I want surgery NOW

[cjsmith]

Last summer I was very pleased to get fitted properly for bras. The one I had on order never did show up, so I'm not as thrilled with Nordstrom as I was that day, but for someone like me it's worth a $70 surcharge just to know what might fit. I wish I were kidding when I say that, but I'm not.

The two I've been wearing since then are now nearly dead. Truth to tell, they were nearly dead a couple months after I bought them. (Hey, put that much weight on anything stretchy and see how long it lasts.) I finally got around to ordering replacements.

One of the two can't be ordered online from Nordstrom in anything but the standard 34C kind of size. Of course. (Thank goodness for freshpair.) And the other has already been discontinued. *eyeroll* Everybody who's surprised, raise your hand.

Comments

[anirishpenguin.livejournal.com]

HUGS! I know how you feel, I had that surgery almost 2 years ago and have been EXTREMELY happy since. Have you tried this site for bras: http://www.herroom.com/ ? I've used them both before and after the reduction.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Haven't tried that one, and I thank you!

I want the clothing industry to pay for my reduction. They'll probably get their investment back once I fit in the things they offer.

[anirishpenguin.livejournal.com]

I could do with a rebate from them :-)
There are 2 other websites I'm trying to find that I used to use pre-surgery. There is also a woman in San Jose (trying to locate her information too) who made bras to fit an individual specifically.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Wow, custom-made? That would be bliss.

[tiger-spot.livejournal.com]

Ooh, hey, I think that site has a brand or two I haven't seen elsewhere. Thank you!

[lisa-marli.livejournal.com]

I understand your annoyance. My daughter is a Double II aka J. She actually doesn't have any pain, Except for Finding Bras That Fit!
Thank you anirishpenquin for the site. I'm forwarding it to Jennie.
And her doctor has said, as soon as she is done with nursing and can handle the down time, they will do it as a medical necessity.
Don't look at me, I have No Idea where she got it from, I'm a size C.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I'm only a G, and at that, I'm a G in a world where E comes right after D and F comes right after E and so forth. But man, this is annoying.

[tenacious-snail.livejournal.com]

Best thing I ever did for myself.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I can only imagine. There's a lot of random medical stuff I'd like to do for myself, but I may have to wait until after certain life changes are all finished. I don't foresee much down time in the next bunch of years.

[klwalton.livejournal.com]

I *hate* shopping for bras. And I've got to do it soon, because the two I have are rapidly approaching threadbare.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Do yours get discontinued every time, too?

I guess I should have expected it. When I found something that fit as crazy a combination as 32F / 30G, I should have expected it wouldn't be around the next time I needed it. Back when I wore shoes, I never could get the same kind of those twice, either.

[tiger-spot.livejournal.com]

I've been using figleaves.com (http://www.figleaves.com) lately. I have not found Exactly the Bra I Want, but I have found some acceptable things to use while I keep looking (and a swimsuit!). They have a good returns policy and frequent sales that include free shipping (if you sign up for the e-mail list, they will send you a coupon every few days; this is annoying but the coupon codes are nice, so I route them all straight to the trash bin and go and look for one when I actually feel like shopping), so they make the "looking" part easier.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I've seen your swimsuit search post(s)! It never occurred to me, honestly, that swimsuits could fit. I just buy one that doesn't chafe the armpits too badly and call it a day... but hey, I'm lucky, or just lazy: I only wear a swimsiut if I'm going swimming. :)

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

I'm not only not raising my hand, I'm sitting on them (well, when I'm not using them to type with). SOOO not surprised.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I want the clothing industry to PAY for my surgery.

No, wait. The medical folks. They're the ones who can't keep me from suicidal levels of pain without the hormones that are undoubtedly doing this to me. (I am still growing.)

Aw, heck. They can split it.

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

*chuckle* Yeah.

Say, have you tried a custom-fitted corset? I was reading somewhere recently someone's opinion that a properly fitted corset is actually better for support because it spreads the stress onto the hip bones, which are meant to be load bearing, rather than rely on an entirely inadequate elastic band around the back and wimpy straps (which cut). You would, of course, require a custom one, but it does occur that with the price of bras, and some care (like always using a corset liner) you might find it an acceptable solution, even monetarily. At least for the winter (not sure I'd want So. Bay temps in a corset in the summer ALL the time...)

