Females

Hello I have a question about wearing a bra. I am 3wks post-op and am now wearing a strapless bra. I have heard that some people can never wear a regular bra again because it rubs against the scar. Does anyone have any experience in this?

Thanks,

Holly

10 Comments

Bra

by Pacing13 - 2008-02-06 02:02:59

I consider myself lucky after reading these comments as I have never had an issue with straps. Never feel anything rubbing on my scars.

'Females Only'

by bunnykin - 2008-02-06 04:02:30

Hello Holly,
I'm into my 6th year of an ICD after 2 yrs pacemaker; Since implant of the very first device, I've not been able to feel comfortable using any bra with straps. You might be right in saying that for some people, normal bra days are over and strapless ones are IN. Anyway, I've not missed them and strapless ones are just as useful and not cumbersome. At least there're no straps to scrape at or brush against my wound site. Moreover, if you're slim or thin or fine-boned person the device settles in and protrudes after a while which makes it more sensitive or tender when rubbed against. All this should come to pass with strapless bras...
Good luck and all the very best for a more rhythmic life!
:)

Bunnykin

OK

by Jules - 2008-02-06 07:02:13

Hi Holy, welcome

I must be very lucky because I am now in my four week and I have been wearing a bra since day one.

There are different makes as you well know on the market and the straps can be wide which actually do not cross over the pacemaker site.

Try different ones on.

Take care

Julie

Bra

by Carol - 2008-02-06 08:02:04

I am 4 months post implant and for the first couple of months my scar was very tender even with padding so I ended up cutting off the left strap or just tucking it in (depended on the type of bra). The strapless ones didn't work for me at all. Then I used a silicone pad for cushioning with my reg bra. I am happy to report that I can now wear my regular bras without problems. I can also wear my seat belt. So the moral of the story is we're all different, give yourself time to heal you're still pretty fresh as far as healing goes. Sincerely, Carol

I can relate....

by swilson10 - 2008-02-06 11:02:06

Because of the size of my breasts a strapless bra alone doesn't do much for me, but my pain level was definitely higher without any support. So for a month or so after surgery I usually wear a strapless bra with one of those tank tops with a built in shelf bra. The thin strap of the tank top is not bad at all and I feel much more supported. I think each of us will have different experiences based where our incision sites are, the location of the pacemaker, and of course the build of our bodies. With each PM surgery (4 in the last 2 years) I have had much different needs regarding my bras. You will figure out what works for you. Best Wishes. Shanna

bra

by Shell - 2008-02-06 12:02:03

I've had my pm 1 1/2 years and I've never had any problem wearing a bra.It doesn't bother my scar at all. (I also have no problem with seat belts either)

Bras

by ela-girl - 2008-02-06 12:02:47

Hi, Holly.

One thing you can try is cutting a hankie into 4 pieces and folding one piece and placing in between your bra strap and your incision site. This was enough comfort for me for a few months and then I was able to wear my normal bra without a problem. Then you have the other 3 pieces to change out while you wash the others. Some girls on this site do like the strapless bras--at least for awhile. You can also check out the ComfotHer post-surgery bra strap pad--there is a flashing ad for it in the upper left gray area on the site. Many gals here have tried it and liked it. I know us girls have talked on the site about designing a bra for women with pacemakers or getting a bra company to do it--I hope this is a possibility for the future!

Also...keep icing the site if you have some discomfort. That really helped me a lot!

ela-girl

Silicone Pad?

by Janet - 2008-02-08 09:02:39

Where did you find them?

lumpy enough already

by PreciousDays - 2008-02-08 10:02:01

I have a biventricular device - roughly the size of a folded cellphone - I am slim - so it already protrudes a lot.... - still - gravity pulls at the little bit mother nature did give me, so going braless has been really uncomfortable. - ( a non-issue, pre-pacer) I can't do a pad under the strap of the bra, because the pacer is already really noticable - even under some tee shirts. - Strapless bras are the only thing I have been able to get by with. Even the straps of the tanks tops with built in bras bother my pacer site. - the skin is just too sensitive. Oddly enough - seatbelts don't bother me - Good luck. PD

It gets better

by mandogrl - 2008-02-08 10:02:19

Welcome to the club, Holly. I'm 6months postPM. It's much better now. The 1st 6 weeks were worse than I expected, by 3months felt pretty close to normal. The bra / seat belt thing was a big issue for me.
I bought 1/4 yard flannel folded it to 4 thicknesses, and sewed it to all my left brastraps finally. Maybe I'll be able to wear normal brastraps again, but this works fine for now. For the seatbelt, I'm made a nice big doughnut shaped pad. I figured it the seatbelt alone felt irritating, it would be agony to be in an accident, and be yanked against it, so took preventive measures.
Being skinny leaves that PM more exposed than if a person had a little meat. that's my theory anyway.
Other than those little measures my life is back to normal.
Hang in there!

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