My binders may be literally killing me

[Luc]

I haven't been on here in quite awhile, due to lack of internet and a complete laptop meltdown, but now I'm back... we'll see if it lasts.

Anywho, about 8 months ago I started having minor shoulder pain, and it has accelerated to almost excruciating pain if I sleep on my right shoulder. I developed subacromial bursitis about 2 weeks ago, a swelling in my shoulder joint, and I know it's all related to binding. I've been binding about 2 years now, mostly with Underworks binders, but I'm nowhere near having the money for top surgery. I'm afraid I'm going to have to walk around as a dude with breasts. Any suggestions? I'd rather not permanently mar my body for the sake of aesthetics.

SD

[Osiris]

Man that sucks. My dad had the same problem with his shoulder a few years ago. He thought he'd broken his collarbone cause it was so painful.

If the binder is putting too much stress on your shoulder have you thought about getting one that just wraps around your chest? There are some different designs in one of the binder threads. I also came up with one using a back brace that's pretty comfortable, and I have a huge chest so that's saying something. lol

[GQjoey]

Damn, that definitely sounds effin painful man! I agree with Osiris though, maybe the wrap arounds would suit you better? Or maybe one of the binders with the winder straps for the shoulders? I still use my perfected duct tape method. Most would cringe, but after doing it for over 10 years you find ways to make it work. I plan on investing in a binder within a week or so, as soon as a find a tape measure, and figure out how the hell to measure myself.

[J.T.]

layers upon layers upon layers... thankfully it is nearing winter.  you may be able to pull it off without binding.  or *shudder* a really good sports bra.  some guys say the frog bra works really well.

[Elwood]

I tend to wear... 3-5 layers. Currently 3. Two tank tops, one shirt. It works okay. It isn't perfect, but I pass.

[milliontoone]

Me I use stretch bandages and they seem to work ok not perfect but fine under loose fitting clothing.  But then I don't have huge moobs anyway although if I lost a couple of pounds that would probably shrink em some, it did seem to help before they are just fat after all.
I too will be investing in a binder soon though mainly because I think a binder will be more effective plus it gets a little tiresome having to wind those bandages every day and also they roll up sometimes which is annoying.

[Hazard "AJ"]

I use a old vest that i cut up like a bandage it was ok but it had a hard bit at the bottum and it used tocut my chest and back cuz i have pretty large bs i had it pretty tight. So i cut the bottum off.. Its of but sometimes it rools down and its hard to breath and not very cunfterbal.. the other night i fell asleep with it on and woke up with really painful and sore marks. But once i get some money im going to try some other things hat maybe a little more cunfterbal...


Sorry about spellin i suck lol.

[Jamie-o]

That really sucks for you, Sebastien.   

I've found that I semi-regularly pass (pre-T with a D-cup) even unbound if I wear a T-shirt with a crisp cotton (or cotton blend) button-up shirt open on top.  I've had the most success with blue-jeans, plain navy-blue T-shirt, and a plaid button-up with a heavy blue stripe in it.  The matching color top and bottom seems to give me a more straight line, while the pattern on the outer shirt draws the eyes away from the parts that curve.  Also, dark colors hide the resulting shadows cast by any bulges you may have. (Hence, why black is slimming.)

If you need to dress up, I suspect a sports coat or suit coat can also go a long ways toward hiding a wayward figure. 

You might also look into a less aggressive binder.  I picked up a fairly inexpensive single-layer compression vest on Ebay recently, and though it by no means makes me flat, it does help control the jiggle, and makes the moobs less obvious under the right clothing.  A tight rash guard might also do the trick.

[Jay]

Dude stop wearing your binders for a few days.. I know its hard but try and stay in if you have to go out then use the layer method. Depends on how big you are though!

[Luc]

I don't know... I'm somewhere in between a B and a C, but I work 5 days a week, with a bunch of people among whom only one knows I'm trans (the rest think I'm just any other guy). Right now I'm living in a small town in Colorado, trying to get the money to return to NorCal, and people are a little... judgemental here. I'm trying to find a better binder, think maybe I found one on T-kingdom that might work, but not binding... I can't imagine. I don't mind my breasts that much if i'm alone, but around other people, I get so self-conscious I can barely think of anything else.

[James-Alen]

Hey Dino. Yeah I'm a bit worried about what it is doing to me as well >< mine is actually a size too small (thus causing scars, bruises, and trouble breathing) but it's all I got. You could try a one like I have in the proper size. It's a T-Kingdom 801 (I think) and works just amazingly well.

[Jay]

I don't know... I'm somewhere in between a B and a C, but I work 5 days a week, with a bunch of people among whom only one knows I'm trans (the rest think I'm just any other guy). Right now I'm living in a small town in Colorado, trying to get the money to return to NorCal, and people are a little... judgemental here. I'm trying to find a better binder, think maybe I found one on T-kingdom that might work, but not binding... I can't imagine. I don't mind my breasts that much if i'm alone, but around other people, I get so self-conscious I can barely think of anything else.

I work 5 days a week and just layer.. I work in an office though and I haven't come out so they think I am female anyhow.. but I still bind.. I try and bind a few days and week the layer the rest as it does hurt to bind all that time. I am hopefully going to get another from T kingdom or Underworks. I am a C possibly D its been so long since I have worn a bra!