Yes therapy so far has most definitely helped, and not a waste. I just ment start over in terms of forming a new relationship with a stranger and going to therapy sessions long enough for them to form their own opinion and diagnosis, vs having a therapist that already supports me in starting HRT when I am ready to do so.

I just fear that the new therapist might come to a different conclusion and not support any form of treatment/transition. But only time will tell, and if we go over the same issues and topics as my non VA therapist covered than I don't see why the out come wouldn't be the same, but you never know I guess.

Have no doubts that the VA will reach the same conclusions. With the VA, the patient is in charge. They work for the veteran. Even if he says something different, you can still request HRT. If he says no, I'll go kick over his trash can.    He won't say no. Relax.

Lol thanks @Lori Dee. I don't see them not coming to the same conclusion but I'm a realist and usually glass have empty kind of person. I always leave room for any and every possible outcome.

And yes I think I'd love to see you kick over some trash cans just for the fun of it. Lol

I don't see the glass as half-empty. I see the glass as too big. A smaller glass would make it full. 

So yesterday was def a milestone for me. I'm not sure what came over me or why I have been fixated on trying to find a bra that fits and is comfortable to wear all day under my work clothes. Anyways I have taken my own measurements at home based on all the info out there on the internet web. My measurements are 44 under bust, and 48 bust. Sometimes I can get as low as 41 underbust depending on arm position and if it's first thing when I wake up.

Based on that information my band size should be 44, and the difference is 4 inches from bust and underbust so that should put me at a d cup (even tho I don't have any actual breast tissue.) so after trying a few bras from Amazon and most were ok but not something I could see myself wearing all day in a auto shop. Even tried like cotton racer back sport/beginner bras but most companies don't make a size that fits me.

Anyways yesterday during my lunch break I decided to leave the dealership and go down the street to the mall and walked into Victoria secrets and said I was interested in a bra fitting/sizing for myself. Just about every you tub person or forum says at some point you should get sized by a professional. So that's what I did.

It was pretty scary. Picture a 5'8 guy that weighs 200 and muscular in a dry fit tank top and dirty work pants, facial hair and all walk into a Victoria secret for a bra sizing.

Anyways I was going to walk right past the store but I decided to go in and I was going to just walk and look around like I was shopping for my wife. But there was a store associate right there at the front folding clothes, and as you would guess the young lady asked how I was doing and if there was anytjing she could do to help me or find something for me.

I'm not sure what came over me but I replied saying that I was there interested in getting sized for bra for myself and quite surprisingly she didn't really even bat an eye and she was pretty much ready to do so right there on the spot but after I had said that I guess that's when the adrenaline started to fade and fear kick in and I asked if we could size me In a fitting room or somewhere more discreet and not in the entrance of the store lol.

So I got sized in the hallway of the fitting room area and I'm not sure how Victoria's secret does their sizing or calculation but the young lady said that from my measurements she put me at a 42 d. The only difference between how she measured and I measured was she did the underbust under my arms and over the top of my chest versus under my chest where the actual band of the bra would sit on my rib cage or diaphragm.

She asked if I wanted to try a bra on which in hindsight I guess that probably would have been the best thing to do so we can dial it in and figure out if that's actually a good size for me or if I need to go up or down but at that point I was starting to freak out a little bit and I was also on my lunch break and didn't want to be late coming off of lunch to get back to the dealership.

So I declined to actually try on a bra but later when I had some down time I ordered a bra off their website so when that comes in I can try it on and if it doesn't work out I can always return it on one of my lunch breaks.

Something I never thought I would be able to do anytime soon and I actually did it long before I actually have any breast growth whatsoever. I just know for men that it seems to be more difficult because we have obviously larger band sizes and not much of a chest to fill a cup so we would have a large band with a small cup size typically so that's why I wanted to get my size done professionally.

All in all it was not too bad of an experience luckily it was during lunch time and the mall wasn't too busy and the store wasn't really all that busy either.

Yesterday I also found out that the VA mental health psychiatrist is pretty much basically like my primary care doctor but for trans or gender affirming care issues. I wasn't quite sure how it worked but the VA spokes person explained that once I see and have my initial visit with mental health that mental health can make the appropriate referrals to Endo, and or what ever else I might need want.

I honestly didn't know who was the lead Dr for the care team. So now I'm even more excited waiting for my mental health appointment.

That is great, Robby. You have more courage than I ever did.

I have never been measured professionally. Like you, my research gave all sorts of wrong answers. Each company seems to have its own way of measuring and I tried them all and they were still wrong. There is no way that I am a D or E cup. (40/46) I fill a B and almost a C depending on the style of bra.

You are correct that the issue is the torso size. We tend to have larger band sizes but smaller cup sizes. That somehow doesn't occur to bra manufacturers. I wear a 40 band size comfortably, but to get the cup to fit, I drop down to a 38 B or C. If the band is too tight, I will add an extender to make it comfortable.

