Gynecomastia Support Forum

General => Gynecomastia Talk => Topic started by: Blarneystoner on November 13, 2005, 11:27:53 AM

Title: WEED!
Post by: Blarneystoner on November 13, 2005, 11:27:53 AM
Hey guys, I've started smoking weed. I smoke 0-3 times a week irregularly. I'm not an addict, nor do I do it habitually. I know that there's a possibility that weed can mess with your hormones but I know that I don't smoke enough for that to happen. My only concern is that when I go back to my surgeon (I'm not 100% satisfied) to maybe ask for a revision, he might ask if I smoke pot (he asked last time). I think I'll just lie and say something like "I've tried it" because I feel like he'd use that as an exuse to not do a revision. What do you guys think?
Title: Re: WEED!
Post by: silly_guy on November 13, 2005, 11:52:26 AM
I'd say don't tell him, he'd most likely use that as an excuse to not do the revision.  

Plus, imo, it seems like if weed could cause gyne, your gyne woulda kept growing before the operation?

However, if your doc thinks smoking is a problem, maybe you should stop dude.
Title: Re: WEED!
Post by: gynosucks1 on November 13, 2005, 11:54:42 AM
Quote
Hey guys, I've started smoking weed. I smoke 0-3 times a week irregularly. I'm not an addict, nor do I do it habitually. I know that there's a possibility that weed can mess with your hormones but I know that I don't smoke enough for that to happen. My only concern is that when I go back to my surgeon (I'm not 100% satisfied) to maybe ask for a revision, he might ask if I smoke pot (he asked last time). I think I'll just lie and say something like "I've tried it" because I feel like he'd use that as an exuse to not do a revision. What do you guys think?



first off it's not been clincially proven yet that pot causes gyno.

i've smoked last 2-3 months usually fri/sat once a week and i've had no growth of my gyno.  Granted i don't smoke that much, but i know plenty of people who smoke tons and dont have gyno as a result.

however lets say something like prohormones, or steroids.

guys who dont use proper pct will get gyno symptoms damn near for sure.

i know it's a shitty analogy but i'm trying to say that if weed causing gyno was actually true, we would hear a lot more stories about it

i've never heard 1
Title: Re: WEED!
Post by: GuckFyno on November 13, 2005, 12:07:25 PM
I was a huge pothead for a while, 2 or 3 times a day.  I don't think it caused my gyno but I'll tell you what started happening is every time I'd get stoned I'd stare in the mirror at my chest and get extremely paranoid about it, no fun at all.
Title: Re: WEED!
Post by: Worrier on November 13, 2005, 01:24:29 PM
I did quite a bit of weed when i was at uni a while back. I never got gyno from it.
    But i think everyones body is different like some people get gyno from a med and some don't. so maybe what didn't affect me may affect someone else.
     Also it seems to be pretty standard that a doctor ask you if you do weed when you go and see them about gyno so there must be some theory to back it up.I've never heard of anyone getting it from weed either but gyno is still a bit of a taboo subject for many people.
       Regarding your doctor he can't be a hundred percent sure that your pot smoking has caused the gyne as gyne can be caused by many factors even if you did let the cat out of the bag so to speak. Personally i wouldn't tell him but stop the pot now. As i would want to make a sure as possible the op was a success despite the whole shakiness of the gyno/pot relationship....  
Title: Re: WEED!
Post by: Blarneystoner on November 13, 2005, 04:24:48 PM
Quote
I was a huge pothead for a while, 2 or 3 times a day.  I don't think it caused my gyno but I'll tell you what started happening is every time I'd get stoned I'd stare in the mirror at my chest and get extremely paranoid about it, no fun at all.


i've done the EXACT same thing before. Having a fun high takes practice and people often get paranoid the first couple of times.
Title: Re: WEED!
Post by: Paa_Paw on November 13, 2005, 04:59:20 PM
There is a strong anecdotal connection between marijuana and Gynecomastia.  I do not know if there are any connections which would stand up to scientific standards.

That said, There will probably never be anything like a double blind evaluation of marijuana use and its relationship for the simple reason that the drug is illegal.  This means that the only evidence we are likely to ever see is anecdotal.

