Quote from: Jeatyn on January 18, 2013, 01:59:54 PM
My back hurts, my shoulders hurt, my ribs hurt, and I'm frequently getting really scary chest pains lately.

I have a chest infection at the moment, AGAIN, I get them all the time and I'm convinced that binding is the reason. I've been rushed to hospital on several occasions because I'm unable to breath and my asthma inhalers don't work. This never happened before I started binding.

I know having a big chest sucks first hand. 100%.  I empathize with every single point you just made about how awful it is. I try to do cardio binding because I can't stand to work out with my chest not flat.

But seriously?  You've been to the HOSPITAL for chest problems and binding is contributing to it?  Multiple times no less? And to the ER? Dude. I can't believe no one else in this thread has said it.

Your health >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Binding 

Dysphoria is rough, I get it.  But you know what is even worse? Destroying your lungs.  And I don't mean the damage we all get from binding normally. It is putting you in the HOSPITAL.   Save your body so you can enjoy it fully after top surgery eventually.

Quote from: spacerace on January 19, 2013, 01:18:37 AM
Your health >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Binding

Spacerace is completely right.

If you're having such issues with the binder you currently use I'd suggest finding something else. Have you tried neoprene waist trimmers? They're cheap so if it doesn't work you're out $5. I've only used them because I've heard of other guys hurting themselves by wearing Underworks (and binders like them). To me it's just not worth it.

I've tried a variety of styles and the one I have now from les love boat is by far the most comfortable. It's a god send having velcro I can undo when I need to. I often wonder if my classmates think I have bladder issues, I must go to the loo at least 5 times a day to open it up and have a breather, and rearrange everything.

I wear it at little as possible, but there's no way on earth I could go to college without it, I'm stealth (or out in public at all, but that's pretty much the only place I go)

The worst part is, I really wish other people understood. I just come across as lazy and unsociable to my friends

"lets walk to the next town for lunch!"

eugh....erm....how about we take the bus?

"it only takes half an hour don't be daft"

....;___;


"coming out for a few drinks?"

eh no thanks I'm just gonna go home



PS: JasonRX, congrats man absolutely cannot wait for my time

Quote from: Jeatyn on January 18, 2013, 01:59:54 PM

I have a chest infection at the moment, AGAIN, I get them all the time and I'm convinced that binding is the reason. I've been rushed to hospital on several occasions because I'm unable to breath and my asthma inhalers don't work. This never happened before I started binding.

I find it impossible to effectively and consistently exercise because my lungs are just crap now, I was quite fit at one point and I've gained like 5 stone since I started binding all the time. Even walking from college to the bus station (15 minute walk) feels like torture, and I often have to undo the velcro on my binder when I get on the bus because I feel like I'm going to pass out. I can't breath, everything hurts and I'm disgustingly sweaty.

Even when I try and work out without a binder my lungs give out way before my muscles do; and seeing/feeling them bouncing around while I try to do aerobics or go for a run makes me feel physically sick with dysphoria. The best I've managed lately is around 6 months of jogging/walking at least 5k a day, every single day, I really pushed myself hoping increased fitness would ease the breathing problems. I did not see any improvement in my lung capacity - in actual fact it got worse, so did the pain in my back. (I slipped a disk around two years ago) I had to stop because I was in so much pain and I've never found the motivation to start up again. At the minute the only exercise I get is walking between bus stations to and from college, the occasional walk to the next town with classmates on lunch breaks (which I try to avoid) and the 15 minute walk each day between my house and my daughters nursery....and even that, feels like it's killing me.

My health is suffering hugely because of these horrible things on my chest and I don't know what to do about it....other than just wait until surgery; and god knows when that will be, at least a couple more years.

And I swear to god, the next person to tell me they would "kill for my boobs" or some other expression of jealousy about my giant mammaries is going to get a slap upside the head. If I could take them off and throw them at them, I would.

