Ok so I have been on testosterone for getting close to two years now and I never really tried wearing a binder until now. I have always just worn compression shirts. Realistically no one ever assumes I'm anything other than male but for some reason recently I have been getting more insecure about my chest.
I decided to order a couple of Underworks 988s since a friend recommended them. I put one on, it makes my chest look great! And I was able to get it on and off by stepping into/out of it. But when I wear it, I feel so physically horrible that I cannot imagine leaving it on for a whole day at work. Especially since I work a physical job, well now make that two physical jobs. I simply don't feel like I can breathe well enough. It also makes my stomach kinda hurt, which isn't great for me since I need to eat constantly since I'm a vegan and I work/exercise constantly.
So I was thinking, this feels like this cannot be good for my health. I know even weightlifters are only supposed to leave belts on for their heaviest lifts and take them off immediately after since it jacks up their blood pressure. It seems like having something this tight on my chest might do the same thing? Also I started reading online and it says it can reduce blood flow to the heart and cause the lymphatic system to back up which could eventually cause problems over the long term, even cancer. I did not know that. I thought yeah maybe broken rib from binding incorrectly, but using a real binder might even increase my risk for heart disease? Suddenly I feel as if I have made a huge mistake. I am strongly considering returning my binders if I can or giving them away now.
Does anyone have any advice? I am pretty sure I got the right size since I measured myself repeatedly and I fall right in the middle of a size medium for the binder I got. Also it's almost making me feel illegitimate and giving me an existential crisis since potential health risks bother me more than dysphoria, but realistically that's probably a good thing.
