasts tugging on my incision. My surgeon recommended a "zip up" sports bra but I have been scowering the internet with not much luck....Just wondered what you guys would recommend....Thanks so much!

 

[Greg a]

Sorry while I am of the wrong sex to answer i do have one !!!

We had to reasearch these for a Sternectomy patent as with no sternum this is all that our female members can wear and we put it one more parameter and that was wire free

so try http://style.pronto.com/mpm/shop/front-fastening-vanity-fair-bras most have free shipping and IO think it was a Vanity Fair model that two of our members settled on both describe themselves as "full figure" and one had the challenge of a herniated area between the breasts

 

[Marguerite53]

Hello! I had the very same problem. It's been 5 years now and I cannot for the life of me remember the name of the company where I purchased my bra. I'm not having any luck on Google or even here on our search (though I know I've mentioned it before).

What I bought had velcro down the middle and was almost more of a vest. I knew that I might need even more "stretch" so what I did was go to the fabric store and buy the widest velcro I could find. Then I was able to bridge the velcro gap, so to speak, and start nice and loose, but be able to pull things tighter as the days went by. Now velcro is not a very forgiving product. Your scar area will be very very (did I say very, yet?) sensitive (not painfully, buy annoyingly so) for a really long time. What finally worked best for me was to wear one of those sleeveless men's undershirts (you know, the ones they call "wife-beaters") underneath the surgical vest. That way the velcro was not touching my skin or scar. And that cotton is so nice and soft! Some people can only wear silk for a long time -- thus the Hawaiian shirt craze with the men (and some women here, too!) who "strike the pose" with their new scar and ugly shirt.

After several weeks (maybe longer) I got tired of the bulk of the vest and switched to a camisole top (buy some in a size or two larger than you are). I would not recommend leaving the vest/bra entirely behind, though. Maybe daytime/nighttime switching back and forth. My scar was perfect -- disappearing -- healthy -- and then out of nowhere it went kind of keloid (ropey) and got painful for awhile. I don't care a hoot about what it looks like anymore (it is still changing, if you can believe that!) but I do think that if I had stayed in that bra/vest for a much longer time then the weight of the breasts might not have affected the healing scar. I'm also told that I should have massaged the scar area once it was completely healed.

Okay, well, there's my story, anyway! If I wake up in the middle of the night and remember the company who made that bra I will certainly come back to tell you!

Best wishes to you!!!

Marguerite

 

[Greg a]

Marguerite , could this be it ?

 

[Allisoninoz]

Hi. I was worried about this as I'm a DD cup (probably a bit less post-surgery!). I usually wear underwire bras but was worried they would be really uncomfortable after surgery. I had a couple of doctors tell me it would be too uncomfortable to wear one and would be the least of my worries blah blah. But I bought a stretchy sports-type bra (no underwire) that did up at the front and took that to hospital anyway. Once I was back on the ward and getting dressed every day (just in track pants/t-shirts, I hated not wearing a bra. I told an experienced nurse and she looked at me and said, 'Don't be ridiculous, of course you should wear a bra'. It felt SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better once I had one on. I was back in the underwire ones within days. They really didn't bother the scar tissue at all. It's much worse having your breasts 'pull down' (great image!).
Go to a big department store or lingerie store - the fitting specialists would have heard it all before and will be able to help. Good luck.

 

[hetmarie]

I was worried about the bra issue as well before my OHS. On the advice from another OHS survivor, I bought some sports bras that hooked up the front in a size or two larger (to allow for swelling and comfort). I was pleasantly surprised to find out when I woke up that the hospital had put me in a bra that zipped and hooked up the front. I had to sleep with them on as well for several weeks. I'm 15 weeks post-op and I still have pain when I get up in the morning from the pulling and tugging but it's getting better.

Good luck to you! Maybe you should contact your surgeon's nurse or PA and ask if they provide a bra for you.

