https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-over-medical-equipment Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 16 Apr 2026 22:17:46 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-over-medical-equipment#post-1443617 Tue, 17 Feb 2015 18:49:35 +0000 trekkiegirl 1443617@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks all, some great input here. I don't have a lot of flowy loose tops, but I can definitely see how those would work. Luckily it's still winter, so sweaters and layers won't be totally weird to wear... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-over-medical-equipment#post-1443531 Tue, 17 Feb 2015 15:40:22 +0000 Anonymous 1443531@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm so sorry to hear you're having such problems. I've suffered from back and leg pain for years, but have fortunately never had to wear a brace. It's great that there are YLFers who can give you some tips. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-over-medical-equipment#post-1443530 Tue, 17 Feb 2015 15:38:09 +0000 Anonymous 1443530@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My niece has scoliosis and had to wear a body brace during her teen years. It was hard on clothes the way it rubbed. Waists needed to be elastic or drawstring, flowing legs or long skirts, long loose lightweight toppers over tees that always needed replacing. Decades later and no brace that I know of, she still dresses this way...quite boho. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-over-medical-equipment#post-1443526 Tue, 17 Feb 2015 15:22:32 +0000 Echo 1443526@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wore a brace after my DD was born, and I found flowy layers and draping to be fabulous looks to cover the lumps and bumps. There are some really great draping pieces now, and some of them are fabulously comfortable (sometimes classified as fitness gear, though they are things I'd NEVER wear to workout in). Tank tops with a double layer (a more flowy top layer) and/or asymmetrical hem are fab under jackets or cardis or even flowy sweaters. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-over-medical-equipment#post-1443523 Tue, 17 Feb 2015 15:16:06 +0000 Author Linda 1443523@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Dressing over medical devices is a challenge. A year ago after a major abdominal surgery... my incision developed complications and didn't heal, so I ended up wearing a wound vac 24/7. Basically I had to carry around a machine&nbsp;the size of a large handbag everywhere I went. It had tubing running to my abdominal wound, which was an inch or so below my belly button.&nbsp;So you can imagine how that limited my fashion choices.</p> <p>What I did: looser-waist-ed mid-rise pants or jeans (because the tubing had to go under&nbsp;my waistband); soft flowing&nbsp;tops that hit no lower than top of the hip (I bought my first&nbsp;EF tops just for this period); NO dresses; and ALWAYS carrying a lovely shoulder&nbsp;handbag into which I put the vac unit. The tubing would come out of the top of the handbag and go into me. If I carried my bag just so, the tubing was almost completely hidden.&nbsp;</p> <p>I named my unit Mr. Sucky. Mr. Sucky went to the theater in a nice quilted black Rebecca Minkoff&nbsp;bag. He went grocery shopping and to lunch&nbsp;in a smart canvas and leather hobo. At home he hung from my shoulder&nbsp;in a soft, pretty patterned Vera Bradley bag while I did cooking, cleaning, and reading. If I'd still been going to the office, I'm sure I could have dressed Mr. Sucky&nbsp;up in nice business casual.</p> <p>It's now six months since I sent Mr. Sucky back to the medical supply company and I've gone back to tighter jeans and belts at my waist, but I must admit I'm still loving my flowing tops! I could see them being great options for a back brace. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-over-medical-equipment#post-1443491 Tue, 17 Feb 2015 13:55:19 +0000 Kristin L 1443491@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm sorry your back is giving you grief! I haven't had to dress over a brace, so please forgive me if my ideas won't work for you. Would a structured jacket, like a blazer, help? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-over-medical-equipment#post-1443473 Tue, 17 Feb 2015 12:39:07 +0000 lyn67 1443473@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sorry to hear that. I don't know anything about back braces, but Chewyspagetti used to wear one in the past...don't know if she is still around and reading:-(. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-over-medical-equipment#post-1443457 Tue, 17 Feb 2015 10:59:44 +0000 Summer 1443457@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sorry to hear about your bad back, tr3kkie. &nbsp;I haven't experienced this kind of problem, but I'm sure you will rise to the challenge and find a way &nbsp;to make your wardrobe work around it. &nbsp;Good luck.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-over-medical-equipment#post-1443405 Tue, 17 Feb 2015 04:30:33 +0000 rachylou 1443405@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I was using an insulin pump. Made dresses and tucking difficult. Frankly the flowy top became my best friend. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-over-medical-equipment#post-1443298 Mon, 16 Feb 2015 23:10:54 +0000 Dee 1443298@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have established a kind of mini-capsule out of my clothing that I know to pull from when my RA is acting up. Jeans loose enough to wear a knee brace under or fitted enough to wear one over. Loose sweaters so I can wear a wrist brace under and not have it be too noticeable. Certain shoes I can fit an ankle brace in, etc. </p> <p>In the spring I had knee surgery and had to wear a brace from thigh to ankle for about eight weeks. It was large and bulky enough that it had to go over pants and no jeans, so I had a few pairs of leggings and track pants that I wore pretty constantly. And I had a cane during the recovery, so no hiding it for me. If you go back through my threads from last spring, you'll see a few WIWs.</p> <p>I don't think I've bought clothing that I only wear on bad days, but many of the items are on the casual extreme of my style. And no heels about 1.5", which has been the biggest sacrifice. </p> <p>I never had to deal with a back brace though, so no specific advice. I feel a fitted layer of a tank and a long/drapey top or cardigan on top would go a long way to disguising a bulkier brace. I second the above poster that a fun bag or accessory can go a long way to providing some visual interest. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-over-medical-equipment#post-1443263 Mon, 16 Feb 2015 21:53:34 +0000 trekkiegirl 1443263@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What do you mean by a compression base layer? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-over-medical-equipment#post-1443262 Mon, 16 Feb 2015 21:49:35 +0000 Dekaf4me 1443262@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I actually think that I've unintentionally&nbsp;developed my style in part because of some medical needs. Layers, layers and &nbsp;more layers. I've found that some fluid and asymmetrical toppers have been really helpful. And I've found fun accessories and shoes helpful to keep me feeling spunky even if the rest of me isn't feeling so. It's more function than fashion, but with some of my bracing I've found that a good compression base layer (I'm partial to Lucy but have some others I like too) has also been helpful to keep things in place.&nbsp;<br />Good luck!&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dressing-over-medical-equipment#post-1443259 Mon, 16 Feb 2015 21:42:09 +0000 trekkiegirl 1443259@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For the last few weeks, my back has been bothering me something fierce. I won't go into too many details, but now that it's been almost a month I'm resorting to a back brace (my Dr approves). I was lucky to find one that isn't super bulky but it does create some odd lumps, and has Velcro straps that can be very irritating if they contact skin. I have to wear a tank top under and another over it to combat both these. I haven't had to wear it to work yet, but I am worried about fitting some of my clothing over it.</p> <p>Has anyone else had to dress around medical equipment? What was your experience like? How much did it change your style, or not? </p>