Ah it feels good to get that off my chest

Do you do any breathing exercises? If not, I think you should look into trying to fit two 10-30 minute sessions into your schedule.

Has your doctor suggested anyway to help increase lung capacity? I do second the others, though.  Your health is more important than anything else.  It would no one any good if something major occurred to you such as being hospitalized or worse.   Would there be any way to layer clothing to hide the chest so you wouldn't have to bind all of the time while at college?  It might be a little easier on you than the binder.
__

Anyway, I dislike binding and rarely do it.  I can't pass so there's no real point and binders only get me down to a C size so I'm quite prominent unless I throw on a hoodie over the shirt.   My binder, which is fitted properly, also just makes things generally uncomfortable.  I can't stand the heat and it makes my asthma act up so the binder just increases my risk of having an attack. 

I haven't done any breathing exercises in a while no, I used to, forgot about them! I'll have to start doing them again, see if it helps.

The only advice my doc has is "stop binding" and "get rid of your cats" - both not really an option xD

Even with layers I have obvious boobage, I need binder AND layers to achieve any sort of pass-ability

Quote from: KyleXX on January 19, 2013, 12:10:18 AM
all i want is to go out with just a t-shirt on. to feel the soft fabric against my chest. binders are so irritating, i want top surgery sooooo freaking badly.

Hahaha, I just want to go out topless. All the time. Even in below zero temperature and run around (for a few minutes).

Quote from: Jeatyn on January 19, 2013, 04:30:36 AM
I often wonder if my classmates think I have bladder issues, I must go to the loo at least 5 times a day to open it up and have a breather, and rearrange everything.

Oh well. Hope it doesn't bother you too much. I mean, what people might assume about you that is.
At work, we drink so much coffee we're using the bathroom just about every hour.

Quote from: Tejas on January 19, 2013, 12:58:34 PM
Hahaha, I just want to go out topless. All the time. Even in below zero temperature and run around (for a few minutes).

SWIMMING
SO MUCH SWIMMING
And fixing random crap on summer Sundays shirtless.
Or heck, being a fat old man in tighty-whities sitting in a lawnchair.

Quote from: Jeatyn on January 19, 2013, 12:55:50 PM
Even with layers I have obvious boobage, I need binder AND layers to achieve any sort of pass-ability

Have you ever seen the movie Albert Nobbs? When Hubert was first introduced on screen, I was like, is that person a woman dressed as a man... no... yes... uh... I think my brain stopped for a moment.  I think it was because I wasn't expecting it.  Also, that was a lot of layering. 

I always thought that I would put my health before my passing, and was quite proud of that fact. Then this winter I got one of the nastiest lung infections of my life. I hadn't had one this bad since I was a small child. I started off as a simple cold, but soon led to several weeks of fainting spells and dread that I was finally going to accidentally kill myself @_@. Finally I was one day asked why didn't I just keep the damn binder off if it was that hard to breathe. I was quite surprised by how I responded. I simply said, "because I'd rather be dead." That's when I realized that I'd reached a level of crazy of no return XP. Thankfully my mom finally managed to get me some back market antibiotics (no health insurance sucks ;_;!), and I can freaking breathe again! Unfortunately, I think I gave myself some permanent damage XP. Oh well, I deserve it :'P.

I also want to add another chest complaint. Having a large chest is bad enough, why did they have to be perky ;_;? Perky D-cups are like an act against nature and gravity @_@! Thankfully, after constant binding, they're not as perky as they use to be. Unfortunately these things want to to fight me till the very end! D:< Who relates? ;_;

Quote from: Darth_Taco on January 19, 2013, 02:52:10 PM

I also want to add another chest complaint. Having a large chest is bad enough, why did they have to be perky ;_;? Perky D-cups are like an act against nature and gravity @_@! Thankfully, after constant binding, they're not as perky as they use to be. Unfortunately these things want to to fight me till the very end! D:< Who relates? ;_;

I have perky D-cups too, binding doesn't really hide them unless I layer and layer some more. I'd like them if they weren't on me. 

