so I've been binding for a really long time off and on, 10+ years at this point, I know all the safety stuff in and out and all that, just to clarify--I try not to bind more than 8 hours a day and/or any longer than necessary, etc.
here's the issue I'm having--I've got a gc2b binder, I've been using them (different ones) for the past four years or so, they're the best ones I've had in that they're super comfortable and I never have any pain or discomfort or trouble breathing in them unless I'm really exerting myself or unless I fall asleep with one on, and even then it's Really, Really mild and easily sorted out by not binding for a day or so
Recently I started a new job (service industry, fast food) and I've been working roughly 35-40 hours, 8-9 hour shifts or so, and I'm on my feet the whole time, but otherwise it's not super strenuous--like, there's a little heavy lifting here and there but for the most part I'm just taking orders etc.
I'm pretty exhausted from it because it's mostly graveyard shifts and I'm adjusting to that, but I'm noticing that I'm getting some serious chest/rib/back pain from binding that I've never experienced before with my gc2b binders.
I don't put the binder on until right before I go in to work, and I take them off as soon as I get home, so I'm only wearing them for 8 hours at a time generally, with 12 hour breaks in between, and I've been trying to stretch before and after and all that, but it's just getting progressively worse, to the point where I had chest pains all through my shift yesterday and today (I'm currently not binding) I've been having pain when I try to breathe too deeply or adjust my posture.
I'm wondering why suddenly I'm having trouble with this, I guess? I work out in my binders and do a lot of strenuous activities in them and I've never had any issues like this before.
Is it just because I'm carrying more tension in my body from being in a stressful situation at work? I don't want to cause permanent damage or crack my ribs or anything but I don't know what else to do besides not binding, and not binding at work really isn't an option for me ):
Has anyone else had this sort of problem crop up due to a service industry job + binding? It's the only thing I can think of that's different from how I've been doing things in the past four years (well, that and climate/elevation change, since I just moved to the mountains from south florida).
(long time lurker first time poster, hi!)
