I work usually between 6 and 8 hours. I've got 7.5 today, I've been here for six hours, and my binder is starting to hurt my chest. I'm short of breath and really light headed, but I've got two hours left and can't take it off..
Any tips would be appreciated.
are you able to go to the bathroom and take it off for a few minutes? you could say that you didn't feel well/needed to poo.
Unfortunately no. I'm taking orders in drive through,.
Sounds like you need to get a larger size to be honest. And if you're in pain, short of breath and light headed... Take it off!! Seriously! There are no other solutions. Take a bathroom break and take it off. 2 hours of not binding is a lot better than several days or weeks if you injure yourself.
The size is fine, its just that I have to wear it for so long.
I'd honestly rather work injured than with without a binder on, as bad as that sounds..
Is it safe to say we're nil point in terms of finding a way to ease compression pain?
It should not be causing you pain after only 6-7 hours. There is no other way to ease the pain than to take it off.
Binders just gotta suck bad don't they
try ordering a gc2b binder, if you can? most people say they're really comfortable.
I've actually got one, funnily enough, They are really comfortable, I've never work it to work however, perhaps.I should and see if it's better.
I bind around 15 hours a day, give or take, during the week and have absolutely no breathing problems, have never felt light-headed, and have never felt that my body was in danger due to binding. The most I've ever experienced is a little upper back soreness near the end of the day, which I totally expect after 15 hours or so. If you're feeling this horribly after 6 hours, listen to Aero (and now myself) when we say to get a bigger size, because clearly the one you're wearing is too small. Trust me, giving yourself a serious injury and not being able to wear your binder for weeks or months is a lot worse than having a little more chest -- even cis guys aren't completely flat, despite what your dysphoria might be telling you. I'm by no means a small guy and my gc2b binder, sized correctly, has never endangered my health.
Its not too small. Its a medium, and I've got a large, and the large is now more like an uncomfortable tank top than a binder, practically useless.
McDonald's is actually a pretty stressful job, especially in Australian summer, when our owner forces us to short staff, so I am actually doing pretty strenuous work.
The other thing is my really bad posture, but I won't be fixing that until after surgery..
I'll wear my gc2b tomorrow, hopefully that will be okay. :)
I personally think a binder can be the right size and still give us difficulty breathing etc. It depends on our individual posture/build, the kind of work we do, how stressed we are (I have experienced difficulty breathing in stressful phases and had to take the binder off). The cut probably makes a big difference, so I'd also suggest you try how the other brand works.
I'm going to agree with all the wrong size comments.
I'm actually between sizes in Underworks products. I have 1 medium full-length and 2 larges (full length & tri-top). The only time I have ever experienced any shortness of breath was an extended period of time (upwards of 10, probably closer to 12 hours) wearing the medium. I don't have issues at all wearing the larges, and the tri-top is excellent for the more active days at work. Even on long days with the two large styles, I don't experience any pain or discomfort.
Hopefully the different style works better for you. If it doesn't, I would strongly suggest going up a size.
As I've said, I've got the next size up, I was wearing it before I lost weight, and its too big to the point that it doesn't even bind properly.
I usually wear a tri-top, but yesterday I wore a full length.
That doesn't necessarily rule out what ftmax suggested, which is that you're between sizes, as he was. Which, even if you are, I still wouldn't recommend wearing the smaller size if it's causing you breathing pains and other symptoms that are never usually good to experience. I recommend trying a different brand (such as the gc2b one you have), correctly sized according to their specs, and see if it's any better.
Quote from: Tripdistrans on March 03, 2015, 01:58:16 PM
As I've said, I've got the next size up, I was wearing it before I lost weight, and its too big to the point that it doesn't even bind properly.
I usually wear a tri-top, but yesterday I wore a full length.
You could also consider wearing the larger binder with an additional layer. I like to wear a tanktop between my binder and my top layer of clothing. When tucked in, it enhances the compression and gives a better overall shape. It doesn't make me any warmer.
I know you want to be as flat as possible, but personally I'll take being less flat over passing out from lightheadedness and having to deal with all that comes from that.
