Another thread reminded me of something I've been wanting to ask.  I've got an Underworks double-front compression shirt, size small, and I'm wondering if it's a bit too small for me.  I can get it on, but I have a hard time breathing.  I can't quite get a full lungful of air and any sort of physical exertion beyond walking is difficult.  After I take it off (after only a few hours--I've never been able to take a full day), there's a strange 'rattling' in my lungs, like a bunch of phlegm or fluid.  It goes away within an hour or two; faster, if I deliberately cough hard to clear my lungs.  My measurements were right between the small & medium sizes, so I went for a small thinking that it would compress my chest better.  It does a brilliant job at making the lumps go away, but it also appears to be compressing my ribcage.

I got a little bit scientific and took my chest measurement (just underneath the lumps) before putting on the binder.  My chest measured 33.5" in a relaxed (not puffed up but not completely exhaled) state.  I put on the binder & immediately took the same measurement: 33".  About 0.5 to 1 hours later, breathing was becoming a bit more difficult & I took another measurement: 31".  At this point, I took the binder off & took another measurement: 31".  It took a few hours for my chest to return to its original 33.5" and during this time I continued to have some trouble breathing.  I found it creepy that my ribcage would remain compressed even after I took the binder off.

Before anyone worries, I have worn the thing less than 10 hours since I got it a year ago.  That was to try it out & see if it would stretch out a bit after use; when my lungs started really complaining, I discontinued use.  But I have to ask: are my experiences typical of binder use?  Or am I just being a wuss for not wearing it and not being able to tough out the breathing thing?

It's common when you compress your chest for fluid to build up, coughing hard a few times should clear it up. Though I still think you got a size too small. Binders will make it somewhat uncomfortable to breathe, but you shouldn't be having that many issues with it. You should be able to wear it for at least a few hours, at most 8-10, before you need to take it off.

I suggest you get the medium binder next time.

that's normal with binder wearage... from my experience at least.  after almost a year and half of binding my lung capacity is definitely not what it used to be, though no rattling like you mention.

Hmm. I might try a compression shirt sometime. I have been especially self conscious lately and I really want to be able to wear a tank top.

I bind with bandages not a compression shirt (mainly because I can't afford one at the moment!!) and I try not to bind too hard but I have noticed that when I do bind too tightly sometimes my chest feels tight.  It's not a nice feeling but I have never experienced symptoms as serious as you describe. It sounds to me like you should definately not wear that binder anymore and if you can at all afford it buy a better fitting binder.