Jump to content
  • Welcome to the TransPulse Forums!

    We offer a safe, inclusive community for transgender and gender non-conforming folks, as well as their loved ones, to find support and information.  Join today!

9 Reasons To Make Sure You Bind Appropriately And Not Over years and years


Guest Evan_J

Recommended Posts

Don't question the likeliness -- it all depends on body type and age. It's likely for someone to have complications, but you never know until you do it because different people's bodies react to compression in different ways. I have been binding for a year and already have bruised ribs and costochondritis. My binding habits were six hours a day, five days a week, maximum, using binders that were either the recommended size or slightly larger for me. I have a chest that's 34B.

Hmm, then maybe I'm just very lucky? Mine are all the right size (one is 2 sizes too small). No bruised ribs, no lung problems. The closest problem I have is that I can't run very long/fast while binding and haven't tried without because my chest is big and jiggley and is psychologically uncomfortable.

Link to comment
  • Replies 124
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • JJ

    5

  • KieranD

    5

  • Ravin

    2

  • KC

    2

Top Posters In This Topic

Guest sabastion

i have tried the two sports bras. doesnt work as well as i hoped. i have been using a diy binder. underworks. doesnt give me a flat chest. weill try the other options soon.

Link to comment
Guest kenneth-tm

i have tried the two sports bras. doesnt work as well as i hoped. i have been using a diy binder. underworks. doesnt give me a flat chest. weill try the other options soon.

that was supposed to say underarmer. and i have tried the diy panty hose binder. and i love. i can breathe! i love this and recomend to any one on a tight budget.

this is my biy binder in use.

http://s1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd506/bashmikel/binder/?action=view&current=Snapshot_20110617_3.jpg#!oZZ4QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs1223.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fdd506%2Fbashmikel%2Fbinder%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3DSnapshot_20110617.jpg

Link to comment
  • 1 month later...
  • 4 weeks later...
Guest SirParkertheDuck

Hm. That's rather frightening, actually.

I tried the whole sports bra/pantyhose-shirt thing. Didn't work for me so well.

I'm some ungodly nonexistent size. My ribcage is like, 29 inches around and my bust is 36....so I really can't go without binding and still pass. Stupid weight distribution....gah. The afore mentioned method just kinda...made me look weird as fuuh. It was like "I HAVE MASSIVE PECS" which would be cool and all since I have wide enough shoulders and large arms...'cept for the fact that it made my waist super apparent even with a wife-beater and baggy t-shirt on.

My tri-top is~ 1.5 years old now and needs to be replaced, but it -still- looks more natural. (and is way more comfortable, actually.) I don't recall ever having problems breathing with it on. Hurts the muscles in my back if I wear it too long, so I avoid sleeping in it when I can. (I have a tendency to fall asleep randomly though, so...sometimes I forget.) I guess I'll take my chances...not much I can do for a few years, my binder holds my ability to not crumple over into a pile of sad-parker.

Link to comment
  • 2 months later...
Guest Treygus

I bound with an ace bandage for seven years prior to surgery. My ribs are misshapen and I have scars from where the bandage would rub against my skin. I wasn't a very small guy, so I had to pull that sucker pretty tight, tight enough to break the skin sometimes. I haven't built up enough testicles to have a doc check out my chest cavity for any issues, but I do know that I have chest pains/tightening every now and then. If anyone is even remotely thinking of using an ace bandage, I strongly suggest that you stay away from it.

Link to comment
  • 1 month later...
Guest Call me DEAN

Wow, well I'm new to this whole thing and I've been binding with ace bandage cause it's all I have at home. It's not comfy and it falls all the ******* time, and it kinda hurts too, sometimes. Well this topic sure convinced me to change my binding! I'll look into small sports bra or an undershirt or something that won't kill my poor already asthmatic lungs. Thanks a lot for the info, guys!

Link to comment
  • 1 month later...
Guest jadynriley

well I only read the first post because I am having a very ADHD day but I never knew there was any complication associated with binding and honestly I never knew there was a name for what I was doing before either. This may explain my chest/rib pain and shortness of breathe though that no doctor has been able to diagnose :( ...i tend to bind 24/7, if i'm not in the shower or changing outfits i have on a full (chest and torso) athletic compression tank, i guess i might have to change that now though :(

Link to comment
  • 2 months later...
Guest Carter L

I've been watching this topic for the past three years and I need to say something now that I have appropriate experience:

Underworks binders are dangerous. Particularly our favorite, the tri-top. I have experience with many binders now and Underworks binders are not made for FtMs even though they have an "FtM Section." That section is exclusively a section for our favorites that don't have to do with groin-region compression. They are designed for bio-guys and their bone structure and bone strength. I hate to say it, but our...condition...gives us different structural integrity. Thus, the products aren't exactly made for us.

