[breast4success]

I've been experimenting with different dome placement during the daytime to try to figure out a set up I might be able to get through a whole night with! My problem sounds a lot like Blue792's, with pain in my sternum, armpits, and ribs preventing me from keeping it on for more than a few hours. This didn't occur to me at first, but I think some of my issues might be because I have pectus excavatum, so I have rib flare and a depressed sternum. Maybe that results in unusual pressure points on my body? I've tried some of the tips that breast4success shared as well as some random experiments and I've found the most comfortable placement to be without the bra, with the domes very high up on my chest so that the bottom of the domes are just beneath my breast crease, and with the domes rotated inward towards one another so that the tops of the domes are touching and the bottoms of the domes are more wide apart. Rotating the domes helps take the pressure off my armpits and helps me to get a more comfortable placement on my ribs. Last night I decided to give sleeping with the domes another go!

However, terrible news! My pump just died! First, it was sputtering as it tried to create a vacuum, and then overnight it would just click repeatedly without evacuating any air. I replaced the batteries, reconnected all the tubing and made sure there were no leaks, and restarted the pump multiple times. Nothing! I haven't dropped it or damaged it in any way, so I'm so confused why this has happened. I noticed there is a clear chamber where liquid collects (sweat, I assume) that I figured was to protect the pump from being damaged by the moisture. It looked like I should be able to open that chamber up and pour out the liquid but I haven't found a way to do so, so I just let it be. There is never very much liquid in there, but I wonder if that might have contributed to the death of my pump? I can't believe it's only been 9 days and the pump has stopped working!

I'm sorry you're experiencing so many issues with this thing. I've had to change my dome placement with the current size because it was beginning to hurt a bit when it didn't when I used the smaller domes - probably because it's wider and longer. I have 1 dome about 1-1.5 inches higher than the other now and closer to the middle. I only use the bra to try to keep it in place with just 1 or 2 hooks engaged. I hope your new placement works once you get the pump working again.

Did you replace the old batteries with brand new batteries? I think I remember reading that the old Brava pump would only work for about 7-10 days before you needed new batteries - which is why I got rechargeable ones. I've dropped my Evebra pump at least 2-3 times on my kitchen tile floor with the batteries and metal plate falling out but it still works as well as the first day I got it. When I do use this pump, I have a backup pair of rechargeable batteries available and change them out every day after the old ones finish charging. I don't see much liquid in the reservoir although I do notice a lot of sweat after pumping. I know you can remove the chamber by clicking the gray button on top (did that by accident) but it looks like you would need to replace that entire piece if it is full of liquid. If there's nothing in there, it shouldn't affect the pump. 

Now I'm really thinking you may have a defective pump if new batteries won't turn it on (I'm assuming you didn't put them in backwards by mistake).

Forgot to mention: I also am strategically placing the petroleum jelly in certain places because it can make the domes slide out of position and into my arm pits, then air escapes w/o me moving.

Likewise, if the rim skirts have to overlap on the sternum, the rim skirt that rests on top of the other rim skirt edge shouldn't have jelly on it either or air tends to escape.