Heya~ This is random, but can I ask too many questions? I've seen people apologize for posting -another- thread so I was wondering if I may do that? Sorry, that was bad. Anyways, I'm pretty peppy right now! My friend lent me my very first binder and I got to wear it today (luckily we have around the same bra size and such). It actually wasn't too bad and I was even able to put it on on my own. However I am going to a college campus which involves a lot of walking and where I live it is incredibly hot, sometimes even in the triple digits. Is it bad to wear a binder in that weather? Or can I walk around too much in one? What are warning signs maybe that you should take it off? Either way, if anyone has any advice for a newbie, I would really appreciate it! And maybe some stories to help ease the anxiety (since I really hope my parents won't find it). Thanks!
Heyyo! It's about 110 degrees Fahrenheit every day in the summer where I grew up, so I know that hot + binder life. Tanktops will save you, as well as having a half binder (something more cut like a sports bra instead of a tank top). Cut down on those layers. Shorts if at all possible are great. It's not necessarily BAD if you wear a binder when it's that hot, because honestly it gets hot wearing anything. A binder isn't that much worse than a bra. Just remember to be drinking lots of water, be sure you're eating good meals and that you stay out of the sun as much as possible. Same for walking, if you get short of breath, be sure to sit and take a break. Scooters/skate boards/ bicycles are a blessing on college campuses, I fully reccomend getting one (I have a dinky scooter I use to get around my uni). More than anything, just listen to your body! If you get light headed, take a break. If your back/chest starts to hurt, take a break. If you get a headache, make sure you're drinking lots of water and...you guessed it! Take a break! Everyone reacts differently to things. I can barely ever wear a binder because I have terrible asthma, but my brother in law wears a binder every day to college and he's pretty active (again though, get that scooter, they're the best). Learn what your limits are and LISTEN TO THEM! Carry around a sports bra and a baggy shirt in your backpack in case you really just can't wear your binder anymore. And try and not wear it for more than 6 hours straight. I don't have much in the way of stories, but people in college are pretty chill. Don't worry too much if you can help it.
It will make you hotter and sweat a lot that's not going to hurt you as long as you stay hydrated. You probably have to wash it a lot. Hang it to dry or it might shrink.
Only wear your binder for as long as you need to- NEVER more than 12 hours a day! :/ Also, don't wear it every single day- that can mess up your rib cage.
Like said above, best thing to do is listen to your body. If you start to get slight chest pain (especially if it's in your sternum) or back pain, and it doesn't go away after 30 mins or so at rest, you should take it off. If you start to get shooting pains or really strong aches, take it off immediately and don't wear it again until the pain is gone completely (preferably the next day) and if the shooting pain happens again it suggests the binder is the wrong size and you should probably stop wearing it. Same thing if you become extremely short of breath. If you have persisting pain after wearing it and it doesn't go away after a couple of days, or you start to notice bruising, you should see a doctor ASAP - this isn't likely to happen unless you wear it for far too long at one time or if the binder is too small, though. Most people suggest not to wear a binder for over 8 hours - with a properly fitted and custom-tailored binder some people can wear it for up to 10, but that's only in a push-comes-to-shove situation. I'd say that especially as it's your first time, you should try to wear it as little as possible and slowly lengthen the time that you spend wearing it. That should help you figure out where your limit is on how long you can wear it. You should also make sure you stretch a lot when you're in your binder. If you can, take a trip into the bathroom and raise your arms above your head, stretch out your back and shoulders, and do a cough to clear your airways. If you have the time/ability you can take off your binder while you're doing that, wait about 5 mins, then put it back on. The tumblr page breathe-in-your-binder would be helpful for this too: for those who wear binders It isn't active anymore, but listed there are simple but specific stretches that you can do as well as breathing exercises. As long as you keep length of time you've worn it in mind and you respond when there's pain, then you'll be just fine! Binders are very safe when properly made, correctly sized, and sensibly worn. If your parents find it, they probably won't know what it is. They might just think it's a tank top made from weird material. If push comes to shove you can tell them it's an undershirt that you wear when your shirts are see-through? Unless you do your own laundry they might find out about it sooner or later.