Now why would I say this?

1. I have been binding for three years and have used both T-Kingdom and Underworks binders. T-Kingdom binders, while primarily marketed towards us "smaller" guys (racial size difference, honestly, as they're made in Taiwan), are designed for FtMs. Underworks are not.

2. Underworks binders have given me bruised and maybe even fractured ribs. I used them for two years.

3. I have been using T-Kingdom binders for the past year. HERE'S THE IMPORTANT PART: I put on my Underworks Tri-Top for THREE HOURS the day before yesterday because I was feeling uncharacteristically dysphoric. My breast tissue has decreased in size significantly since I last used it. It is a size small. After just three hours, I had heart palpitations, stabbing rib pain, and pelvic pain across the band of muscles that moves when my hips rotate, likely due to a change in muscle position or even organ position. I was nearly admitted to the ER. From only three hours of use. These things are dangerous! This is serious! I would not recommend Underworks Tri-Top even though it works well! It is dangerous! I am even uncomfortable in the Double-Front, but it has not caused me any real problems like the Tri-Top (the compression is uniform, meaning my lower organs are not affected as dramatically).

Bottom line: If you can't get T-Kingdom, or if you don't like T-Kingdom, for god's sake please don't use the Tri-Top! Use the Double-Front if you need something significant. I'm sorry it sucks but we need to put our health first.

Link to comment

I feel kind of alone with my view and experiences. I've used T kingdom and sports bras work much better. I've been binding for 7 years. No problems so far using my underworks binders.

Link to comment
Guest Markus ThatGuy

Man, that sounds terrible...

And I just started looking into binding. I've been wearing a baggy T-shirt + button up shirt for years.

But I was thinking about buying one of these.

http://www.amazon.com/Underworks-Microfiber-Compression-Medium-White/dp/B001DLGWJS/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1331192153&sr=8-5

I'm kind of right in the middle of the small and the medium do you think that if I get the medium and don't wear it everyday that I'll be fine?

If it won't be I guess I can just wear it on special occasions. I've made it this long without one.

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator

I am very,very chest dysphoric yet have to be extra carefull about binding due to asthma and a history of frequent pneumonia going back to early childhood. I bind but only when going somewhere special.

I find that band aides over the nips (I trick I learned in the braless 70s :)) because they are unusually prominent and a source of great dysphoria and an athletic compression shirt in a size smaller than I usually wear does the job without causing problems. Be sure it is the athletic and not the gynecomastia compression shirt which is in reality a stiff binder. most athletes wear the athletic compression shirts for almost every professional sport so they are safe. They also help control body temp and wick moisture which is a real blessing. Particularly in the summer for me when temps in the 100s and humidity in the 90percent range is the norm here. A binder can be lethal just from overheating but with a compression shirt under it can be almost comfortable. And alone the compression shirt is comfortable as anything can be. I swim with one under a mesh shirt.

I prefer Under Armor and get them on ebay for much less than athletic stores. I recently bought a women's small for swimming because I now wear a men's small and couldn't find a men's extra small. The women's has an extra band inside around the top which helps even more keep things flat and in place.

If you use the bandaides be careful and gentle changing them to prevent irritation. Bandaides are designed to wear for days-even when bathing and I have had no problem as long as I am gentle though I have over sensitive skin.

Hope some of this helps

Johnny

Link to comment
  • 1 month later...
Guest Jesse0319

Alright, so I've skimmed this topic before, and got great information from it. I DID order an underworks binder this past week though, to give it a try. When I measured myself for the fitting, I came up with like 26.5 inches under the bust, and 29.5 inches over the "full" part. This is why I didn't consider compression shirts first - I can't fit into hardly ANYTHING, because I'm such a small guy all around. But, I'm super-super chest dysphoric, so I ordered a binder to try and see if it worked.

Well, I just baaaaarrrrrely fit into an Extra-Small, according to the Underworks size chart. It's the one with the binding panels only in the chest area. I figured, since I was almost off the chart, an Extra-Small was the perfect size, because it says "if you're between sizes, take the bigger one". Well, I did, and it came in today.