I'll check my measurements and double check the size when I get home tonight. I was going to wear my gc2b today but couldn't find it, which sucks.
Ill try out wearing a layer under it when it's not 35C ( 95F), but I honestly hadn't even thought about that.
See, I'm one of those skewed people that would rather pass out if I can't find any other alternative.
I've done the looser binder/tanktop/shirt in all kinds of weather, so you should be okay :) Not comfortable, but you'll live.
It'd be miserable to pass out at work. Everyone would make a huge deal out of it, someone would probably call the paramedics, you'd have to file workers compensation papers, etc. And hopefully you wouldn't hit your head or fall on anything that could really hurt you.
It's going to suck no matter how you decide to approach it, but personally, I'd rather be the sweaty dude wearing 3 shirts than the dude with boobs who passed out.
QuoteI'm one of those skewed people that would rather pass out if I can't find any other alternative.
Passing out is just one of the risks of binding too tight and/or for too long at a stretch. Doing so can also:
- Distort the alignment of your spinal column
- Cause broken ribs, or dislocate them from your sternum
- Cause fluid buildup in your lungs
- Put you at risk for pneumonia
We're talking life-long health problems here -- it's seriously not worth it. No level of dysphoria merits putting your long-term health in jeopardy.
Definitely wear your gc2b binder, I wear it all day and never have any problems.
I carry a backup binder that is slightly looser fitting, and change into it as needed. If you have to take a bathroom break (even if it's to change & ease discomfort) I'm pretty sure they have to let you. Someone can take over the headset for two minutes, surely.
If it's absolutely impossible to get away, maybe you could change into a larger binder on your lunch break? It would provably better accommodate having a full stomach, too.
Man, if you have the right size then change brand or style. I wore mine for 10 hours a day and I worked with 15+ preschool kids all day. I had no trouble running around the park and wrestling with them and still being flat. Improper binding can really be damaging. You may think you'd prefer the pain now but it's not worth it. I know a guy who can't even bind now because of the pain.
I seriously need to find my gc2b..
http://www.gc2b.co/
Bought my binders from here. $33 bucks and they are the best to flatten your chest (from my personal experience) They are also comfortable and they won't hurt your back and all that.
$33?! Man, I paid about $60 when I got mine. .
Quote from: Tripdistrans on March 04, 2015, 08:32:08 PM
$33?! Man, I paid about $60 when I got mine. .
$60? Woah! Was it from that same site, just like, a long time ago? I just got two for $70 a little less than a month ago.
Its probably the whole living in Australia thing.
Well, hopefully you find yours or get another for a cheaper cost; would hate to see you get injured using whatever binder you're using (can't remember if you specified?). Good luck!
Underworks binders. :)
I've been intrigued by the cheapo ones on eBay, they're size adjustable which means hypothetically I could adjust it to be looser when it gets painful/too compressive ? I think?
Quote from: Tripdistrans link=topic=183997.msg1635803#msg1635803425539187
Underworks binders. :)
I've been intrigued by the cheapo ones on eBay, they're size adjustable which means hypothetically I could adjust it to be looser when it gets painful/too compressive ? I think?
You mean the ones from Asia called lesbian binders? I heard they can be really painful to wear as they're not made from a stretchy material. I hope you find your gc2b binder.
Quote from: Elis on March 05, 2015, 04:44:25 AM
You mean the ones from Asia called lesbian binders? I heard they can be really painful to wear as they're not made from a stretchy material. I hope you find your gc2b binder.
Yeah that's probably them, haha. At times I figure that they're cheap enough to order just for the sake of review/trial. I moved all of my clothes into my cupboard today (by moved, I mean shoved), and I still didn't see it. I've recently moved back into my parents' so my belongings are spread all over the place and I know it was in the wash at some stage, but I've not seen it since then. I sincerely hope the washing machine didn't eat it. :(
If you were wearing the next size up before you lost weight, it probably has stretched and lost some of its compressive capabilities. Binders do get worn out:).
It is worth it for you to find what works best, because as stated by others, if you injure yourself, you won't be able to wear a binder at all until healed...
