Puffy chest

[Hedgehog]

Hi all,

First post so bear with me. Also written on the wife's iPad so please forgive me if the spell checker does odd things  . 

I'm 38 years old, 75 kg, reasonably fit. I used to do a lot of intense exercise when I was in my 20s such as Kung fu, strenuous exercising etc.  I had almost no fat and a large muscular pectoral region. 

Since meeting my wife some 7 years ago I almost stopped exercising and as a result much of the muscle seems to have disappeared and turned to fat.  I am by no mean overweight, I'm still pretty skinny and have a 36 inch waist.

As a child I had us descended testicles which were not resolved with surgery until I was 4 or 5 years old. By all account back in the late 70s that was early surgery as they used to do it on 12 year olds. By today's standards it is late as they do the surgery much earlier now. I read that undescended testicles can increase the risk of hypogonadism etc or gynecomastia.

Anyway back to the present.  I seem to have puffy nipples and also a puffy chest.  Really it feels like my chest is made up of marshmallows or something.  I do feel my chest tingling sometimes and when I walk I feel a strange sensation around the ends of my nipples like it is kind of tugging or a bit like kids jelly you used to eat as a youngster at birthday parties etc...very strange sensation.

Other times my chest feels harder or firmer so the sensation does change.  The size of my chest I have no idea. I can cup my chest using my hands and seem to fill my hands. 

If I look into the mirror straight on profile with my back ram rod straight I can just make out a small creases under each breast, if I slouch slightly in my normal posture it is much more noticeable. From a side profile my chest does seem to have a feminine aspect.  I can't wear just one shirt anymore and my chest does not quite seem so normal....what ever normal means, my nipples are very noticeable and I'm starting to see either side of my chest more pronounced than in between my chest.  I'm guessing i have type 2  gynecomastia, probably not a type 3 yet.

Yesterday I saw the GP about it and they are running a blood test for prolactine, testesterine, estrogen etc...should know the results of that next week.  I want to rule out any serious medical conditions,

Diet wise I eat pretty normally, the wife is Chinese so I eat a lot of Chinese food, stir fries etc...we eat mainly vegetarian but I do eat chicken and steaks occasionally.  My wife probably over feeds me and I have started a diet and exercise to bring my weight down from 80 kegs to 75 kgs

Going back to the chest, I also get an aching sensation in my chest is this normal?

Anyway enough from me for the time being, just wanted to introduce myself.

[Bobby - LAgyne]

Welcome aboard!

Something came to my mind: did you have normal looking chest when you were in your 20's and more active before meeting your wife and gaining weight?  If so, I believe it's all fat now, unless a plastic surgeon tells you that you actually have EXCESS breast tissues.

Good Luck!
---Bobby

[Hedgehog]

Hi there,

Thanks for the welcome.

It could be just all fat on my chest I suppose. I,m not really a fat person though. The doctor didn't help too much and I am not sure how familiar she is with gynecomastia so perhaps she could be wrong.  I can almost see white tissue around the areole on my chest perceivable through the skin.  Is very faint.  Also when I pinch my chest it doesn't feel the same as fat,  is very hard to explain.

I hope it is nothing

[headheldhigh01]

I seem to have puffy nipples and also a puffy chest.  Really it feels like my chest is made up of marshmallows or something.  I do feel my chest tingling sometimes and when I walk I feel a strange sensation around the ends of my nipples like it is kind of tugging or a bit like kids jelly you used to eat as a youngster at birthday parties etc...very strange sensation.

Other times my chest feels harder or firmer so the sensation does change.  The size of my chest I have no idea. I can cup my chest using my hands and seem to fill my hands. 

"normal" guys don't have this.  a pic would say for sure, but i don't need one, i feel pretty sure you have it.  you are probably capable of telling the difference between normal fat and something not as normal.  and the other condition you mentioned improves the odds. 

sorry to say welcome, but you'll find good ideas and support here   

[Hedgehog]

Thought I would report back since I got the results of the blood test today.  All hormones within normal range except prolactin which was a bit high.  I can't remember how high it was exactly as the doctor didn't give me a print out to take home.

[Hedgehog]

Finally got round to going back to the doctor for a copy of my hormone levels. Every thing was in normal range except for vitamin d and prolactin. The prolactin level was about 615 the top end of the normal boundary is 500 and as an example my wife is 200. The testosterone Is around  12 withe the lower boundary I think from memory 10 or so - is in the range. I'm going from memory here as I'm at work and left the papers at home.

Being paranoid I meandered around my rib cage and it is 34 inches with my chest measuring 39.5 inches and 36.5 measured underarms and around the top of my chest. It was never that big before.  As an example, if I put my wrist on my collar bone and move my wrists down my body over my chest I feel definite female contours and definite lumps. I have literally grown small breasts and they seem to be increasing in size.

It doesn't bother me too much. I mean I suspect I have had this for many years without realising it. Perhaps age(39), lack of exercise has accelerated it. I have a loving wife, my life is pretty good, money etc...it would be strange to have prominent breasts and a little embarrassing I guess but I'm at that age where i don't care what other people think. 

My chief concern is my health and I'm going to a fertility clinic tomorrow for a check up on the health of testes, sperm count and to hopefully rule out cancer of tested etc...

For some reason my wife likes the play with my nipples during love making. I'm wondering if this is making prolactin levels elevated.

Anyway I will try to update you all on the progress.

Excuse spelling, weird words etc typed on a small screen iPhone

[igotum]

I don't think the playing around has a thing to do with your gyne. Makes it a lot more bearable!
The high prolactin probably is the culprit. In my case I don't really know what caused the gyne.
Most likely prescription drugs. I take 8 prescriptions and 5 of those in side effects say the can cause gyne. I also took prednisone for a year. My doctor thinks that caused it. The link is to a picture of my breast. It is a full C cup. I am 68 and don't let it bother me much, The bra helps with the pain and flopping around. My breasts are not say sore, just tender. Riding or driving is uncomfortable. Really bad mowing the lawn or walking.

https://www.gynecomastia.org/smf/4/picture-of-my-gyne/msg192232/#msg192232

[Hedgehog]

Hi igoturn, I went to the fertility specialist and they did an ultrasound of my testicles, semen analysis, and blood test of the hormones. Everything appears to be normal. My sperm count is good, no concerns over the testes except one is smaller than the other. The hormone levels were ok with tetesterone  around 13.5 within the normal ranges. The doctor said it would only be of concern if it was below 8 or so. Estriol and fsh etc all normal. Prolactin was higher this time at 750 or so. The doctor said it would only be of concern if it went over 1500 or so but I need to have another blood test in a few months.

My chest appears to have slightly grown which is a little bit concerning. I don't really know what to do right now except wait for more blood tests I am hoping I do not have prolactinoma as I read the medication for that can have nasty side effects.

I go to visit my folks this winter I am not sure if my chest is visible to others or not. My wife says it is small but I don't know if it is because she is used to seeing me and accustomed to my physique.

Anyway take care all