HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

The bra fitter asked...Do you have fibromyalgia?

Support Forums
>
Fibromyalgia
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 1/18/2014 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
Yesterday when out shopping with friends we stopped in the longerie dept,I was in need of some new bras. The bra fitter came in with a selection of underwire bras. I said I can't wear those...way to uncomfortable for me. She said nonsense, I was just not wearing the right size. She could not find one to fit comfortably. She then looked me straight in the eyes and asked if I had fibromyalgia. I said yes, I did. She said she was sorry and that her daughter also had fibro and that she understood. It felt great to have a stranger acknowledge that we are sensitive to pain.

I left without any bras but did find some comfy pj's.

Hugs, Robin
Posted 1/18/2014 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
Very nice !!
Posted 1/18/2014 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
Ah how nice to have someone understand. Also explains why I've always hated underwire bras. As a DDD (or more) I NEED underwire, but they hurt too much.
Posted 1/18/2014 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
Robin...I haven't worn a bra in 20 years. I just can't stand it. I have gone to events where The Girls cannot hang like windsocks, worn a bra and slithered off to the restroom to take it off. Even mesh sports bras hurt. Last week I bought a Cupid camisole thingy that still gives some boobular support but is very light weight. Walked around the house with it on for a few minutes and was in agony. It's going back.

Thankfully I'm not well endowed...I don't know what I'd do if I was. Probably tuck them into the elastic of my underpants. Yes...I still wear those.

Huggies
Donna
Posted 1/18/2014 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
I can only wear sports bras. I never realized until this forum that bras were an issue. I just thought I was an oddball. I also can not shave my armpits. JOY.
Posted 1/18/2014 9:31 PM (GMT 0)
I've found a good bra that supports and is comfortable most of the time. Playtex comfort straps with cloth support cups.

I have had times where I had to wear a camie with built in bra under my clothes because my bra hurt me.
Posted 1/19/2014 2:33 AM (GMT 0)
Sounds like we are a buncha 'odd balls'

I too need underwire but NO WAY !!

If I wear anything other than
Decent Exposures soft soft bras
I have to wear a cotton tank top Under my bras..
use to wear well fitted (tight) bras which looked wonderful
but, between 'princess & the pea' sensitivity of fibro
& neck, shoulder issues
No more... (sad face right here)
Posted 1/19/2014 3:14 AM (GMT 0)
I went bra less for years...back in the day. I was so small I couldn't hold a pencil under my boob. According to someone who wrote to Ann Landers, that was the test to see if you could get away without wearing one.
My sisters got my share of the boobs. I grew some after menopause, lol. and I now need the support. I guess I could tuck them in my undies like Donna. It would be more comfy than the underwire.

Hugs, Robin
Posted 1/19/2014 3:23 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the post. I have had issues with bras for the last 5 years, complaining to other Dcup friends and asking if their bras were that uncomfortable. No one ever had the issues I had. I didn't realize that this was because of the fibro. I recently bought my first non-underwire I've had since 1980. My look isn't as nice but I am more comfortable. But my bra is still the first thing that comes off when I get home from work, even before my shoes.
Posted 1/19/2014 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone feel like their bra is getting tighter and tighter the longer they have it on? Seems to make every rib ache, but I can also get this without a bra.

I think a guy invented bra's because he knew men would not need them.
Posted 1/19/2014 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't been able to go shopping for at least a year because of severe back pain at the bra back strap level no matter how loose it is. I finally bit the bullet & just started without a bra instead of taking it off on the way home. Sure enough, I was able to last running around town for 3 or 4 hrs! So now I'm trying to learn to not be self conscious going bra less. I'm a D cup, so it's an issue, but it's bra less or stay home. I've tried sports bras & the shirts with built in shelf bras, & it's always the same thing, a severe back ache at the bra back band level bringing me to tears. cry
Posted 1/19/2014 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
Maybe I will forgo the bra and just start wearing tube socks on them turn smilewinkgrin turn

Hugs, Robin
Posted 1/19/2014 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
Robin
Lolololol
Posted 1/19/2014 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
I just thought bra pain was normal....never considered it might be something not right however, after reading your comments, I sort of realized that I am not the only one around with a wacky sense of humor!! Robin, I do love your considered and thoughtful suggestions to alternatives! Guess I better grab some tube socks!
Posted 1/19/2014 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
tongue I never considered tube socks. Maybe I could tie them together with shoe strings around my neck, giving a little lift! Try it & let me know how it works! turn
Posted 1/21/2014 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
If you are big enough to buy clothes at Catherines, they have THE MOST COMFORTABLE BRA EVER. It's called a Serenada, and it has wide sides and a wide back (five hooks). It is not an underwire bra. I wear a 48 DD and I have lost enough weight that I am going down in size into a 46DD. Be sure to have the person working there fit the bra for you. Their bra sizes start with 38.

