Hello friends. I've got a question for you.
My ribcage has always bothered me. I always thought it was too big.
When I was "a growing boy" I figured it was okay because I would grow into it, but as adolescence came to a close, and I was still way too short for my ribcage, I got more and more annoyed at it.
I have brought up this issue to my doctors before, and even managed to get an x-ray done to see if my spine was compressed or something, which would explain why my ribcage seems to be too tall, but that came back "normal". It still bothers me though.
For me, the 11th and 12th ribs (the ones that are only connected at the back) end up so low that they tuck into my pelvis. My 10th rib (the lowest one that is connected on both the front and the back) is level with the highest point on my pelvis. Getting my ribs to contact my pelvis directly is not difficult and actually gets in the way of my upper body flexibility (this happens a lot when trying to find a comfy position to sleep in).
Lately, what has really gotten to me is that, since it extends so low in my torso, it physically prevents me from achieving an hourglass figure. Even though I am just 103lbs. (5'3" tall), it won't happen. Instead, my ribs protrude out from my sides & abdomen.
Yes, I know I should be happy with what I've got, but I still want to hear about (1) how much space you have between your lowest rib and the top of your pelvis and (2) how you deal with it if you have a similar problem.
One last note: What really got me riled up about this issue (again) was that I met a fellow transwoman recently who showed me her abdomen and my jaw dropped (figuratively). I guess she got lucky and has a small ribcage, but geeze I am envious. She's been on HRT for about half as long as I have, but I have never seen a more feminine mid-section.
Anyways, Please comment/discuss. Thanks.
I hate my rib cage too, I don't feel like it's 'that' long, but it's definitely big IMO.
I have about 2.5 to 3 inches between my lowest non floating rib and my iliac crest (highest pelvic bone)
My under bust circumference is 30 inches last I check.
I'm about 140lbs, 5' 11" and have been on HRT about 3 months of E and 5 of Spiro
I've got about three inches to the first floating rib and about five to the first lower rib. 6'0.
I've been on HRT for about three and a half years. None of that really changed due to HRT.
I'm 5'5", and it's hard to tell because there's this tough muscle-like thing that gets in the way of feeling it, and also because I'm a little fat (130-135 lbs at that height, if you consider the absence of breasts and the not-so-fat butt and thighs, makes me a pretty big belly, with a waist circumference almost as big as my underbust). So with all that getting in the way I have trouble feeling where my last floating ribs end... but I think that between my last floating rib and my hipbone, there's maybe 1-2 inches, something like that. Yeah, not exactly a ton of room for a proper waist.
Huh. That *does* sound unusual, and uncomfortable.
If I stand up straight (I tend to slouch a bit), it is about 4" between my lowest floating rib and my pelvis. And I'm 5'7", 38" around my ribcage under-bust. On the other hand, I'm awfully high-waisted anyway, with my "waist" (=the narrowest point on my torso) just under my bust rather than below my ribcage. I'm not happy about that. :( I wear a lot of empire-waisted clothes because those fall right about where my actual waist is!
Thanks for the responses everyone. Looks like I am alone on this one.
3", although I can't tell "floating" from "fixed" ribs. I've always thought I have really high pelvic bones (they're about the same altitude as my belly button).
I'm 6' 0", and too fat to be happy. (240lbs)
I'm 5'11, 37" ribcage and there's about 2-3 inches between my ribcage and pelvis. I'm pre everything also.