[recordersmith.livejournal.com]

A well fitted corset is a wonderful thing, not just for boob support, but for back support and posture as well. Just make sure it's not boned with the evil plastic boning you typically get in sewing stores.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I do own one custom-fitted corset, but it's cupless and sized for tightlacing. So I guess no, I haven't. :)

I do like the ability to bend at the waist on a daily basis. But corsets are sexy, and one of those would last a lot longer than a bra. Hmm. :)

[rfrench.livejournal.com]

I like your corsets. More to the point I like seeing you in your corsets :-)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I hate to break it to ya, but the discontinued one is the style you like. (At freshpair they had exactly two of it left. I bought them both.) In another six months, the other style will probably also be discontinued, and I'll need another trip to Nordstrom's.

[rfrench.livejournal.com]

Actually I was thinking of the one you bought in Hamburg in the red light district.

You are thinking corset, right? I don't think you bought corsets at Nordstrom's.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Sorry, no, I was back on bras. The discontinued bra is the one you like better.

[rfrench.livejournal.com]

OK, you're stuck wearing the corset, then.

[recordersmith.livejournal.com]

OK, if the calculators that take your underbust measurement and add inches to get your band size are wrong, how do I sort it out? The calculator on herroom.com does that addition, and figleaves doesnt give an actual calculator, despite the fact that they say a lot about how bras are supposed to fit.

I just did my measurements and got an underbust of 30inches and a bust of 37. How do I calculate something that will actually fit right?

[tiger-spot.livejournal.com]

Actual underbust measurement rounded up to the nearest even number; difference between bust and underbust in inches converted into a letter based on the very simple 1 = A, 2 = B, etc. code. This is complicated by the fact that it's difficult to get an accurate bust measurement if you're not already wearing a well-fitting bra, and the fact that the manufacturers are evil. (And that differently shaped women will fit different styles of bras differently, and may need a different size than usual for a particular bra because of the shape.) Try a 30G on the loosest set of hooks and see how that fits. I'm told that Wacoal is good about accurate sizing, but they don't have all that much available down at our end of the range.

If the back of the band is higher than the front of the band, it's too big. Go down a band size and up a cup size or two. If there are any wrinkles in the fabric of the cups, then either they're too big or they're a shape that won't work for you.

[recordersmith.livejournal.com]

Cool, I'll try that. Thanks!

So are the sizings that use double letters a different system? If so, how can I tell which system a place is using. I'd like to go ahead and order some bras from herroom and figleaves, just order 30Gs and go from there?

[recordersmith.livejournal.com]

And, is this complicated by the fact that I *hate* underwires and only buy wireless bras?

[tiger-spot.livejournal.com]

Meeee tooooo.

Part of the reason I hate wires is that for such a long time I was buying the wrong size (of course the wires were poking me in the armpits, they were four inches longer than they should have been!); now that I've figured out what size I actually am they're at least comfortable enough to try on, although I haven't found a wired bra I really like yet.

I did find a wired bra that was comfortable and supportive and all things good at Nordstrom's; unfortunately it didn't come in my size, but it was close enough that I could tell I'd like it if it did. :(

[tiger-spot.livejournal.com]

Double letters usually stand in for the next letter up: DD = E, FF = G, that sort of thing. If you're not sure what system a particular brand is using, look at the list of sizes and count up from D. (That is, if you see that the sizes available go A, B, C, D, DD, E, EE, F instead of A, B, C, DD, DDD, G, GG, you'd try an EE in that brand.) UK brands are usually one cup size larger than US brands (so if you're ordering a UK brand, start with an F instead of a G).

[recordersmith.livejournal.com]

Gack. When I search by size on figleaves, the cheapest they have is $40. On herroom it's $35. I'm used to spending $20-25, so this seems overpriced to me. Guess I'll bite the bullet and get one or two but I'm miffed.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. If mine are $50 or under I'm thanking the gods.

Ordering online SUCKS. It's seriously expensive merely to try things on!

[recordersmith.livejournal.com]

Maybe I have unreasonable expectations pricewise.

Also, when I search by size mostly they're all underwired. When I look that the wireless ones, they dont come in the size I want. So maybe I'll try an underwired one and hope that I'll like them better if they fit right. It's not the armpit jab that everyone else seems to get, but rather the inner points make me itch. Every time I've worn and underwire bra I've spent the day trying very hard not to scratch there in public...

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh, I don't think your expectations are unreasonable. After all, normal-sized women can get bras for $30.

Itching, eh? Hmm. On me the inner points make nice deep red grooves. (So do the outer points, and so does the band.) On the other hand, if I could ever find something without an underwire, I suspect it would let me swing down to my belly button ;-)

[jupiter29.livejournal.com]

Does it bother you that I am currently thinking about your bra? :)

Seriously, it must be ridiculously frustrating to not be able to find anything that fits right. :(