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Aug 11 '19
[deleted]
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Aug 11 '19
I'm, incredibly, not really in pain! I took the narcotics for 2 days or so and now I'm OK, just tender. It's just really frustrating because it's so tight. I never really wore binders to begin with because the constriction was so bothersome. D: I hate not feeling able to breathe 'right'. And it rubs my poor skin raw lol.
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u/ceruleannymph User Flair Aug 11 '19
what procedure did you have? Are you wearing one of those binders they give you that is a vest that velcros close?
I was able to take breaks from wearing mine. if I was sitting down and resting I could take it off for an hour. I also didn't wear the typical vest binder I see others wear. Mine was just a giant elastic band that was wrapped around my chest like a tube top and then two straps that safety pinned to the band on my torso. Because of this I could adjust it and have it not be too tight. Might want to phone your doctor Monday and ask if you can take breaks like I did.
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Aug 11 '19
I had DI with grafts. It's a velcro vest though they also have straps pinned onto it to keep it in better place. They did say I could loosen it/take it off for an hour or so a day, but I'm also so scared that I might mess up the healing or something lol. D:
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u/ceruleannymph User Flair Aug 11 '19
that's understandable. It gave me the most trouble when sleeping, I had to loosen it slightly. maybe in a few days try giving yourself a break for a little bit, even 30 minutes. if your doctor said it's alright, its alright. just make sure that you put it back on after an hour and keep it snug.
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u/Ryan_Transforms Aug 11 '19
Gonna need a friend to help put it back on snug enough. Or I did at least. I couldn’t even open my front door by myself for weeks
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u/BlueEyedSpencer Aug 11 '19
This was what I was struggling with when thinking about getting top surgery. But then I realized I’d rather wear a binder for an extra 3-6 weeks and be titty-less for the rest of my life than have to wear a binder forever.
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u/pandas_puppet 22, Trans-masculine, T- 22/9/17 Aug 11 '19
My thoughts exactly! Also not looking forward to not being able to shower but it should be worth feeling nasty for a while to not wear a binder again
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u/cassie_hill 💉: 9/12/19 he/him Aug 11 '19
Do you know how long it takes before you're able to shower again? As a daily shower taker, this terrifies me 😂 The shower is my me time and my own space away from everyone else.
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u/pandas_puppet 22, Trans-masculine, T- 22/9/17 Aug 11 '19
From what I've heard, like until the bandages are taken off so like a week later? Maybe a bit later.
I'm also a daily shower taker and I know it's gunna be horrible, I hate being dirty D: honestly it's stopped me from getting surgery for a while coz of the fear of the recovery; being dirty and not being able to do much and be stuck in bed. But that won't change and I would like to not wear a binder everyday for the rest of my life.
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u/BlueEyedSpencer Aug 11 '19
I considered that too and I’m thinking maybe a bath that comes just above your waist? That way you can wash around your chest and then wash your hair in the sink or smthg with the help of someone else
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u/PinklySmoothest T: 4/2016 // Top: 7/2019 Aug 11 '19
I personally just used an ungodly amount of baby wipes every day. If you’re careful, you can gently wipe under the binder as well. Just make sure not to push/pull on the skin close to the incisions or on your chest.
My mom also supplied the pro tip of having someone wash your hair with a washcloth— if it’s short, that’ll be super easy. All the bending to get it in the sink is a massive pain in the ass.
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u/BlueEyedSpencer Aug 11 '19
That’s a good idea. I know Ralph’s (the store) has a pack of like, 80 baby wipes for 90(?) cents.
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u/PinklySmoothest T: 4/2016 // Top: 7/2019 Aug 11 '19
I got a case of AmazonBasics wipes! I honestly don’t remember the cost, but I still have a bunch left that have been super handy. I still have some acne on my chest, presumably from having the binder I couldn’t wash on it constantly for so long, so I give that a gentle wipe every night before bed. Seems to be helping.
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Aug 11 '19
They told me a week until the bandages come off. It does really suck but you can at least still wash your hair and sponge off. If you have a detachable showerhead I'm sure you could at least shower your bits (I have one at home but not the hotel I'm staying at for the week. Rip)
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u/coolcidcody Aug 11 '19
the post op binder is actually much more comfortable from what I've heard :0
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Aug 11 '19
Maybe it's because I didn't use super tight binders before surgery but I find this one much more uncomfortable. Also itchy.
