Mainly for the ladies....... bras wise

[Kimmykib]

I have an ICD and have been told to wear soft comfy bras or sports bras which to be fair most arent the sexiest of looking underwear.

What is the best advice and tips of what to wear and not to wear

[Heartlady1]

Hi Kimmykib.... I have just had exactly the same problem. Since having my implant I was struggling with my ICD being quite painful when I walked... so trotted along to M & S who sadly were not very helpful... would have to wait a week to book an appt for fitting... And the only after op bras were after breast implants..... so I picked up lots of different bras and it was just a case of trial and error.

Of course we are all different sizes so my view may be different from others but here's what I found.

I too had been advised 're sports bras... so went for zip up front ones... as no way I can lift stretch and pull the other ones. So when I tried them on... they held me in place but the straps caught my device and pushed against it.. And hurt... so gave up on that.

I tried support bras... but they weren't supportive enoigh... so when I walked my device was still able to move about a bit.

Bras with lace tended to itch and irritate the device area.

Bizarrely the bra I tried on that worked for me was a plunge bra!

It seemed to hold everything in place and lifted and supported my device much more than the other types.

I also went one size up to my normal bra size.... which worked better.

As I say we are all different sizes so I think it's trial and error.. . But do have a walk around the changing room to make sure the bra holds in place. And check to make sure straps or material will not be rubbing near your device.

Since getting my new bras I have had a lot less pain and discomfort... so it was worth the 2 hours and 20 plus bras that I tried on 😀

[Spatz76]

Hi Kimmykib

I have to say the whole boob/ICD discomfort was the biggest physical challenge for me. I didn't realise how heavy boobs can be until gravity is pulling downwards on the incision site! The discomfort didn't last too long for me thank goodness.

I found that balcony bras were the best for me as they are particularly supportive. 😀

[Kimmykib in reply to Spatz76]

Thanks ladies i have a fairly big bust and totally agree when am not wearing a bra it drags and pulls and does hurt i and i found a pack of 3 comfy bra which only cost £13 and have been a god send they look like a sports brs but very soft and u have pull them up from your feet lol but i couldnt have managed without them

I am going to find myself a decent balcony bra so happy i dont have to squeeze them into a sports bra which i tried before and felt that it was tight so havent attempted to wear it yet lol 😁😁😁

[laura_dropstitch Heart Star]

Nothing to add to the good advice above other than to say that I was back to being able to wear any bra at all after the first 6-12 months, so hopefully this will be a temporary issue only

[Kimmykib in reply to laura_dropstitch]

Thanks laura 😆

[skid112 Heart Star]

Hi obviously being male I don't really have much input here, but it seems to me an area that could do with some thought by bra manufacturers. Maybe contact one or two and ask as it's not that small a market

[Kimmykib in reply to skid112]

That is a brilliant idea and it would be nice to have a male input aswell in some suggestions as am sure you would rather see a nice pretty bra instead of a frumpy plain bra on a lady or you lady

[skid112 Heart Star]

Well, now you mention it..... lol

[AlaninSpain]

Like Skid123 I don't have the bra problem, being male, but I do live in Spain and drive a left Hand drive car so the seat belt is straight over the ICD. I have put a sponge pad on the seat belt and of course it's normally quite loose (unlike a bra). However it's now 12 months since the implant and whilst the site is still tender it's nowhere near as bad as 6 months ago.

Good luck.

[Kimmykib in reply to AlaninSpain]

Thank you i have wondered about that issue to be honest i dont drive my hubby does so i am always in the passenger and my belt comes across my icd and i do worry if we crashed that it could seriously effect it and have been putting my belt away from it as i have only had mine fitted for just over 2 week i will get a belt cover like you thanks for the tip 😁😁😁

[AlaninSpain in reply to Kimmykib]

As I have said it's taken 12 months for my tenderness to ease and I didn't have the seat belt problem for the first couple of months as I wasn't allowed to drive.

It get easier................slowly

[Chrisbaxter46]

For anyone reading this who does not yet have a device, I went with a SICD. The device is fitted against the ribs under my arm and the leads run under the skin and do not intrude on the tissue of my heart. There was only an issue with bras while the wound settled and after only a few weeks I didn't even know it was there. If you are given the choice, I would recommend it over the conventional ICD.

[Kimmykib in reply to Chrisbaxter46]

Hey hun

I couldnt have the device that you have due to my condition and my cardiologist even sed she wished i could have had it because of the size and ease of the device so was gutted to be honest. But i know that what i have will save my life so that is the main key thing 😁😁😁

[Chrisbaxter46]

When I was making the choice on which device to chose it didn't occur to me, until I read your post, that the conventional one could cause a problem with wearing a bra, and neither was it mentioned in any of the information leaflets I was given. Hopefully, anyone reading this who has the choice to make will find our observations useful.

[Kimmykib in reply to Chrisbaxter46]

I hope so i didnt know and the leaflet didnt say anything about bras infact i think i make contact british heart foundation and say the should add that information into the booklet because my cardiologist recommend changing bras and how they effect your device.

And totally agree that i truly hope our advice, tips and experiences can help people in our situation 😁😁😁😁

[Shopgirl]

Hi Kimmykib, I've struggled after open heart surgery to get comfortable in bras. After buying all sorts of things like front fastening Ines and vests with a support panel etc I was well enough to be driven to an M&S at the weekend and had a bra fitting for my current needs and the fitter was marvellous, very understanding and helpful (obviously they're trained to help mastectomy patients). I left feeling much happier and probably had the best emotional support during my whole 'operation journey'.

[Kimmykib in reply to Shopgirl]

Awwww hun thats amazing that u had such and brilliant experience 😊😊😊 i too went to m and s before my op and as i have mentioned i have a large bust and tried the post op sports bra and it was too tight for me but the woman that did my fitting was the nicest lady and she made me feel fab she was really helpful and made me feel at ease and she even reccomended different shops lol

[gal4God]

I buy non wired bras and at the mo I have chest pains and discomfort so onli wearing one as needed. But I wear tees where ppl can’t see anything. I’m hating not wearing a bra tho.