it actually felt better to wear one and found it increasingly irritating if I did not. (I can not understand how some women go braless).
Same here. It correlates with the fact that 80% of women are wearing the wrong size. I've had a few that I got rid of almost immediately; but I have others that are super comfortable all day.
Do I love my gyne (which is minor compared to that of many others here)? Hmmm...not really, although I'm not devastated by it like some. I can't believe how much time I have spent in the last 3½ years trying to learn more about what was happening to me (and it wasn't until more recently I realized that the pain was because one breast was starting to grow, and it's bigger than the other); and I have also spent hundreds of dollars trying different bras, first just sports bras (really just a cheap pull-over bralette) as recommended by marathoners since I thought all I had was "runners' nipple," ie, bleeding nipple fissures just from friction on the inside of my jersey (although it was strange that it always happened on the same side), then eventually needing one all the time to be comfortable at all, then after more growth, finding that the one breast did not like being squashed but the soreness/itching/irritation (I can't find a suitable description) was relieved by a bra with an actual cup. I'd be lying if I said there wasn't any fun in the process.
I don't consider surgery an option though. If I could instantly change it all, I would; but since I can't, I'll make the best of it. Hopefully it will remain small enough that I can always hide it when necessary, even while wearing a comfortable bra. I always wondered why women were so resistant to getting sweaty. Well, now I guess I know one reason. A bra is not comfortable when you're sweaty, except my stretchy pull-over ones I wear under my jersey and undershirt on my bike, which I do not feel when I'm riding even though I sweat like crazy. (They're not very comfortable for non-athletic situations though.) I sometimes want to walk or jog to the post office or a store a mile away, and in the heat, the sweat pattern on the back of my shirt makes the outline of the bra very plain to see, so I try going without. What a pain, especially when I jog. I can't wait to put one on again when I get home, but I have to wait until I cool off and dry off. Cooler weather is coming, and I'll enjoy it and enjoy wearing my favorites.