CJRT
07-08-2007, 12:53 PM
I am having a lot of discomfort from what I think is the MS hug. My chest and stomach muscles have been very tight since Fri. I am super uncomfortable and ad in the hernia surgery so you can imagine that I do not want to wear anything but loose comfortable clothing.
My problem is that I need a bra alternative. I just cannot stand to put on one right now, it is very uncomfortable. But I need one. I have a few cotton tank tops with the built in "shelf", but they don't offer the support I need and frankly they are hot as I do not go out in them alone. I need to wear a blouse over them and we all know that hot is not something we want to be.
I tried the lycra sports bras, but the binding at the bottom was causing the same discomfort as the regular bras. I just don't want anything tight around my chest. But I need to leave the house and going without is NOT an option for me.
Does anyone else experience this same discomfort wearing a bra?
Do you have any practical solutions so I can go out without being uncomfortable and also not "bouncing" around as believe me, at my age, that is NOT attractive! :)
Thanks,
CJ
My problem is that I need a bra alternative. I just cannot stand to put on one right now, it is very uncomfortable. But I need one. I have a few cotton tank tops with the built in "shelf", but they don't offer the support I need and frankly they are hot as I do not go out in them alone. I need to wear a blouse over them and we all know that hot is not something we want to be.
I tried the lycra sports bras, but the binding at the bottom was causing the same discomfort as the regular bras. I just don't want anything tight around my chest. But I need to leave the house and going without is NOT an option for me.
Does anyone else experience this same discomfort wearing a bra?
Do you have any practical solutions so I can go out without being uncomfortable and also not "bouncing" around as believe me, at my age, that is NOT attractive! :)
Thanks,
CJ
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bella67
07-08-2007, 02:09 PM
Honestly CJ, I'm the last person to be answering this one because I'm a DD , and if i don't have my underwire there WILL be a national incident..lol But, I did see online that they have those silicone cups that have no straps. I don't know if it's suction or tape that's holding the puppies up, but you can look into those..lol Another idea is maybe you can get a tube top and wear it underneath? Not much support, but way more comfortable than a bra strap.
CJRT
07-08-2007, 02:46 PM
Honestly CJ, I'm the last person to be answering this one because I'm a DD , and if i don't have my underwire there WILL be a national incident..lol But, I did see online that they have those silicone cups that have no straps. I don't know if it's suction or tape that's holding the puppies up, but you can look into those..lol Another idea is maybe you can get a tube top and wear it underneath? Not much support, but way more comfortable than a bra strap.
Bella you have me ROFL! I too am concerned about causing a national incident which is why I asked. And we have gotten company here at the house and I've been going without and its kind of embarrassing when people come over becauise I have to cross my arms over my chest and flee to the bedroom to change.
It's not the bra straps that are bothering me, but the bra band that goes around you and hooks. All my bras feel way to tight during this current episode and its not that they are tight. If anything, they are fairly loose. I need to buy new ones since I have lost weight and have put it off as bra buying is my least favorite thing to shop for.
The tube top thing might work. Hubby suggested maybe using an ace bandage as its kind of stretchy and we wouldn't have to wind it around too tight.
I don't know why, but just wearing one is making me really, really, uncomfortable. Wearing pants makes me uncomfortable too. Anything around my waist or chest feels like its cutting off circulation even when its not. Fortunately I happen to have some pants that are very, very loose and I can wear those without too much problem (except I have to hike them up when I walk.) I don't have many dresses, but I sure wish I did at the moment. I guess I am a top and bottom type dresser as I have skirts and shorts and pants and lots of tops, but but only 2 dresses.
To be honest, right now I wish I had some big old muu muus or shapeless house dresses and didn't have to go anywhere where I had to put on actual clothes. :)
I really feel almost "bloated", but I'm not bloated, but the feeling I'm getting is that kind of feeling. Like I have ballooned out of my skin all over my torso.