It's supposed to fit as tight as a glove. At first you think it will NEVER work because it's so tight, but when you finally get it on, after 30 minutes you won't even notice it's on. If it moves around, it doesn't fit right. It should stay in place. I swear by them. I buy them when they are on sale (last week they were buy two, get two free). They are not cheap, but the ones I bought two years ago are still excellent shape. And that's a shame since I'm going down into a smaller size and I still have all these 48DD and two 50DD bras. I'm going to keep two of my 48DD bras for "fat" bras when I'm on prednisone or feeling bloated.

That doesn't mean that I don't take my bra off as soon as I walk into the house. I still do that. And they WILL bother you if you are having back pain, but they don't CAUSE the back pain.

Hope some of you can buy a few of these and come back to tell us if you like them.
Posted 1/21/2014 5:33 AM (GMT 0)
It's the weirdest thing, underwires don't bother me! In fact, they're the only kind I wear. I'm pretty average-sized, but need the underwire because of very "fibrous" (heavy) breasts.

Not that the underwire makes me look good, because I have to buy a bigger size around than I need - I can't stand that to be tight.

My shoes come off as soon as I'm in the door and my feet go in cushy slippers. But I could probably sleep in my bra.

Odd, huh?

Debbie
Posted 1/25/2014 12:23 PM (GMT 0)
Might I suggest Bali's comfort bra? I can't wear underwires/skinny straps. I gave up "fashion" a long time ago over comfort!! These are pricey, but you can find them on BOGO sales. Just bought 2 for myself recently and I will never wear another bra other than these! I know some of us can't stand anything touching our skin, but for those who can pull it off...these bras are worth the cost!
Posted 1/25/2014 1:24 PM (GMT 0)
I can't believe so many others have this problem. I'm glad I asked the question. It seems as though we have all tried the same things. I will look into the bras suggested, but those tube socks sound plausible.
Posted 1/26/2014 4:05 AM (GMT 0)
As a 38DD I've always worn underwire minimizers as long as I can remember. But since the Fibro set it those have become very uncomfortable to painful to wear, depending on the day. Since I'm not working anymore I've gone for comfort now. I found the Genie bras provide enough support and are fairly comfortable. Though getting them on & off can be painful. However I'm still vain enough that I suffer with the underwires on Sundays for church or special occasions/attire.

The tube sock idea had me rolling though! But I think the shoe strings around the neck would hurt. :)

Have a blessed day!
Posted 1/26/2014 8:03 AM (GMT 0)
I thought about the tube socks but they don't make them big enough for me. Most days I stay in my pjs so they just flop around. ;-)
Posted 1/26/2014 10:30 AM (GMT 0)
I was a 38DD and with all my bras I used a bra extender thus making the bra only tight enough so it stayed in place. Then as the bra aged I was able to take the extender out and the underwire bras feel wonderful.

Kathy
Posted 1/31/2014 1:04 AM (GMT 0)
I like my underwire, but need wider straps. Im a DD. My biggest problem with bras is I cant do them up! I usually hook them then slip over the head, but its not good for the bras so im trying to do it backwards then slide them around then put my arms in....but this seems to be a lot of work!
Posted 2/1/2014 1:34 PM (GMT 0)
I've been wearing shelf bra camisoles for years. They work well with my wardrobe which is very casual. I pretty much live in a cami, leggings, t shirts and soft comfortable clothing.
Posted 2/4/2014 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
I literally don't know where to begin. My symptoms started two years ago. It started out wit horrible headaches the type that felt like I was hit with a bat. After the new year of 2012 it was constant everyday pain every where all over. I've seen my primary rheumatoid neurologist, test after test and all comes back normal my primary has suggest its fibro. My symptoms are crazy, headaches, nerve like pain in back, neck and scalp burning. Pain in my pelvic stomach and chest lots and lots of chest pain especially in the center. Sore scratchy throat lympnodes swell for no reason my hair went from beautiful long and curly to brittle dry and falling out. Im only 29 and a mother of two, I went from a happy go lucky love life woman to a fear of wat is happening to me. I can't even work any more n I dnt know what else to do or were else to look for help literally in tears cause I feel like I'm fighting to be and feel how I use too.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12