Apparently not as many women as men have heart attacks and certainly many don't survive partly because our symptoms are different to mens. But for those of us who made it through a heart attack and quadruple heart bypass, I have a question ('cos I sure as hell 'aint getting the answers I need from a male doctor/physio) It's 10 weeks since my op. I didn't wear a bra in hospital (too many tubes and dressings) but a nurse suggested I wear a non-wired bra which I ordered. It doesn't give me much lift (40E) but it does help. At first wearing a bra hurt I guess because I had started to heal inside and I was rearranging myself into a bra.
So 9 weeks later I'm still wearing the same bra (it was a pack of two) but it makes my bust look enormous and when I'm exercising it is allowing too much movement. I have been advised several times not to wear my wired bras and recently ordered another non-wired, slightly more structural from Bravissimo but it hasn't arrived (post is terrible here, deliveries every few days) Can you advise how long I need to avoid a wired bra and whether you have found any good bras, bras that shape and don't just squish. I had quite a neat shape despite my size and the 'scoop all' bra I'm wearing not good for my self-image!! (Thankfully when I go back to work in a few weeks I will be working from home and can mess about with the camera angle!) Thoughts?
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Tillymint1971
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I am a 40C and found that a firm support sports bra worked well for rehab. Get a front or rear fastening as the ones that you slip over your head are impossible to get on or off.
Hi, yes, I have worn a sports bra when exercising but they do squish your boobs a bit. A friend lent me a front fastening one but it rubbed my wound a lot.
Yes,, I bought a Sloggi bra before I went in to hospital seduced by it's supersoft feel but it was an over the head bra and rather saggy. I hadn't seen a Sloggi with enough support but will look now...
Hi Till mint1971, I wore front fastening sport bra for the first 8 -10 weeks and then went back to my under wired bras. I know what you mean about non wire, if when you put your underwire on and it rubs try folding a soft handkerchief and use it between your bra and your scar. It does get better.
Just have got to say one of my granddaughters name is Tilly and it as been known for her to be called Tilly Mint!
Hope things improve quickly, nothing’s worse than thinking we don’t look our best. !
Wow, so you went back to underwired quite quickly then. I do think my underwired bras would rub at the moment but it looks like it might not be too far off. Tillymint was what my Dad called me as a nickname when I was little. He had nicknames for my sister and brother too.
Granddaughter christened Tilly Mint by her Aunt, I suppose I did get back into my under wire bra quite quickly hadn’t really thought about it. Luckily didn’t have any problems with the scar healing had AVR and bypass had feeling of an Elastoplast being pulled off for quite sometime from where they had harvested my artery in my chest, and even now nearly 4 years on occasionally can still get it, told by my surgeon it’s the nerves joining back up. But apart from that no other problems.
I was given a bra by the hospital- front fastening, made by BHIS. And then they gave me a second one when my drain leaked all over the first! They are really comfortable but don’t give a particularly good shape.
Since I can’t wear underwire bras because they bruise me I normally use M&S non- wired cotton bras. Size 38DD and they give good support and shape.
Don’t know if this helps but I can sympathise with you. I had avr only but 9 weeks on still have some problems with the bra rubbing.
Hiya! This bra wearing problem has been really difficult for me and I do sympathise.I am sorry to say for me that I am nearly 2years on and have only worn underwired bras intermittently as have caused a lot of discomfort. This has been somewhat annoying as I can’t wear my draw full of pretty bras. Although I should add that I have had more surgery in that time involving my sternum and removal of sternum wires. I have looked around a lot for a non wired bra that gives you shape and found M&S to be good. Hope your Bravissimo helps. It has been a bit trial and error. Good luck 😉
M&S are promoting a new "Flexifit" bra which is unwired but allegedly more supportive and flexible than other bras. I know nothing more about the new designs than their recent announcement, but I wonder whether this would suit you?
After quadruple bypass and the added discomfort of women with large breasts enduring a sternectomy wearing a bra is essential. My nurse bought me a bra from supplies, it was huge soft and fastened at the front. She reiterated how important it was to wear a bra. My husband and daughter went bra shopping and bought a couple of sports bras but I needed larger as I was so swollen. I also had to wear a chest brace it was similar to a life vest. Embarrassing but it made people avoid walking into me. That was my comfort blanket for over 6 months as I was anxious about not wearing it.
I am coming up to 3 years post op in June and I wear wired bras now as well as soft. And back to my original size, I will say that I was paranoid for ages about my huge scar between my breasts and would not wear clothing unless I covered up. Now the scaring looks like I have a huge cleavage and I am proud of what I have endured. It is less obvious as is my leg scar. I wear pullover bras at night I tried without but found it uncomfortable even to this day.
Looks aren't everything it is what is on the inside, most people I know look at me differently and often comment how well I look considering my experience.
Your comment about cleavage made me laugh. I am only 9 weeks post op so my scar is still quite raw and visible. And it makes me look as if I have cleavage way before I should!! But I am taking it as a positive thing - I needed the op (AVR) and it will help me to lead a more active life. 😄
I hope that you make a full recovery, time is a great healer. I think a lot of it is in our heads I doubt others notice. Apart from leary men wondering where our cleavage ends 🤪xx
I'm with you - my scar is part of my life story. I used to think my cleavage was one of my better features so have lots of v-neck tops and open neck blouses but I'm not gonna change what I wear to hide my scar. I'm going to go back to work with my scar signifying badass, not victim.
Good on you, yes definitely takes a badass to get through what we have and I don't care what anyone else says it's so so much harder for women not just the physical, carrying that extra weight on top of a sternectamy but psychologically difficult. I had no fealing in my left boob for ages... Maybe that is just me 😳
Ok, I’m a bloke! But sitting in bed next to my wife who is a breast cancer survivor, so asked her.