And I haven't. My measurements haven't changed, so I'm not really bloated. Just feeling that way. It's weird. But again, can't leave the house without the proper clothes, so am sticking close to home as much as possible right now I guess.
Bella you have me ROFL! I too am concerned about causing a national incident which is why I asked. And we have gotten company here at the house and I've been going without and its kind of embarrassing when people come over becauise I have to cross my arms over my chest and flee to the bedroom to change.
It's not the bra straps that are bothering me, but the bra band that goes around you and hooks. All my bras feel way to tight during this current episode and its not that they are tight. If anything, they are fairly loose. I need to buy new ones since I have lost weight and have put it off as bra buying is my least favorite thing to shop for.
The tube top thing might work. Hubby suggested maybe using an ace bandage as its kind of stretchy and we wouldn't have to wind it around too tight.
I don't know why, but just wearing one is making me really, really, uncomfortable. Wearing pants makes me uncomfortable too. Anything around my waist or chest feels like its cutting off circulation even when its not. Fortunately I happen to have some pants that are very, very loose and I can wear those without too much problem (except I have to hike them up when I walk.) I don't have many dresses, but I sure wish I did at the moment. I guess I am a top and bottom type dresser as I have skirts and shorts and pants and lots of tops, but but only 2 dresses.
To be honest, right now I wish I had some big old muu muus or shapeless house dresses and didn't have to go anywhere where I had to put on actual clothes. :)
I really feel almost "bloated", but I'm not bloated, but the feeling I'm getting is that kind of feeling. Like I have ballooned out of my skin all over my torso.
And I haven't. My measurements haven't changed, so I'm not really bloated. Just feeling that way. It's weird. But again, can't leave the house without the proper clothes, so am sticking close to home as much as possible right now I guess.
SRSuper
07-08-2007, 02:59 PM
hi CJ-
There are some tank tops without the tightness of the shelf bra- they have inserted underwires in the tank top. I cant remember where i saw it but I know theyre very popular for breast cancer patients who have had a masectomy.
good luck to you!
There are some tank tops without the tightness of the shelf bra- they have inserted underwires in the tank top. I cant remember where i saw it but I know theyre very popular for breast cancer patients who have had a masectomy.
good luck to you!
KTMorra
07-08-2007, 04:35 PM
CJ
I too am a member of the trying to defy gravity club. Without a bra the ladys are gonna hurt someone. When I get to that point where a bra is too painful I have resorted to wearing my bathing suit under my clothes. Not as much support as a bra but at least they are contained to one general area instead of roaming free. :eek:
Take care and best of luck to ya
Kt:wave:
I too am a member of the trying to defy gravity club. Without a bra the ladys are gonna hurt someone. When I get to that point where a bra is too painful I have resorted to wearing my bathing suit under my clothes. Not as much support as a bra but at least they are contained to one general area instead of roaming free. :eek:
Take care and best of luck to ya
Kt:wave:
taosdaphne
07-08-2007, 05:02 PM
Well, my ta-tas are heading south as well. And at the moment I can't wear a bra because of a still-unhealed shoulder dislocation. I'm going without and wearing some plus-size oxford cloth shirts that are thick enough that you can't see thru, and loose enough that they breathe. If I'm actually going out somewhere I'll have my partner hook me up--but to be honest I've *never* liked wearing bras. They are all hot and itchy to me.
Exploring the world of post-masectomy things is a good idea. They are mostly high-end lingerie in sizes I haven't worn since I was twelve. Better yet, call them during office hours next week. They have a tiny shop on Madison Ave in NYC with very strict and firm foreign women working for them--the ONLY people who have ever measured me correctly, and who carry the one brand I find comfy (Wacoal). They know bras, and if they can't help you they know who can.
Wouldn't it be great if they had velcro closures for bras?
I'm searching for front-closure cotton bras at the moment, with no luck so far. (I'm a 42D). Any suggestions?