 

[Natina13]

I wear a 38 D , so always wore an under-wire for support.......they told me...a sports bra that opened to the front, 1-2 sizes larger than your regularly wear. I did get a zip up one and 3 that hooked up the front. I found it very uncomfortable too. My breasts were too heavy for a sports bra, it made the weight pull on my incision . Also, it makes you have skin to skin contact under your breasts......everyday when I showered, I dried well, tried putting dry dressings under them or a clean wash cloth, but i still got a "yeast infection" under my right breast. So by the third week, I was applying anti-fungal cream under them and only wearing my under-wire bras...it cleared right up. And........my incision area was less uncomfortable, once I supported my breasts better. I did get a special "incision shield" that kept my tops away from the incision, as when my tops rubbed the area, it irritated the healing incision. It tied around my neck and made out of a hard rubber, bent in a fashion, that allows it to not rest on your wound, yet keeps clothing off the area. I ordered it online.....at a site I found in Adam Pick's book "The Patient′s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery” .
Hope these things help..........best of luck and may you have a speedy recovery, see you on the other side of the mountain
Renee
Here is the URL....
http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/...9/07/28/incision-shield-discount-coupon-code/

 

[nngbwh]

Opps , just looked down. Sorry I am in the wrong place....:biggrin2:

Just want to say Hi and welcome aboard !

 

[hensylee]

the nurses told me to go to WalMart to buy a sports bra, however I already had some nylon front hook sleep bras. I bought them from CAROL WRIGHT catalog. I have worn them ever since plus JUST MY SIZE front hook bras. The carol Wright ones are very, very light, come in all sizes, are easy to put on, are inexpensive, and last forever. The front hooks are right in the center of your chest and you might want to put a bit of padding under where the hooks are (but they already have a small padding). I recommend these. Just look for Carol Wright on the net and you will find them. they are about 7 or 8 $. Wishing you all the best. Blessins..........

 

[randinicholle]

Thank YOU everyone!!! This has literally made my day, knowing that I'm not the only crazy person who worries about these things...Being 32, none of my friends or even family has been through this, so I have nobody to ask for advice.

I did contact my surgeon's office and they will give me one right in the hospital, but I will look at some of your recommendations and buy a few more too...I can't stand being without a bra in normal everday life, so this has really freaked me out...again, THANKS so much for everyone's replies!!!

~Randi

 

[drivetopless]

I got a Hanes zip front sports bra from Sears. It was comfy and easy enough to get on and priced right. I could adjust the zipper a little for comfort.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_018J0079000P?i_cntr=1308349555210

By the 3rd week I could wear the pull on sports bras.

I wore mine 24-7 the first 2 months. THey really keep your incision from pulling and getting sore.

 

[hetmarie]

Randi, I'm only 36 so I understand where you're coming from. I lucked out and found a "pen pal" who went through the exact same thing I did (same disorder too). She was the one who tipped me off about the bras. I'm glad the hospital is providing you with one. One thing to keep in mind when shopping for bras is to make sure they are front hook. It will be a challenge for you to bring your arms around your back for a long time. And I agree with the padding underneath where it hooks. The very bottom of my incision sat right where the bottom of my bra was and it ended up taking months to heal, it became infected, it closed and then filled with fluid and opened again. It finally just closed properly a couple weeks ago but I'm still padding with gauze so it doesn't get rubbed raw.

Other words of wisdom my pen pal shared with me was to bring throat lozenges. In her words "it takes an act of congress" to get the nurses to give you a lozenge and you may be sore from the tubes or the dry air in the hospital.

Good luck!!!

 

[Jkm7]

My first OHS, at first I wore my regular underwire bra and within two days I had a small infection where the bra rubbed on my incision. It was treated quickly and well and was no further problem.

But I had to wear some support as the weight pulling on the incision was uncomfortable and could impede a neatly healed scar.
I stumbled on Hanes Barely There, wireless, totally stretchy, pull on lightweight bras that were perfect for me. I wore them for about 3-4 weeks and was comfortable and they provided just enough support.
After healing, I almost threw them out but thought they might be handy for going through airports as there is no underwire or hooks to 'beep'. I now wear them whenever I fly and never 'beep.