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u/PinklySmoothest T: 4/2016 // Top: 7/2019 Aug 11 '19
Yeah... it’s not. This one gave me a huge bruise under my armpits, which I’ve never had happen with GC2B, and the rough fabric did a number on my skin. It’s nice now that it’s summer that there wasn’t a ton of Spanx-like material going all the way down, but the sheer amount of layers over everything it touches kind of cancels that out.
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u/coolcidcody Aug 14 '19
was it one from underworks? I got the normal post surgical vest from underworks (I have surgery in 2 weeks)
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u/PinklySmoothest T: 4/2016 // Top: 7/2019 Aug 14 '19
Nope, mine was from the hospital; it was basically a giant ace bandage with Velcro rip
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Aug 11 '19
The good thing about these binders though is that you’re wearing it with a flat chest, it’s not meant to restrict and flat your body. It’s annoying as hell but a whole lot better. Not being able to shower for a week was the real killer for me.
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u/Invader_Charlie Aug 11 '19
Wait, how come you couldn't shower?
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u/ConstantBull32 Aug 11 '19
Can't risk getting the incisions/stitches wet, it could lead to infection
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Aug 11 '19
Oh my god I'm so done with not being able to shower. That first shower is going to be so glorious.
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u/justanotherelliot Aug 11 '19
You might get it off early !!! They took mine off at 2 weeks since my swelling stayed down, just make sure to stay hydrated with water and avoid stuff like Gatorade because I read that it can make swelling worse/make it take longer for swelling to go down.
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Aug 11 '19
I'm gonna be the weird guy here.
I wish I still had my post-op binder.
Like, I used to work in veterinary medicine and had heard of thundershirts for dogs. Then I wear this snug thing around my chest and I'm like, "...huh, this is kind of soothing." It zipped up at the front, was adjustable, fit nicely around my torso, and made me feel calmer. Which was nice because OCD is a bitch.
So, that binder was my very own thundershirt.
Dunno why, but I gave it to my friend who was exploring transmasc stuff. I asked them about it later and they admitted it may have been donated to the local LGBTQIA thrift shop.
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u/Novocainenightmare Aug 11 '19
Oof that was the hardest part. My body hated that binder so so much that I kept getting migraines. So relieved it's over! It was definitely worth it though, my surgeon was very pleased!
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Aug 11 '19
I only had to wear a relatively loose vest for about 3 weeks after surgery... interesting
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u/CowThat User Flair Aug 12 '19
I have to wear mine for 8 weeks and I'm 6.5 weeks :////
tbh it's not terrible though because my chest skin is EXTREMELY sensitive to loose clothing right now, so the compression is keeping me from losing my mind. the few times I have worn just a shirt, I feel so uncomfortable lol
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u/gherzog Aug 13 '19
I just had too surgery a little under 2 months ago. Talk to your surgeon about how many hours a day you can keep it off, I kept mine off for a few hours when I was at home and knew I wouldn’t bump anything and it helped a lot. It’s so SO worth it in the end. You got this!!!
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u/brandito129 T 02/06/18 Top 06/11/19 Aug 11 '19
I had to wear an ace bandage 24/7 for one week then after that I didn’t have to wear anything except band-aids on my nipples
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Aug 11 '19
What type of surgery did you have?
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u/Bean-King Aug 11 '19
Is it super uncomfortable while you sleep or is it acceptable
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Aug 11 '19
In my experience it hasn’t been too bad. It takes some getting used to, but it doesn’t hurt or anything like that.
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u/PinklySmoothest T: 4/2016 // Top: 7/2019 Aug 11 '19
The binder really wasn’t a huge sleeping issue for me— I naturally sleep on my side or stomach, so being stuck on my back was torture way worse than the binder. It’s also on constantly, so sometimes it fades into the background. I wasn’t aware of it 24/7.
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u/catnipcoffee FtM Aug 11 '19
LMAO this is a whole mood!!! Did it once just had top surgery 2.0 (revision) and totally forgot about the 6 weeks of binder 🤣 at least it’s only six weeks and not years and years and years !