I hope yours fits when it arrives. If not, at least you have a starting point to experiment with.

Thank you Lori. This is a link to the bra I purchased online

https://www.victoriassecret.com/us/vs/bras-catalog/5000000067?genericId=11245719&choice=4CBF

I hope it fits. But I have a feeling it won't. It will be a process of trial and error. The only thing I am not sure of is what sizes are actually the same size. Like you said you should be one thing but you wear something else. I know my wife can do the same where she is one size but if it doesn't fit or they don't have it she tries the other size which is a different band and cup size than her original size.

So much I don't understand... Lol

And then there's the whole issue of if you wear breast forms, now how do you find the right size. For example if your supposedly a c cup and you wear b cup breast forms now your bra size is band size with c+b or 5 inches ( if c is 3 and b is 2). Just so confusing. Lol

What you are looking for are called "sister sizes".

Maybe this will help.
What are Sister Sizes?

Thank you Lori that was a very informative article about finding sister sizes for bras

My left one is called Laura and my right boob is called Rachel.
They are sisters.  At times, one was a bit larger or smaller than the other.
My sisters have been of different sizes, although these started off as twins.
Now they are identical again.

Chrissy

I got the bra in the mail today.ran home during my lunch to try it on. The cup size was way too big. The band felt like it was spot on, but the cup size way way too big for me. Like 2 inches of open air space between my chest and the bra. Lol. Welp I guess it's not an exact science lol. Oh well.guess I'll be returning it at a store on one of my lunch breaks this week.

It was nice, and I did like it but theres no way I could wear it under my work clothes with no one noticing. I'll have to stick to the sports bras, and cotton pull over racer back styles for now. Which is fine. I don't have anything that needs support yet anyways.

Only down side is I don't think they make a size I'd fit into with the correct cup size since the cup size is so small and my band size is so wide ( not for a normal bra anyways, and by normal I mean not a sports bra or something similar)

Hi Robby,

Two companies I would check if you don't mind doing it online.

Rosme bras are made in Latvia. I think you can find them on Amazon. Just search for "Rosme". The fabric is heavy but not padded. The cups fit perfectly but the bands run a tad small. After several washings, the fabric softens and the band stretches just enough. I realize this might be the opposite of your situation, but it doesn't hurt to take a look and see what they have.

The other is Smart & Sexy. They have a nice line of pushup bras that add cup sizes. They fit well so check your measurements. I am wearing one of theirs now and they are quite comfortable. They are running a sale too. Normally $18 each, now you can get two for $30. Again, worth looking to see what they have. I have had good results from both companies. They offer a good selection at reasonable prices.

Just be sure to measure the way they show you and you should be good to go. Hope this helps.

@Lori Dee I will def look into them for sure. I don't mind doing online shopping especially with Amazon since they are easy for returns.

Are there any specific models of each bra that you recommend trying from each company?

I have two of these bras in this color and one in a different color.
Rosme Balconette

I have this one and just ordered two more in different colors.
Smart & Sexy Push Up

Thanks I'll look into those specifically. I did do some snooping and I saw the rosme does have 42b while most others stop at c.

I def want to see howa real bra feels and fits, but for everyday use under my mechanic uniform I'll prob have to use sports bra style or bra-lets that are relatively thin and won't show or leave lines or add to my chest just yet.

I have the exact same Rosme bra model in two colors in size 44A. They are one of my favorite bras. However, even for the 44A size I need to wear breast forms, otherwise I wouldn't fill the cups and since it is a balconette style, it looks really odd with half filled cups.

Quote from: Iztaccihuatl on August 14, 2024, 08:46:58 AMI have the exact same Rosme bra model in two colors in size 44A. They are one of my favorite bras. However, even for the 44A size I need to wear breast forms, otherwise I wouldn't fill the cups and since it is a balconette style, it looks really odd with half filled cups.

I was anticipating a bit of growth, so my second one is a 40C. The band fits perfectly, but as you said the cups were not filled so had a sort of buckling at the top. I dropped down to a 38B and the cups fit perfectly but the band was tight when it was new. Over time, it stretched a little so is now comfortable.

I don't wear breast forms very often anymore, but I tried using "chicken filets". They work well for the Smart & Sexy bra, but not the Rosme. The Rosme isn't padded so the filets show as lumpy through the bra. In the bottom of the Smart & Sexy bras, they push up even further to give the girls an additional boost. Highly recommended.

Today I had what is most likely my second to last therapy session with my therapist that I pay for out of pocket before I have my consult with the V/a mental health therapist.

The session went well. Gave me a lot of insight. I had doubts a few weeks back. Helped me with ways to be better about having a voice and speaking my truth no matter how it makes others feel (for when the tough conversations come around), and gave me some local resources to look into.

It's unfortunate that his practice doesn't work with the VA. We've built a good relationship and I felt that he gets me. I might schedule a session with him from time to time just to check in and talk in-between VA sessions depending on how much time there is between VA sessions.

All in all I felt it was a productive session.