Hope things turns out good:) This whole binding thing is unfortunately a try this, try that adventure, until you find what works for you.
My father has located my gc2b! That being said, I have no idea where he put it! :')
HOWEVER,
I had an 8 hour shift today, starting at 6am, and by 9am I was feeling compressed and achey (like period pains tbh) all around my mid back where the binder ends, as well as the sides and front of my ribcage at times, and I was having moderate to decapitating chest pains that occur ed on and off (more on than off) for the remainder of my entire shift. Came home, took my binder off for the four hours between McDonald's and Coles, and had no problem for my 3 hour Coles shift.
The chest pain isn't new, I had it a while back and left shift to go straight to the hospital. The doctor said she could find nothing wrong, and after a chest xray they still found nothing. It's really quite bad when it happens, and dad continues to insist I see a chiropractor, and that it MUST be a problem in my spine or something, however I really don't want to waste the funds I get for chiro from our health insurance until after surgery, because my posture really will never be good until then due to dysphoria (Does anyone else find attending chiropractors to be an overtly dysphoric experience?) and trying to hide my chest.
On a plus side, the 12 month waiting period for Hospital Cover ends on the 16th of June, so hopefully with some expressed urgency to my doctor at RCH (Dr. Michelle Telfer, who I shall once again say is absolutely lovely and highly recommended for any Australian underage people going to the RCH) she will be able to shove me in to see Andy Ives within the next three months to make sure I can get my surgery as soon as possible. That, however, is relying solely on her and Andy being able to work out a situation in which she can refer me to him herself. I'll email her within the next few days regarding the pains and new found urgency.
I wish I could just put the chest pains down to bad reflux, but I'm fairly sure it's not that, mainly because I've had reflux for many years (woo coeliac disease) and I know quite well how that feels.
I need to stop working so I don't need to be binding every day for so long, however, I need to work so I can save for surgery. Gotta love life.
Quote from: Eiahn on March 05, 2015, 07:01:04 AM
If you were wearing the next size up before you lost weight, it probably has stretched and lost some of its compressive capabilities. Binders do get worn out:).
It is worth it for you to find what works best, because as stated by others, if you injure yourself, you won't be able to wear a binder at all until healed...
Hope things turns out good:) This whole binding thing is unfortunately a try this, try that adventure, until you find what works for you.
The binders I'm wearing at the moment have also been stretched out a fair bit from their original state, and I have worn these at a larger weight without issue. I have however been binding every day for about 4 years now, and have been in situations where I have (and yes, I know it's stupid and we're not meant to, bad Riley, slap on the hand) had to wear them overnight. I'm thinking my ribcage may finally just be giving up on me.
Most chiropractors around here have like a 20$ consultation. They do xrays and tell you how you can get better. They don't charge for the first xrays. Look for a chiro that does practice like that so at least you will have an xray of your spine and neck.
I wish they were that cheap. General consultation here is at least $45, that's three hours of work straight up, and there is no point in even the thought of asking my parents to lend a hand with it. Dad got really angry because I refused to go with the family about six months ago, but he doesn't understand that because the Chiro they see is a family friend, she still gives me 'I know you're trans and still see you as a girl' vibes, and I hate that. I want to go and see a Chiro that thinks I'm cis, but he said if I do that I have to pay for it completely myself.
Any chiro is going to notice the difference in bones or they are not a very good chiro. If your parents will pay for the family friend then go so you can get free care.
Binding plus computer use probably means your head and shoulders are too far forward. That is probably your problem because thats what mine was.
Alex, they are indeed too far forward. To add to that I actually lean backwards as well. I'm like a big question mark shape. Flat feet, rolled ankles, wonky, rotated hips, I'm surprised I'm still in one piece.
Dads offer has 'expired' and he will no longer pay for my Chiro. I get $500 anually from the health insurance that he failed to tell me about before last year ended, otherwise I would have used it all up in the last few months of 2014. That's what I'm holding out until after surgery to use, and I'll use it all within a couple of months so that the Chiro can get stuff well underway.