Daphne
Exploring the world of post-masectomy things is a good idea. They are mostly high-end lingerie in sizes I haven't worn since I was twelve. Better yet, call them during office hours next week. They have a tiny shop on Madison Ave in NYC with very strict and firm foreign women working for them--the ONLY people who have ever measured me correctly, and who carry the one brand I find comfy (Wacoal). They know bras, and if they can't help you they know who can.
Wouldn't it be great if they had velcro closures for bras?
I'm searching for front-closure cotton bras at the moment, with no luck so far. (I'm a 42D). Any suggestions?
Daphne
CJRT
07-08-2007, 06:10 PM
Well you guys have given me some much needed laughter today. Gravity is my enemy too. Especially after losing weight because it seems as if that is where I lost most of my weight which is so unfair as I have only worn a C cup even at my highest weight. (But even though I lost weight there, the same skin stayed and didn't shrink which I think is the ULTIMATE body betrayal! :) )
Try finding a 48C. Most are D or above as they assume if you are large enough for a 48, then the girls are bigger than a C. I actually have no idea what size I am now. I should go have a bra fitting, but I'm so embarrassed about how they really look. But I think I'm down to a 40 or even a 38 maybe? Hopefully. :)
And some great suggestions for things I can do in while I'm having the discomfort. Thank you.
Daphne, in the past I have bought bras from the lane bryant catalog and Roaman's catalog. Both are online and both have carried in the past front closure cotton bras. And I'm fairly certain 42D is a size they carry. I've always been very satisfied with their bras and other clothing. Lane Bryant catalog is a separate entity now from the Lane Bryant stores, so when you go online, make sure you specify catalog in your search.
Velcro would be great, but with my luck, I'd bend over and hear rrrrrriiiippppp and it would open up and I'd be somewhere where it was VERY embarrassing. I have a skirt that closes with velcro and its always doing that to me.
I had an underwire bra start to lose its wire. I had been out ALL day, running errands, shopping, etc. I had been to the grocery, dry cleaners, etc. It was not until I got home that I noticed the wire poking out of my sweater a good 2-3 inches right between the boobs. No one said a word to me ALL day about it. I was so embarrassed.
Try finding a 48C. Most are D or above as they assume if you are large enough for a 48, then the girls are bigger than a C. I actually have no idea what size I am now. I should go have a bra fitting, but I'm so embarrassed about how they really look. But I think I'm down to a 40 or even a 38 maybe? Hopefully. :)
And some great suggestions for things I can do in while I'm having the discomfort. Thank you.
Daphne, in the past I have bought bras from the lane bryant catalog and Roaman's catalog. Both are online and both have carried in the past front closure cotton bras. And I'm fairly certain 42D is a size they carry. I've always been very satisfied with their bras and other clothing. Lane Bryant catalog is a separate entity now from the Lane Bryant stores, so when you go online, make sure you specify catalog in your search.
Velcro would be great, but with my luck, I'd bend over and hear rrrrrriiiippppp and it would open up and I'd be somewhere where it was VERY embarrassing. I have a skirt that closes with velcro and its always doing that to me.
I had an underwire bra start to lose its wire. I had been out ALL day, running errands, shopping, etc. I had been to the grocery, dry cleaners, etc. It was not until I got home that I noticed the wire poking out of my sweater a good 2-3 inches right between the boobs. No one said a word to me ALL day about it. I was so embarrassed.
anniebooboo
07-09-2007, 09:26 AM
Ladies, do what we do for 9 months of the year here in Australia. Wear a bikini top! (with string ties). Its practically our national costume. Not a great look but functional all the same.
Hope the weather cools for you all soon.
Kindest regards
Annie ;)
Hope the weather cools for you all soon.
Kindest regards
Annie ;)
Jill1221
07-09-2007, 09:34 AM
Hey CJ - you might do a web search and look into Sassybax bras. I have not tried them but would love to after I saw an ad in a magazine. I am with you - the door bell rings and I have to run for the closet to put my bra! Usually be the time I get to the door, whoever was there is gone. Oh well, I guess that is the UPS man's loss! ;) Good luck.
Jill
Jill