Braless and Need suggestions!!

Anonymous

On vacation I seem to have acquired what I think is shingles just where my bra band hits...hard red painful bumps...and I can't wear a bra comfortably. Any suggestions or experience with this would be greatly appreciated.

15 years ago

General

26 replies

Latest reply was from Sally

Tara

(website)

Veteran

Ouch! That can't be nice...
Umm...a really soft sports bra/crop top? A bra with convertible straps that can wrap around the waist?

Sorry I can't be of more help!

15 years ago

Sally

Veteran

a crop top would be good or a very fitting singlet. I am DD and I find a really fitting singlet with shelf bra comfortable but I haven't tried wearing it out (apart from the trip to the supermarket.

15 years ago

Sally

Veteran

Just wanted to add...I've add shingles...horrible thing. you can get antibiotics (or tablets of some sort ) for it ..when I did that they healed up quite quickly.

15 years ago

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Get some salve to soothe those nasty bumps, and grab a pack of soft sports bras/shelf bras from the closest Walmart or Target. I frequently wear those when I need a break for the day from the traditional fitted bra with the hookeye clasps.

Feel better!

15 years ago

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

Oh Joy that sounds horrible I hope you heal up and feel better soon.

But in the meantime I'd second the crop top or singlet/cami with built in shelf bra. When I had pneumonia my chest hurt to have any sort of bra on, so I lived in these for a few weeks.

15 years ago

Scarlet

Veteran

Is it on your back or your front? If it is on the back maybe you could get one of those bras that crisscross across the lower back to avoid the problem spot. I hope that the shingles go away soon. I hear it is terribly painful. If it is shingles you need to go straight to the doctor!

15 years ago

BlondeAmbition

Active Member

First and foremost have you been to the doctor? Shingles can be quite painful and needs to be addressed with antibiotics. I would ask the doctor or even the nurses for suggestions on underclothing too.

15 years ago

bj1111

Veteran

see a doc (any kind). you'll probably be given anti-virals. shingles=adult chickenpox. the pustules/any weeping fluid will contain live virus so be careful, you're contagious to those who haven't had chicken pox before.

Ps: of course...take the advice of a total stranger with a huge grain of salt! see your doc.

15 years ago

Debbie

Veteran

Oh Joy no advice. I just hope you feel better soon!

15 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Oh how horrible Joy! I'm so sorry. Hope your doctor can see you right away and give you something that helps.

15 years ago

Louise

Veteran

Joy looks like the other have sorted you with bras so I just hope you feel better soon x

15 years ago

judy

Veteran

Oh Joy, I've heard shingles can be a painful ordeal. I hope you get to a doc and are on the mend and feel better soon!

15 years ago

MNsara

Veteran

If it IS shingles it can run for six weeks and it is very painful. I had it a year ago around my inner ear nerves so my skin never broke out, but the pain was incredible.

Yes, see a doctor ASAP as they can put you on anti-viral meds and even pain killers to reduce the severity and help you through it, respectively.

Don't take it lightly, whatever it is, unless it is already receding on its own.

P.S. Don't aggravate the lesions with clothing - just wear whatever is loose and comfy until the skin is better.

15 years ago

Anonymous

I just bought some comfy Barely There bras and I can hardly tell I am wearing them. Barely There has a new line of bras in sizes S/M/L and they are very soft and stretchy. There is even a bandeau style that may work while your skin is healing.

Please get yourself to the doctor and get some relief! Heal quickly!

15 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oh no, Joy :(. Have you been to the dermatologist yet? How about a Second Base camisole?

15 years ago

Anonymous

I've just come from the doctor and it is shingles. I've got the antiviral prescription and pain killers which I hope will help with sleeping especially. It is very painful and across the front of my body under the breasts.
I've been wearing tank tops under sleeveless woven buttondowns, but will look for some of your wonderful suggestions. Anything that puts the least bit of pressure on that area is painful so I've got doubts about any sort of bra. However, there are times when I have to wear one even if I'm small busted. The heat index is at least 105 F today with high humidity, so that doesn't make layering easy.
bj1111 is right about the weeping pustules (mine are at that stage). The doctor told me that anyone who has had chickenpox is a shingles candidate. I would hate to give anyone chickenpox and feel like I should wear a "beware" sign if out in public.
Public service reminder: Get the shots for yourselves and children! Now!