There are bras specifically provided for woman who’ve had a mastectomy and/or reconstruction which may well help you too. The problems will be pretty much the same. M&S offer an excellent advice and fitting service- sensitive and really well trained. No idea how this might work in the present situation, but worth checking their website and booking an appointment on line.
You also ask for an appointment with a breast care nurse.
Lots of mastectomy bras, nursing bras, post-surgery bras online but nothing with a sternotomy in mind. Front fastening is useful because we can't reach round back but then it rubs on the wound, and I think the manufacturers are unaware that this continues after we return to work. I need a firm bra for work not a sleeping one, and a sports bra can be very restrictive if worn for a long time as per my original post - there's a lot going on under the skin, a lot of bruising, sore nerves etc. Unfortunately current situation means I can't get a bra fitting or see a nurse, but thank you for consulting your wife for me. Take care.
Hello Tillymint1971. I am a man. But reading some of the suggestions. Perhaps instead of wasting more money on unsuitable bras. If you think the wired bras suit you better. How about putting tissue or cotton around the wire part. To save any discomfort. Hope you find this Helpfull Take Care. Brian
As a wearer of H cup bras (no, I am not thinking of becoming a page 3 model - I am 70 and overweight!) the most comfortable bra by far is the Triumph "Doreen" bra. Oh the excitement when they introduce a new colour! (Currently lilac!) Dawn French said in her autobiography that the best thing about losing weight was not having to think up new ways of trimming up her Doreen bra with lace and bows!! Hope this helps
LOL - and too right about Doreen bras! The only thing 'wrong' with them is the eye-watering price. My husband asked me what I wanted for Christmas this last one and I told him 'A Doreen bra!' - oh my goodness that thing is AMAZING! Birthday coming up - I want another
I use Fantasie underwired bras with soft lint underneath the wire. I use AB Shock Absorber bras when exercising or for comfort/support when travelling long distances. I haven’t had open surgery but have always had big boobs (36 GG) so have learned tricks over the years. Doesn’t matter how much weight I lose they never get any smaller 😩.
Hi, Maisie2014. My go to underwired bras are Fantasie but at the moment they are feeling very uncomfortable and I really wasn't sure whether I should be wearing underwired. Something I noticed when I bought the non wired bras was I needed a size bigger on my chest - perhaps that is the sternotomy, I don't know. I'll go back to the underwired with a handkerchief or something as soon as I can.
I had a brilliant experience with a very knowledgeable lady in M&S. The recommendation was to go down a cup size e.g. GG to G but keep the back size the same. I bought the Lace Non-Padded Bralette F-GG and was so impressed I bought a couple more for my Zumba classes. It does not look like it gives much support, but it really does the job. The other style I have is the Total Support Embroidered Full Cup Bra D-K for regular day wear. It has more colours but nothing inspiring. Hope this helps.
I tried sports bras after my ICD but very uncomfortable over the scar so went back to my wired bras but with only half cups so that the straps are not near my scar & ICD - will try the Sloggi - good idea. Most of the non wired I have seen have full cups that didn’t work for me personally . If you find a good one please share
Thanks, I've ordered a Bralette and another bra from M&S! The problem is that a lot of the bras are full cup and very fussy for me, such as the Doreen bra recommended above. But it’s good to keep looking I guess.
Hi Tilly. When I was threatened with open heart surgery (which hasn't yet happened as the drugs are working well - phew!), I got a couple of non-wired front fastening mastectomy bras from John Lewis. They're surprisingly supportive, so I wear them for exercising. They do look slightly bulky when wearing tight-fitting clothes, but not too bad.
Hi I’m 10 months post OHS and still struggling with underwired bras! I bought a couple of non wired front fastening ones from Victoria Secret which are really nice, other than that I have sports bras from Sweaty Betty which are clasp fastening not the over the head ones. Don’t know if that helps
Having read BHF advice I spent a lot of money buying specially designed bra £30+, some front fastening ones (online shop) and non-wired from M&S. I also bought a couple of M&S “secret support” vests - just in case - and then the was amazed by how comfy they were. Wore when leaving hospital and through recovery period too, then moved onto the unwired. At 4 months post op can wear the wired ones in comfort now.
Actually I don’t think the information provided is very helpful - probably written by men!
Hi 5 week today got triple bypass . Still sterum very sore is ths normal . Sone day s sore thn others hve days dont feel great as if depressed heavy chest prob doesnt help . How long before soreness stops . Hav made progress nothg like it was wearing front soft bras
Hi, Truesta123 it’s still very early days from your surgery, it’s 8-10 weeks before you should be looking at starting cardio rehab, if things were normal! you have to give the sternum time to heal remember it’s like any broken bone, even though we had it wired together it still as to start healing together. You still shouldn’t be lifting anything heavier than a bag of sugar, and no arms above your head!
Everyone is different, my soreness lasted about 8 weeks, though 3 1/2 years on and I can still get the occasional twinge from where they harvested my artery from!
It does take time but it really does get better, just remember you have had major surgery, be kind to yourself and it’s baby steps. Then onwards and upwards.
Hi, I'm sorry you are so fed up. My worst week was Week 4 but Week 8 is when they say your sternum will be healed. It was certainly after that before I lay on my side and I hug a cuddly toy to my chest even now. Are you taking some painkillers? I was given codeine phosphate and paracetamol to take and you should take something for the pain. Just don't do too much 'cos you may not realise you are overdoing it when dosed up. Look after yourself and touch base with your surgeon at 6 weeks. That is when I think they believe you will well enough to consider exercise. Take care. x
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