Hey everyone. Since about march I have been binding my chest. My first binder was one from underworks I think and that was like a tank top type thing that didn't bind my chest what so ever but I still wore that til about late April when I got a proper binder from loveboat. Now I had no problems until about a month later when my chest kinda ached a bit. It was always in my left breast more than my right. In fact all the pain is on my left side. Because the binder is Velcro and that's on the left side I think maybe it more tighter. Also once the binder is on I arrange my breasts by pushing them upward as I feel they flattern better. Its gotton to the point where I need to wear bras again which is a bit depressing because binding is so painful. As I said my left breast kills but also the left side of my back sort of near the top of my ribs really hurts. Today has been a nightmare though. I got in a few hours ago after a long day out and was in agony. I always check my breasts for lumps now. I know there isn't an increased risk of cancer from binding but it hurts that much. Also I have horrible pains all down my left arm and my hand is going numb which is really freaky me out as arm pain is associated with heart attacks :S. I have also noticed its harder to breathe. In all honesty I'm not the fitest person alive and it doesn't take much exercise before I'm panting uncontrollably but I find that if Ive done something to tire me out no matter how hard I try to breathe in my lungs just wont take the air so I cant even do anything that active now. Whenever I'm at home I'll have to wear a bra and just wear a binder when I'm out but I'm getting pretty concerned. Has anybody else had this and is it just something that is expected with chest binding or is this leading to something a little more serious? Cheers

No-one can give you a diagnosis on the internet, obviously.

But the tingling in your arms and numbness in your hand is most likely squashing fo the nerves. The breathlessness, if it disappeares when you remove the binder, is most likely panic. Perfectly natural, even astronaughts suffer panic.

As for the pains in the chest, these are most likely caused by the compression. You don't mention some others symptoms which would be more typical of heart problems.

This isn't to say for definate that it isn't more complicated, but that the binding is the most likely.

Perhaps you could try experimenting with your binder. Different ways of putting it on, different amounts of compression, since you are clearly using too much.

Remember, for probably thousands of years, women have been binding. Mr. Playtex didn't come along until much later.

Have you tried a sports bra?  The right one can give you flattening and some support so you are not pulling on the tissue near as much.

I tried one on once and it didnt do much for me. Last time I bought a bra which was maybe a year ago I was a DD/E but ive gotton bigger since so I really do struggle to find ways of getting a flat chest without completely suffocating myself.

How long do you bind for? 

You need to not wear your binder for as much time as possible every day.  The whole time you are home or anywhere else you feel comfortable not binding (such as a friend's or whatever, that's what I did) you should wear no binder and a bra (or no bra if that is how you roll) instead. 

I realise someone like me is not the first person to listen to in these situations, and at the risk of repeating myself, but this was just bad technique.

Women hav been binding for thousands of years, to a greater or lesser extent. But you must never restrict your movement and that especially means the expansion of the chest.

Well I've started to wear my bra at home all the time now. My chest feels a lot better and there are no pains. Once I start to bind again it takes maybe 3 days of binding before my chest starts to feel tight again.  Its a bit upsetting that I cant wear my binder all the time (or just naturally have a flatter chest) but I definately feel a lot better and relieved that the pain wasnt a part of a bigger issue.

This site has some information. You may already have it, but always worth getting more, if you don't.

http://www.ftmguide.org/binding.html