Binding While Ill? (CW for discussion of breasts, binding, chronic illness)

[D.N.]

Sorry, I'm not 100% sure where to stick this. I figure general transgender is a safe bet, but I apologize in advance if it needs moving.

Right to the point, I am a 38G. I'm fairly androgynous otherwise, but my breasts are a constant reminder to myself and to the people around me that I am assigned-female. I bought a binder over the summer (Underworks 997, if i recall), and it brings me down to about a B-cup, which is excellent, but... I've been dealing with a yet-undiagnosed gastrointestinal illness since January, and the 997 is cut like an undershirt rather than a sports bra, which means it compresses my entire abdomen - including my stomach. Needless to say, this doesn't do anything to ease my digestive tract. I haven't bound in about a week now because my stomach has been flaring up and I just don't want to make it worse by compressing my stomach for eight hours straight.

I've been trying to get through it by reassuring myself that having breasts doesn't make me a girl and I don't have to prove my nonbinaryness by complying to cissexist gender assignment systems, but sometimes I just feel really?? gross and angry and dysphoric.

Are there any other AFAB folks who can't bind regularly due to chronic illness? How do you get through it? Are there any workarounds, or am I just stuck like this until I can get top surgery?

[LordKAT]

You can use the back support things from the sporting goods section  of your local department store. They work well for me. The other choice is too get a shorter binder.

[Pim]

You could try the tri-top (988?).  Note the sizing is different between it and the 997 - I think you need to go bigger. 

You could also try an Under Armour heatgear shirt - if you get a size down from your normal size it gives a bit more compression.  Obviously nowhere near as much as a binder, but it's a bit of compression.  They are full length, or at least the one I have is, but I don't think the compression over the stomach would be too bad.

Good luck and hope your illness gets a bit more manageable.

Pim

[FTMax]

I own and wear the 997, and I have occasional, severe digestive issues as a symptom of another chronic illness. You probably won't want to hear this, but when I'm having flare ups, I generally don't bind. I have fibromyalgia, so any little bit of comfort or reduction of stress on my body when I'm flaring up makes a lot of difference. Of course, I'm also lucky enough to have an understanding boss and the ability to work from home if need be.

When I have to go out, I use less restrictive concealing methods. Find a few sports bras that are a size down from what you usually wear. Put on one that fits first, then put the tighter one over top. This should help reduce the size of your chest while also reducing the amount of discomfort from the tighter bra cutting into you.

Apart from that, layering! This is good because it doesn't make you uncomfortable at all - the only downside being that if you get hot you might have to suffer through it. Start with your underwear, socks, pants, etc. Put on a tanktop and tuck it in so it's tight. If it's cold, put on thin long sleeve shirt and do the same. Then a t-shirt or sweater, then a hoodie. I'm a small dude (5'4"), but I've found that if I dress in certain ways (even without binding sometimes!), I manage to pass.