When I had to have second OHS four years later, I was happy I had them to use again and they have served me well.
Very moderately priced, wash up fast in the sink and I don't know what I would have done without them. I didn't want a zip, a hook, any sort of closure.

http://www.onehanesplace.com/webapp...1_11001_128343_15048?cm_vc=OnsiteSearch&cmFV=


If you don't like to shop on line, I have seen them sold in Macy's and in Kohl's lingerie Departments.

 

[Marguerite53]

Thanks, Greg for the cool little video, but that's not the bra!! And it is driving me crazy not to have the name come up -- like the name is in a file in a drawer but the drawer is stuck! So annoying.

I think it's wonderful that they will have a bra for you in the hospital, Randi, that's great.

The only other silly recommendation I have is to take some comfy light gym shorts (I actually borrowed some of my husband's boxer shorts!) so that when you are walking around in the hallways, your lovely open up the back hospital gown won't reveal more than you want!! :tongue2: You can always wear two gowns, one on front-ways and one on backwards -- but that was too pulling-like on my shoulders for my taste.

:smile2: Marguerite

 

[kailin]

Wow happy to find this thread. I've got an order in to Blair for front closers, but that incision protector thing makes a whole lot of sense! Used to be able to find very soft "sleep" bras also, but that store is now hundreds of miles away. It was a store that specialized in uniforms. Here are some other front closing.

http://clothing.blair.com/search?w=front+hook+bras&search.x=18&search.y=5

 

[kailin]

Wow happy to find this thread. I've got an order in to Blair for front closers, but that incision protector thing makes a whole lot of sense! Used to be able to find very soft "sleep" bras also, but that store is now hundreds of miles away. It was a store that specialized in uniforms. Here are some other front closing.

http://clothing.blair.com/search?w=front+hook+bras&search.x=18&search.y=5

 

[Rbemail]

I wear at 36DD, so I understand your concern. Keep in mind that for the first month or so you won't be up for doing anything. Since I was just laying around the house, I didn't wear a bra. I have had OHS 3 times, so I have learned some tips each time. I bought some non-underwire bra's that connect in the back. Of course, the support wasn't perfect, but it was better than nothing. I bought a couple 38's for the first few months so that it was a little loose. I didnt want anything rubbing against the incision. As the swelling went down, I moved to the 36's. By the time I was ready to go back to work (12 weeks) I could wear my regular bra's again without the underwire bothering me. I found the bra's at Walmart.

Good luck....you'll be back in a regular bra in no time..... .........Rachel

 

[Lynlw]

I wear at 36DD, so I understand your concern. Keep in mind that for the first month or so you won't be up for doing anything. Since I was just laying around the house, I didn't wear a bra. I have had OHS 3 times, so I have learned some tips each time. I bought some non-underwire bra's that connect in the back. Of course, the support wasn't perfect, but it was better than nothing. I bought a couple 38's for the first few months so that it was a little loose. I didnt want anything rubbing against the incision. As the swelling went down, I moved to the 36's. By the time I was ready to go back to work (12 weeks) I could wear my regular bra's again without the underwire bothering me. I found the bra's at Walmart.

Good luck....you'll be back in a regular bra in no time..... .........Rachel

I just wanted to say this thread is from last year in case you didnt notice that. But even if you didn't, you gave some good advice that probaby will help others wonderring what to do

 

[Jkm7]

Keep in mind you will have to be walking several times a day as part of your healing. They start us walking right away after surgery and Mass General gave me a guide of how many minutes to walk each day for weeks following. It is the BEST thing you can do as part of your recovery IMO

You will need decent bra support while you are walking to keep you comfortable. I don't know if it makes that much difference for neatly healing scar. It makes sense good breast support would make a difference but I somehow feel it is just as much a factor your particular body's individual healing.

My scar is very close to inivisible in more spots than not now and I never slept in a bra. My same incision was opened twice and I was sure the second time it would be thick and red but that didn't happen.

 

[JoniG]

I wore sports bras that had the clips in front, found them at Walmart. really worked well for post surgery