I had a TERIBLE time putting it on. I tried pulling it over my head, and if my shoulders weren't double-jointed, it would have hurt. So, I tried stepping into it instead. I almost couldn't get it over my hips. I finally got it on, was super-super happy with how I looked, and then immediately took it off. Yes, I had a grad party to go to today, and it would have been great to have that on. But, it was super hot out, and I was uncomfortable with the pressure on my ribs.

I have been having slight pains just below the chest area on my left side, lately, and I knew I wasn't gonna wear my binder soon. But I'm really concerned abut how tight it actually is. Considering my size, does anyone know a good alternative? Like, where I could get some compression shirts that don't hang off of me loosely? Or, if not, would the next size up for the binder still work? How big is the difference, really?

I really, REALLY don't want to hurt myself. I'm seeing a GT soon, and plan to bring it up to see if she has any recommendations, but what do you other small guys do?

- Doesn't Fit into Anything Jesse

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator

Buy boys size compression shirts.

I've seen them on ebay for as small as a child 7 (little boys on up wear them for baseball and football so they are out there) and I know that is too small for you:) I have to order boy's now because I wear a men's small and need a smaller compression shirt than that. Sometimes a women's snall will work but not as well as a boys.

Sorry the binder is so tight. I have very broad shoulders-most men's small tees are too tight in the shoulders though otherwise loose-and had to go to the zipper or velcro binders. Love the zipper ones best but velcro does let you adjust

Johnny

Link to comment
Guest Jesse0319

Thanks, Johnny. My family is going to Walmart and to the mall tomorrow, so I'll look for something while we're out, as long as no one throws a fit. If all else fails, I can wear the binder around my hips for a while and stretch it out a bit :)

-Jesse

Link to comment
Guest oliverking

Gosh, this scares me :l I never knew that binding could cause THIS much damage! But, it's good I know now so I can prevent whatever-said damage. I was thinking that since I'm going to try to come out an MTF for my senior year, that I should bind for school which is about 7-8 hours. But now I think I just only do it every other day, or maybe take it off during/after school (for I have a backpack) or, I don't even know. I'm just really freaked out now after knowing all of these effects and such :C

Link to comment
  • 1 month later...

even underworks binder do that!?!?! *gulp* i'm 13 if i get surgery at 25, i'll have been binding for 12 YEARS! am i doomed to a heart attack or something?!?!?

if youre 13 and dointg all that, why dont you see what you can do to get some hormone blockers, or something.

If you can prevent the things from growing it would be a big help to you now and later..

BTW i had a huge chest so i didnt even bother with binders, which turns out was just as well for my health. what i did was i wore layers of clothes, like, a teeshirt that was kinda snug but an overshirt with buttons, (flannels, whatever) that was loose. that kinda thing.

in the winter, nobody can see whats inside under your coat, so you dont have to do so much then as you might think too.

be kind to your body and especially your spine, you cant buy another one at walmart.

Link to comment

definitely good advice there. reminds me of women who wear corsets you know?

it messes up their internal organs and stuff.

you gotta take care of your body, even the parts you dont like or you'll end up damaging yourself in alot of ways you can never fix.

and when youre younger, its easy to take things for granted, like knee joints that work, or a spine without disc damage from lifting heavy things, or whatever.

you need to be as healthy as you can be for best results from hormones and surgeries.

--dan

Link to comment
  • 7 months later...
  • 3 weeks later...
Guest Oxygenic

Good post, I was aware of the dangers which preceded with binding, but never knew it was that extreme. "Fortunately" I haven't started binding yet due to lack of money, and the fact that I'm not completely out of the closet yet. I'm somewhat genetically lucky to not be all too big in the chest, enough that a baggy shirt can cover it well. I seriously need to get my hands on a binder.. soon... and now I know not to wear it everyday or sleep with it on. Don't want to crush these ribs.

Link to comment
  • 1 month later...
Guest Hunt

Oh man what?? i mean i know that its very dangerous but i have to use an ace bandage because my parents wont even let me use my own money to buy a binder, and if i dont bind at least when im dressed for the day i emotionally break down (and still will even if i binded all day). I dont want to hurt myself either though :/

This was good to read.

Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Who's Online   2 Members, 0 Anonymous, 168 Guests (See full list)

    • VickySGV
    • Susie
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      80.6k
    • Total Posts
      768k
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      12,014
    • Most Online
      8,356

    Quillian
    Newest Member
    Quillian
    Joined
  • Today's Birthdays

    1. l.demiurge
      l.demiurge
  • Posts

    • Davie
      Except for this thung thwister: Theophilus Thistle, the successful thistle sifter, in sifting a sieve full of unsifted thistles, thrust three-thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb. Now if, Theophilus Thistle, the successful thistle sifter, in sifting a sieve full of of unsifted thistles, thrust three-thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb, how many thistles can'st thou thrust through the thick of thy thumb . . . in sifting a sieve-full of unsifted thistles? Success to the successful thistle sifter!
    • VickySGV
      You have given you and us a big clue right there.  I hope you have shared this observation with your Endocrinologist and are willing to take their advice about changing that behavior.    Non prescribed herbal or animal supplements can have a negative effect on your body's use of your available hormones.  Also, your genetics are going to be controlling what your body is going to do with your hormones, and again, that is for you to consult with your Endocrinologists.  On this site none of us are licensed medical personnel and we cannot give you advice on your health more than what your doctor can.  We have rules that we enforce against our members advising about "Folk Remedies" because we have had members who have gone that route and badly damaged their health and quality of life.  Only thing I can go anywhere on, is that maybe if you change your expectations of what should happen, you will at least not be in danger of harming yourself from anxiety.
    • Timi
      Hi @violet r!    Thank you so much for sharing. I'm so glad you found this place. I hope you find as much comfort and support here as I have.    -Timi    
    • marysssia
      Hi lovely people,   I'm a 25 yo MtF woman, and I've been suffering from low estrogen issues since October 2023. I completely lost my feminine libido, my breast completely stopped growing, my estrogen levels dropped by a lot (despite NOT decreasing my E dosage) and thus my dysphoria drastically increased. I think it is worth mentioning that, for my health issues, I had been taking ----- Lamotrigine for months & had been on ketogenic diet, and these things seem to be a culprit of my current issue. I weaned off Lamotrigine some time ago and gave up on keto diet, but it still doesn't seem to help. My estrogen is still low (44 ng/ml) and my libido hasn't come back yet. In general, I struggle with my dysphoria so much because of that and, to be honest, I don't know what to do. I've tried so many dietary supplements, yet I didn't get any effects from them. My endocrinologist didn't know how to help me. She only suggested to increase my daily estrogen dose (to 3x per day ------sublingual estrogen tablets and 3x per day ------ estrogen gel applied to armpits or thighs), which I did, without any effect.   Please, help me. Prior to keto diet & Lamotrigine treatment, I'd never had experience like that. I'm basically helpless and have no clue what to do. Having to deal with low estrogen is a horrible experience to me and it affects my life severely.   BTW, my T levels are always within female range.   Do you have any clue what exactly I should do?
    • April Marie
      I love wearing a jeans skirt!! That looks like airport carpet. Safe travels if you're flying!!
    • Maddee
      Flight faraway forthcoming Fabulous forum friends 😊😊🎸🦂
    • Maddee
    • KathyLauren
      One of our cats is polydactyl.  He has 7 toes on each front paw and 5 on each back paw, for 24 toes total.   Another one, an ex-feral who, at the time, was free to roam, climbed 50 feet up a tree without having any thought about how he was going to get down.  His pal climed down backwards, but he couldn't.  He ended up coming down by leaping from branch to branch.  Which nearly gave us heart attacks, because he only has one eye and therefore has no depth perception.   The other ex-feral (both are now indoor cats) obviously does not have those soft pads on his feet.  At night, when we are in bed, we can hear him stomping around the house.
    • Abigail Genevieve