Quote from: LearnedHand on January 19, 2013, 03:08:23 PM
I have perky D-cups too, binding doesn't really hide them unless I layer and layer some more. I'd like them if they weren't on me. 

Kind of feel the same way. I'd give them to my girl friend (she's trans), but I understand it doesn't work that way.

--Jay

Quote from: LearnedHand on January 19, 2013, 03:08:23 PM
I have perky D-cups too, binding doesn't really hide them unless I layer and layer some more. I'd like them if they weren't on me. 

Try perky DDs.   Exercising is supposed to help me lose weight in my chest, but it's not working that way.  I gained a size since it. @.<  Binding does almost nothing for me, lol.

Quote from: JasonRX on January 19, 2013, 12:40:30 AM
I feel the same way. Binders suck.
Once my pecs and shoulders started to get too big, my binder actually didn't even want to fit right anymore.
I had top surgery just today, so I'm only going to have to wear a binder for a little longer though, and even then, it's going to be a surgical one - not the one I was wearing previously.

Jason that's awesome! Congratulations bro! I know you're really into working out/bodybuilding so I have no doubt your chest is going to look amazing. Which procedure did you go with (if you don't mind me asking of course)? You've already built up your pecs a lot right? Your doc should have been able to do an outstanding job contouring everything around your pecs, which i know helps produce top notch results. I hope you show us when you're able. I'm seriously stoked for you dude!

Quote from: KyleXX on January 19, 2013, 09:17:12 PM
Jason that's awesome! Congratulations bro! I know you're really into working out/bodybuilding so I have no doubt your chest is going to look amazing. Which procedure did you go with (if you don't mind me asking of course)? You've already built up your pecs a lot right? Your doc should have been able to do an outstanding job contouring everything around your pecs, which i know helps produce top notch results. I hope you show us when you're able. I'm seriously stoked for you dude!

I had to have double incision done because I had too much sagging for anything else, unfortunately. My pecs are pretty huge though, so I'm sure it'll look great once I can take my bandages off and get my drains out.

Quote from: JasonRX on January 19, 2013, 09:22:10 PM
I had to have double incision done because I had too much sagging for anything else, unfortunately. My pecs are pretty huge though, so I'm sure it'll look great once I can take my bandages off and get my drains out.

DI is still going to look great. having pecs actually does a lot in terms of hiding the scars. regardless, they'll still fade over time. i've seen some amazing results of DI scars fading. have you seen ryan sallans? i want my body to look like his body.

Quote from: KyleXX on January 19, 2013, 09:38:16 PM
DI is still going to look great. having pecs actually does a lot in terms of hiding the scars. regardless, they'll still fade over time. i've seen some amazing results of DI scars fading. have you seen ryan sallans? i want my body to look like his body.

He looks alright.
I aim to get quite a bit leaner than him once I start working out again.
His body sort of looks like mine does right now, and I plan on doing P90x to help me shred a little bit, while maximizing the muscle I maintain.

Quote from: JasonRX on January 19, 2013, 09:51:42 PM
He looks alright.
I aim to get quite a bit leaner than him once I start working out again.
His body sort of looks like mine does right now, and I plan on doing P90x to help me shred a little bit, while maximizing the muscle I maintain.

For sure, I feel you bro. My body doesn't look so great right now so where's he's at is a solid goal for me. But once I get there I know I'm going to want more. My real ideal involves a six pack you can wash clothes on and getting real jacked and cut all over. Like a lean bodybuilder. Is that what you're going for? I know you can get there, and I hope you stick around so I can see your progress.

I used to have perky E cups but 4 years of binding has completely destroyed the perkiness. I have now what can only be described as long-boobs. They bind much flatter now but the shape under the binder looks really odd, what with my nipples being pretty much level with my belly button xD