Fear of packing

[wheat thins are delicious]

I have got the packer from early2bed in 3.5 size.  But the thing is to  me it seems like the bulge is super obvious.  I'm probably just being paranoid but I am really nervous to wear it to work because I feel like my coworkers will notice I have a little bit of a bulge and call me out on it.  Has anyone experienced this fear? 

[Radar]

I packed for a long time at work before coming out and no one ever said or noticed a thing. You'd be surprised how little attention co-workers pay to others. They can miss the most obvious things.

You can try it for a few days and see how it goes, then go from there.

[wheat thins are delicious]

I should mention I've been out at work for 6 or so months.  I just worry they will notice a bulge when I didn't have one before. 

[Nikolai_S]

I've definitely had similar concerns with packing. I don't have a real packer, just my own sock creations - so I have the extra concern of having to make sure I'm not being unrealistic about my proportions. At any rate, if someone noticed, I very much doubt they would comment because it would mean admitting they've been staring at your crotch. Awkward for any combination of genders in terms of who they are and how they see you. If someone made a comment on my bulge I'd either react like "Dude, why the hell are you looking there?" or make some comment on how they could've just asked for my number if they were interested. And if they're perceiving you as female (though from your profile pic I don't see how they could), tell them it's just a fold in the fabric, and once again, feel free to give them a look of utter bewilderment/disgust and let them know they're being creepy.

Wrote this before you mentioned already being out... I think some of what I've said still applies though.

[Radar]

If you're out at work then I wouldn't worry about it at all. You're a guy, and most guy's have bulges. If they're too stupid to put two and two together then their opinions don't matter. If someone is rude enough to ask then tell them it's a prosthetic and leave it at that.

Packing, IMO, is more for us anyway. It helps me mentally and helps my bottom dysphoria. It can also be a sealing deal in passing since packing isn't very common in society so people don't automatically think that. Therefore, I don't care what the people who know I'm trans think about my packing.

[Lee]

Packing, IMO, is more for us anyway.

This.  I pack all the time, and as far as I know nobody's ever noticed.  It's more of a mental comfort thing than for passing.  Unless you're wearing skinny jeans or something I wouldn't really worry about it.

[N.Chaos]

Lee, that's good to know, or at least hear. I've got the same worries as Andy, my friend's been trying to break me of it but ehh...it stills weirds me out. Plus that fear of someone I know (regardless if I'm out to them or not) noticing/saying something.

[Liam K]

I used to get really freaked out about packing and though everyone would notice.  As long as I have it positioned correctly and it's not floating around or anything, though, it isn't really noticeable, and I've gotten over it.  It's still something I worry about with swimming, though; most people I know know that I am trans and that therefore I don't have a penis that looks like a cis man's penis, and since packing while swimming tends to be more obvious since swim clothes cling when wet, I feel really self-conscious about it.  I suspect I'll get over that in time, too, though.

[CFPrice]

I used to have extreme anxiety about packing. I was always concerned that someone was going to comment. I now will pack with skinny jeans and no one's said anything. I packed at home first, so I could get a feel, and kind of ... play around until I could get comfortable with it. The biggest reasons for me to pack are so that my skinny jeans or dress trousers drape properly, otherwise I don't really care. Let it take as much time to get used to as you need. I'm not out to many, and no one's noticed (well... maybe one friend), if you're out, you should be fine.

[Dante]

I would just go for it, and see how it goes.

Also, most people never notice stuff like that. And even if they did, they probably won't say anything about it. Who would want to start that conversation? "Well, I noticed your crotch was bulging more than usual, and I was wondering why." XD Nobody, at the very least, wants to admit that they were looking.

[insideontheoutside]

Depending on how you adjust things you can make it look either less or more noticeable (well, you'd have to be wearing briefs or boxer briefs because with actual boxers that wouldn't really work the same).

[Mika]

Used to scare the crap out of me, at least while I hang out in my dorm (the girls in my hall are not too trans friendly and already stare me down. Can't wait until gender neutral housing in the fall). I used to be paranoid that everyone was going to notice something that wasn't there before. But honestly, like other people have said, hardly anybody notices. Only one guy in my calculus class noticed: my name on the attendance roster is "Emily," I cross-dress etc., and I caught him staring at my crotch confused. It might have pissed me off under normal circumstances, but really it just made me laugh to see his confusion. It let me know that my new packer was realistic enough for him lol. That was a strange event, and really it had more to do with my name on the roster, and you've got nothing to worry about.

you should just do what will make you most comfortable. Nobody will even notice in all likelihood, and even if someone does and is rude enough to say something, sassy remarks are in order.

[xAndrewx]

tell them it's just a fold in the fabric, and once again, feel free to give them a look of utter bewilderment/disgust and let them know they're being creepy.

That. I often look like I have a buldge because of the way I like my pants to fit so the fabric around the zipper frequently poofs out causing that but honestly I doubt anyone will notice man. I have the fear of it falling out because I've yet to find a good solution but I think when I can afford the one I want I'll pack and that's what I'll be doing if anyone asks about the buldge

[Radar]

Only one guy in my calculus class noticed: my name on the attendance roster is "Emily," I cross-dress etc., and I caught him staring at my crotch confused.

If you identify as a man then you're not cross dressing.

[calvin]

My experience is certainly that no one notices--everyone takes me for female regardless of what I've got in my pants. A different situation than being out as trans, though.

[alohamisha]

I stopped packing a long time ago, none seems to notice, not even when I go to get
pants altered. They just take me for a male.

[Mika]

If you identify as a man then you're not cross dressing.

very true 

[Ithica]

Size wise I would err on the side of caution - nobodies going to notice if you haven't got a bulge but I think they might if it was too big.  I tried packing with prosthetics but I found even the smallest shop bought packers seemed to look huge. So now I pack with socks.

I also think it depends on what kind of pants you wear. I have to reroll my packer and fix it differently depending on what pants I'm wearing.

I notice peoples crotches quite a lot  , but I'd never start a conversation about it.

[joeybrogue]

YES! I stupidly bought the 5", thinking it would be more scale-friendly since I'm 5'10, but the damn thing seemed to adjust every time I sat down and stood up.  I was so paranoid one day at a doctor's appointment, I scurried out of the office, yanked it OUT in the parking lot and hid it under the seat of the car.  Never wore that one since. 

I have since purchased the 3.5" and it still feels like it sticks out too much.  I think I'm just anatomically weird.  Even with different underwear/ETC.  So, I just go without.  I don't think too many people are staring at my crotch to begin with... lol. 

I wish they could come out with one that would represent a guys junk SMUSHED as if it was in underwear-- I think the plumpness of the packers doesn't play too well for some of us.  I'm certain a fully flaccid guy might lack the bulk... unsure, but ...hey.  I can hope! lol

Kinda wish I could wear one.  Gives you that little boost in confidence for macho sake. =P

[N.Chaos]

I tried packing for the first time every yesterday, poor-kid style with just a sock rolled up, and it was...interesting. I passed, 100%, but lately I do anyway. It didn't freak me out as much as I thought it would, it actually felt...surprisingly normal.

Ben's been bugging me to just try it lately, he knows how much of a wuss I can be about trying new things so he's big on reminding me that I'm home alone most of the time, so I could just run around pantless if I wanted to, sticking different things down there to see how they look. I wouldn't, 'cause that would be awkward, but still...he's got a point. I think I might try doing it again. I don't think it made a visible difference, or at least not a big one but yeah...I'm understanding a bit why so many guys feel more comfortable doing it.