      The two o'clock Onshoring meeting was going well.  Taylor was leading, inviting other people up to speak on their specialties. Aerial photogrammetry and surveying, including the exact boundary, were out for contract signature  Gibson had handled that - Manufacturing was supposed to, but somehow hadn't happened.  Legal issues from Legal. Accounting reported on current costs, including all upkeep, guard salaries, etc.  Manufacturing was supposed to give those numbers, but they hadn't.   The downside was the VP of Manufacturing.  He had arrived at the meeting red-faced, his tie askew, clutching a bottle. It smelled strongly of vodka. He had never done anything in his twenty years of being VP of Manufacturing, and he did not like being asked now.   "Mr. ----, do you have the inventory we asked for?" Taylor asked politely.  VP Gibson had asked him to have his people go through the plant and not only inventory but assess the operational status of every piece of equipment.  They needed to know what they had. "I'm not going to take any f---- orders from a g-d- tra---," he snarled. "God knows what kind of perverts it has dragged into our fair city and bangs every night." "That is completely out of line." That was Gibson.  Taylor controlled herself.  That was a shot at Bob, not just at Taylor.  She was glad Bob was not there to do something stupid.  Had Mrs. McCarthy been talking? What had she said?  Was she given to embellishment?  Taylor took a deep breath. "I'm not sorry.  You f--- can take this stupid onshoring --- and shove it up your -" "That is quite enough."  This was the head of HR. "You can take your sissy ways and sashay -" "You are fired." "You can't fire me." "Oh, yes I can," said the office manager.  The VP took another swig from his bottle. "Try it."  He looked uncertain. "I will have you removed.  Are you going to leave on your own?  I am calling the police to help you leave." And he dialed the number. He stomped out cursing. They heard him noisily go down the hall.  This was the front conference room.  He actually went through security and out the door, throwing his badge on the ground on his way.  The guard picked it up. They could see this through the glass wall. "Can you fire a VP?" "The Board told me that if anyone gives me problems they should be shown the door. Even a VP.  I can fire everyone here. I won't, of course. Those were problems." "Are you alright, Taylor?" She nodded.  "I've heard worse.  Shall we continue?" And they did.   The last item was that certain business people in China had been arrested, and the corporation that had been supporting them all these years had been dissolved.  They were on their own, and the Board was dead serious on straightening things out.  After this meeting, Taylor believed it.  She did not attend the meeting to discuss how to distribute the few duties the VP of Manufacturing had done.  That was ultimately up to the Board.    
    • Abigail Genevieve
      Lunch was at Cabaret, still free.  The place was quiet: it was the sort of place you took a business client to impress them, and the few other people were in business suits.  Most of the legal profession was there.   She told him of the morning's frustrations, breaking her own rule about confidentiality.  She asked Karen how the branding was going, and Karen had snapped back that she had not started on it yet - they had all these proposals.  Taylor had explained that it was important, for the two o'clock meeting, and Karen told her to do it herself.  Karen pointed out that Taylor could not touch her - her uncle was on the Board and her brother was VP of Manufacturing.  Nor would the two computer guys go out to the plant - they were playing some kind of MMORPG and simply not available. If she wanted the pictures, she should go.  Mary prayed an Ave Maria, but both she and Brenda were racing to get the proposal out. The client wanted it Friday for review.   She didn't bring up what Mrs. McCarthy had told her.  She wasn't sure how to approach it.  She thought of telling her of a 'something more comfortable' she had bought in case he ever DID show up at her door. It was in the bottom drawer of her dresser, ready to go.  Instead she talked about moving to a place with a garage.  Several of the abandoned houses had one, and they had been maintained well with China cash.   Bob had finally realized that when he was introduced as Bob, Taylor's boyfriend, that was just how things were done here. Other people had introduced each other in terms of family relationships, which were strong.  Long before you found out anything else about someone, you knew how they were related.  Family kept people from leaving Millville.    "What is the real name of this town, anyway?"   She laughed.  "I am trying to find that out.  It's 'Welcome to Millvale' when you come into town from the north, and 'Welcome to Millville' on the south.  I have counted two other variants."   "What a town. Roosevelt is like that, with the families, but there is only one spelling."  
    • Ashley0616
      Nothing wrong with that. I'm glad that you found what makes you happy! Just curious what does your wife think? If it's too personal I understand.
    • Ashley0616
    • Ashley0616
      – According to a recent survey, the most popular name for a dog is Max. Other popular names include Molly, Sam, Zach, and Maggie.
    • Ashley0616
    • Ashley0616
      Either new environment/ not potty trained
  • Upcoming Events

Contact TransPulse

TransPulse can be contacted in the following ways:

Email: Click Here.

To report an error on this page.

Legal

Your use of this site is subject to the following rules and policies, whether you have read them or not.

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
DMCA Policy
Community Rules

Hosting

Upstream hosting for TransPulse provided by QnEZ.

Sponsorship

Special consideration for TransPulse is kindly provided by The Breast Form Store.
×
×
  • Create New...