bra straps

I think it's a given

by Angelie - 2008-10-29 01:10:00

I think it's totally normal for bra straps to be irritating at our incision site. Mine is just every once in a while, and I'm quite the opposite of Dolly Parton.....hee, hee. I think it effects everyone no matter what size we are.

Mostly I just wear my bra strap down my arm on my left side. If anything, while I'm wearing tank tops, it looks like I'm trying to be sexy, and my husband doesn't seem to mind. People will just have to get over the "sleazy" look.
LOL!

the bra!

by joy1 - 2008-10-29 01:10:07

OMG ...~grinning~ If there was ever an item that has caused so much stir as "the bra" I don't know what it is; maybe guns?
Bra straps are miserable things. The bra itself can be a problem for women post op as well. The breast swells and the cup becomes too tight and it's a perfect recipe for pain, not just the strap. It's not even a subject that crosses the minds of doctors or nurses; to remind the patient of breast swelling. Don't be surprised if you need a new bra following implant. Regarding the straps, Chrissie's suggestion was good. the hardest part is keeping the strap from rubbing over the incision site. It's painful and will cause a person to want to favor that arm to protect her implant site which makes them at higher risk for developing frozen shoulder. My suggestion is go bra shopping. It serves several purposes not least on the list is it makes you feel pretty to have a new bra but make sure the fit is comfortable and the strap doesn't move when you move your arm. If you have a girl friend or mother or daughter or husband, take them with you. It is helpful to have someone to around to fasten it but also helps you accept your device a bit more and reaffirm that you are still attractive and the device does not make the woman!

Be kind to yourself, you've been through alot.

joy

hi guys

by alice G - 2008-10-29 01:10:20

thank you for your suggestions and support pardon the pun my boob was very bruised ,tender and swollen for a good 6 weeks after wards i began to think wether there was something wrong with it. you can never be too careful so i went to the doctors.. the lady doc was very nice and even she admitted she hadnt thought about the discomfort and after effects at least she admitted it.. it is a good idea about the wadding and making it yourself iam from england too and it is near impossible to buy them here and if you send for them from america the posting is quite high. sorry admin but its true and money is tight everywhere.. i went for months with the one boob fully secure and the other in but the strap not over the shoulder. the doctor laughed at me but she said do what ever worked for me .and it did just had to keep scooping it in every so often it kept escaping lol sorry ladies

cabg patch

by alice G - 2008-10-29 02:10:45

yes you are right i was being sexist i have an open mind and if men wear bras i think they must have the same problems as us iam sorry although i do know a few men who could benefit from a bra.

haha

by jessie - 2008-10-29 03:10:15

i mostly stayed in nightclothes for 3 months so didn't notice the problems my implant is on my right side so when i am the driver the seatbelt is fine . mostly i am the passenger tho so even so i have not had a problem thank the good lord jessie

too late but...

by Tracey_E - 2008-10-29 03:10:40

If you've already had your implant this won't help you, but if some newbies facing getting a pm are out there reading this, you can have it placed lower or even buried completely behind the breast then straps rubbing will never be an issue. I don't know why more surgeons don't take bras and seat belts into consideration, it's such an easy thing to avoid.

what about

by walkerd - 2008-10-30 02:10:05

for the men does a shoulder strap seat belt count as almost knowing what a bra strap feels like? well it hurt and the only thing that helped was little pillow between the belt and my pm, like chrissy said u could make a little comfort pillow that would cushion the strap, now for he well endowed women i guess i cant relate, like to look tho. did i say that bad dave bad.lol like cabg i couldnt help myself. hope you find something that will give you comfort. no no im not going to say it.
lol
dave

straps

by tcrabtree85 - 2008-10-30 05:10:40

I didn't really get the chance to read every comment but you should search this subject in the past I know we have had some talks about bras.
I think one intelligent designer should come up with a bra that goes around a pm incision. There is a little thing that use to be on the side where you can get this deal to put on your bra and it helps for irritation.
Also Dave, they do have a seat belt gadget that use to be on the side.
If I had more time I would search for the two websites for you guys hopefully tomorrow I will have more time but I know one of the older members should be able to help you.

Blessings,
Tammy

standing on my head

by alice G - 2008-10-30 10:10:03

my boobs only look good if iam standing on my head ha ha iam with you magster if i went without a bra it wouldnt be a pretty site if i had to run id give myself too black eyes !!!!! and yes you would have thought a woman surgeon would have known better thank you ladies for all your replies at least i now know iam not the only one having this problems and yes iam sure it was a man who invented the bra .. i remember reading it some where

shelf bra tank tops

by Tracey_E - 2008-10-31 07:10:13

RVRS and others who recently had their implant, you might want to try the tank tops with the built in shelf bra. Gap and Old Navy have them, so do lots of other places and this time of year you can usually get them on clearance. The strap is tiny and positioned so shouldn't rub. Comfy, decent support, and look nice if you layer it with a blouse or sweater.

http://www.oldnavy.com/browse/product.do?cid=7524&pid=595920&scid=595920062

Bra's

by bini - 2008-11-01 08:11:42

After my surgery it took me so long to find a comfy bra. I tried all my bra's on and realized none of them worked anymore...so sad- so I had to give them all away.

I decided enough is enough...I am determined to find a good bra that does not touch my PM site. So I went to the store and got a sales clerk and told her what I needed...she said alot of women have PM's and she always tells them to get Balconette bras.

I am not sure if this works for everyone, but the straps are wide set so they do not go over my site at all.

Anyway, I hope this helps some of you- good luck with your search!

Christine

Why don't the EP's consider this in women

by Sig27 - 2020-07-28 23:08:30

Why, just why, don't they consider this. We are women, we (need to) wear bras. Why don't they think of this? I've had some (minimal) irritation of the incision site after full healing the last two times, but not bad. I just had my 3rd replacement 5 days ago and I had a lead extraction, so was not as concerned and sort of forgot about the bra strap issue. They raised the PM higher and now it's even more of a problem, because now the bra strap rubs on both and incision and the PM bulge. I also feel I have quite a bit bigger incision this time, steri-strips are still on, so hard to tell right now.

Looked around online, for now, ordered bra strap comfort cusions (silicone). Will try those and update. Also ordered a seat belt cusion from Etsy.

Why the heck can't they figure out a better way to deal with this. I asked them to keep it low and I knew why, not so much vanity, but this/comfort issue. I think the bunion/corn pads (stick-on) might be a good idea, though I eventually also react to stickers with a rash. I might just McGiver something that keeps the pressure off that area without increasing the bulge. I'll let you know what I figure out. But frustrating.