Still Binding With Ace Bandages? Here's Some Tips.

[Guest Nicodeme]

First off, I'm gonna put the obvious disclaimer here that ace bandages are not the recommended way to bind because of the fact that they become tighter every time they're stretched and then relaxed. In the short term this isn't much of an issue, (Aside from the fact that it's harder to breathe while you're wearing them.) but in the long term, with frequent use or for long stretches of time (or both...) it can weaken your chest muscles and warp your ribcage, making it hard to breathe even when you're not wearing the bandages. See also Evan_J's stickied post on the complications that can arise from binding.

(I can speak from personal experience here. I wore them for at least 6-8 hours a day for school, 5 days a week, over the course of 4-6 months--That's roughly 3,850 hours spent in ace bandages. Hopefully you don't do it that long. In the week leading up to my tri-top getting here I stopped because the pain and trouble breathing were too much for me. While it was emotionally difficult--to the point where I was late for classes because of meltdowns--by the time my tri-top arrived at my door I was significantly less sore and was able to breathe without gulping for air...well, at least not constantly...)

That said, there are ways to get your chest pretty flat with ace bandages and reduce the risk of injury or other complications. (Again: reduce, not eliminate.) Some of the ones I discovered are as follows:

Wear something under the bandages:

This keeps them from 1) overtightening, because it creates more friction and 2) cutting into your skin. It also gives you a little more fabric to keep your tumors in place if your tumors are on the bigger side and tend to spill out a little over the top and bottom of your bandages. (Mine did this all the time, and sometimes it'd set the bandages rolling down. Not fun.) You can wear any kind of shirt or even a sports bra underneath the bandages. Just wear something.

Puff up your chest before wrapping:

This gives you a slightly looser wrap that'll still give you pretty good compression. Inhale, and wrap as you usually do, but try to hold your breath the whole time you're wrapping the bandages around your chest. If you absolutely must exhale and take a new breath, slip your hand (make a beak with it) under the bandages on the front of your chest, between your tumors if you can handle it, and hold them out so they don't move with you. Exhale, take a new breath, and continue as before. This will keep them from relaxing and overtightening while you're still wrapping.

Rub the bandages a little after putting them on:

This is if you tend to look lopsided after wrapping. Inhale, wrap your arms around yourself (as if hugging yourself) and twist your torso. This helps even things out.

I'll repeat: this does not eliminate the risk of injury. It simply reduces it. If you plan to keep binding in the long term, (as I'm sure you do) get a binder from Underworks, Big Brother or The Circle.

[Guest Brendan]

Thanks for this. I'm getting a real binder with in a month or so but until then, I'm like you. Ace bandage for hours on end -.- Once I move out I'll actually be able to get one.

Anyway, I just wanted to ask whet you used underneath the bandage, because I tried with a sports bra for awhile and the bandage pushed the seems into my sides and left nasty cuts... (which I didn't think could happen from FABRIC).

[Guest insanitylives]

Didn't know about 2 and 3.

haha. I've always put something under (usually a tank top) because I get weird rashes with the latex[anything that sticks to itself has latex in it!! Warning for those with serious allergies!] but maybe it'll be less painful in the mean time while finding something else that works on larger moobs

thanks

[Guest Nicodeme]

Thanks for this. I'm getting a real binder with in a month or so but until then, I'm like you. Ace bandage for hours on end -.- Once I move out I'll actually be able to get one.

Anyway, I just wanted to ask whet you used underneath the bandage, because I tried with a sports bra for awhile and the bandage pushed the seems into my sides and left nasty cuts... (which I didn't think could happen from FABRIC).

I wore a normal a-shirt or tank top, or sometimes a sports bra.

Didn't know about 2 and 3.

haha. I've always put something under (usually a tank top) because I get weird rashes with the latex[anything that sticks to itself has latex in it!! Warning for those with serious allergies!] but maybe it'll be less painful in the mean time while finding something else that works on larger moobs

thanks

3 was something I stumbled upon because I would instinctively hug myself and shake (for lack of a better word) the bandages to even them out if they slipped. If it didn't fix them, it'd certainly buy me more time before I had to take them off. Suggestion 2 was something I discovered when I was actually wearing a backbrace for binding and needed to get a full breath of air from time to time. It pulls in on your back a good deal while you're doing it, but at least it lets your chest move and take a break without losing the whole bind.

[Guest MrAwesome]

I used ace bandage for maybe 2 days before my binder came, I found using a spandex shirt under it, and using safety pins to hold it to the shirt really helped to keep it in place.