15 years ago

MNsara

Veteran

Just keep your distance from pregnant women!! If they haven't had chicken pox or the immunization, and get chicken pox when pregnant it can be bad news for the baby.

My own MD was pregnant while she's asking me 'Have you ever had shingles?' -- I felt SO bad when we decided I did, but she had been immunized, etc.

I hope you can get comfortable and TAKE IT EASY while it runs its course!

15 years ago

hanna

(website)

Active Member

oh no! i have nothing to add to all the great advice, just wanted to say that i hope you feel better soon -- that doesn't sound like much fun at all

15 years ago

Maya

Veteran

How awful Joy. Your health and comfort are of primary importance right now. I'm buying a couple of these. They're like the second base camis, but a lot less expensive:

http://www.gap.com/browse/prod.....;cid=35469

They might work for you right now. Thank goodness you aren't my size. I wouldn't be able to leave the house if I couldn't wear a bra

Wishing you a very quick and painless (or at least minimally painful) recovery!

15 years ago

MNsara

Veteran

Oh, not a cheery thought, but once we have had shingles it can return

I guess the trick is to call your doctor as soon as you even think it might be shingles. If you can get on the anti-viral meds immediately they can dramatically reduce the severity and duration of the course.

15 years ago

taylor

Veteran

Oh Joy, I have heard shingles are very painful...no advice just sympathy for you!! get well soon !!!

15 years ago

MsMaven

Veteran

When you turn sixty you can be vaccinated against shingles--supposedly it cuts the risk you'll get it 50%. I've had a couple of friends who've gone through hell with long lasting attacks. You did the right thing to see your doctor ASAP. One friend thought she had poison oak she got from her dog. A reasonable assumption, but she was wrong and regretted putting off treatment. I went and got a shingles vaccination as soon as I learned about it.

I hope you will be feeling up to posting about your cruise soon. I'm looking forward to reading about it.

15 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

(((HUGS)))). Shingles are painful, Joy. I really hope that the meds offer fast relief. Hang in there. Let us know if we can help in any way.

15 years ago

Anonymous

This has got to be the sweetest, most caring group of women on the web! I have tears blurring my vision. You are so kind.
I was feeling a bit isolated and sorry for myself tonight. DH is on a business trip. The puppy has been a terror. I decided not to be in public so missed supporting a young friend and her 4 young children at a prayer vigil tonight for her husband who is dying of cancer very painfully after a courageous fight.
Tomorrow I'll miss meeting up with a group of couples since one is going through chemo. The pharmacist said to stay away from anyone whose immune system could be compromised.
Sara, I didn't think about pregnant women. Thank you for the reminder! Shingles has been a family problem and a first cousin who ignored it due to lack of medical coverage had serious complications when it spread to his spine and he was paralyzed. Because of that I'd asked to be immunized a couple of years ago but serum wasn't available then due to high demand. My doctor says I can get the shot after this bout has passed, but I have no doubt that it may return.
Maya, right now anything with a band on it makes me wince just looking at it, but maybe those will be a good choice when I can tolerate anything.
Picking up my prescriptions I walked through Target's intimates section as well as clothing and seriously considered getting those rubbery stick-on boob covers that can be worn with backless dresses until I came to my senses. Right now my plan is to wear layered tanks under loose floaty tops with a busy print and hope this will heal quickly.
Ms M, I'd love to tell you about the cruise. Thank you for asking. I'll post tomorrow as i feel the pain meds kicking now in to foggy up the brain.

15 years ago

Kate

Veteran

Joy, I'm glad you have the meds you need and I wish you a swift recovery!

My mom got shingles after taking care of my grandma when she had shingles, so I've heard how miserable it can be. For some reason my mom was very ashamed of her shingles, and didn't want people to know what she was going through. I didn't fully understand this (especially because she used to be a nurse). Like many health problems, getting shingles doesn't reflect poorly on someone, it's just bad luck. I hope that you don't let the shingles hold you back too much, but that you do slow down enough to take good care of yourself.

15 years ago

Sally

Veteran

Another thing I heard was that stress is often a factor in it so make sure you take care of yourself. When I got it, I was working overseas (and really stressed) but the doctor gave me just painkillers so I just went to work and couldn't work out why I was feeling so awful. Luckily one of my friend's father was a doctor and told me to go and demand anti-virals. I only had it for about 10 days after resting and taking the correct medicine. I had also had chicken pox as a child so I dont know why I got it a second time.

15 years ago

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