When a side-effect is noted for a medication, the relationship is often noted in terms of how many peoople will be affected per thousand of people using the drug.   Most people take most medications with no adverse side effects.  That fact does not erase the side effect for those who did have a problem.

The evidence is that illicit drug use (including marijuana) is commonly associated with gynecomastia.  

Should you be interested, the active ingredient in marijuana is an oil which binds to and is stored by the fat cells.  The same fat cells where Testosterone is aromatized to Estrogen.

Because the canabinol is stored in the body fat, the residual effects last for a very long time  and the drug will show up on a screening test long after the last usage.  It would serve little purpose to omit the detail of marijuana use when you are talking to your Doctor, he can easily test for and detect the drug.  If you have not been honest about it he will then know that your word is worthless.  It is better by far to be fully honest from the start.
Title: Re: WEED!
Post by: mamah_187 on November 13, 2005, 05:25:29 PM
i smoke weed everyday...i had a nasty chest before though, and weed hasnt changed a thing..

honestly i think the only reason they believe weed to cause male breast, is because they both happen at the same age!
Title: Re: WEED!
Post by: Hypo-is-here on November 14, 2005, 01:55:53 AM
If someone wants to hunt back through my posts under the name hypo;

About a year ago I brought to the attention of the board a detailed medical document that explained the affects of marijuana on the endocrine system of almost every conceivable animal.

In all the studies of which there were many, marijuana had an adverse impact on the androgen to estrogen ration of the animals concerned.

There was not one animal studied where this was not so.

Whilst not being a human trial (something that would bee deemed inappropriate), it is a good indicator as to what probably happens in the human endocrine system.

To wit the argument goes that everyone knows one person or another who smokes a lot of marijuana and yet they are not affected.

My thinking on this is that some people have healthier endocrine systems than others.  

If an individual has a high natural testosterone level and a low estrogen level, then they might not be affected to any noticeable degree at all, but if an individual has a propensity for gynecomastia having a low or low normal testosterone and or an estrogen level that is not particularly low then the impact of marijuana could be far more significant.

All of the human statistical information relating to marijuana is that, gynecomatia is seen in a higher than expected proportion of people who smoke it.

It would seem there is a weak but positive association between the two, hence the question often being asked by endocrinologists and plastic surgeons.

All this said the link is not nearly as strong as it is with other substances such as steroid abuse which accounts for 25% of all gynecomastia sufferers or as is seen with associated conditions such as hypogonadism which accounts for 10% of all gynecomastia sufferers and liver problems which account for 8% of all sufferers.












Title: Re: WEED!
Post by: ruggedtoast on November 14, 2005, 06:26:04 AM
I was a major pot head for about 3 years and while I vehemently defended the therapeautic effect of  cannabis use at the time looking back on it I have to say it was a waste of time, had a very negative effect on my ability to interact with the world  and possibly did worsen my gyne.

Id also say while some people just smoke dope a lot because they like it the majority do so because theyre depressed, and it doesnt help with that, not at all.
Title: Re: WEED!
Post by: GuckFyno on November 14, 2005, 01:25:34 PM
Can't help but agree with some of what your saying ruggedtoast.  I did it for about 4 years, I always thought it was opening my mind and I was doing all these great things.  I look back and think "what the hell was I doing all that time?"  I'd like to enjoy a smoke every once in a while but as I said I have some issues with it and my chest.
Title: Re: WEED!
Post by: throwback111 on November 14, 2005, 05:38:27 PM
i smoke chronic 6 times a day, and i love it, I recently got back from a vacation in amsterdam, smoked alot of crazy stuff.......I have smoked daily for over 6 years. I got my gyno before i even tried weed.  I lied about smoking weed and had no problems with the surgey.

I read on a bodybuilding site that there is no proof that marijuana lowers your testerone level. I exercise daily and have put on a lot of muscle and have a pretty cut chest now. i have seen no problems expept for some short term memory loss. But i know some people cant handle it like i can.
Title: Re: WEED!
Post by: orrible on November 15, 2005, 05:31:03 AM
This guy i work with said he smoked weed for 7 years. I only met him recently but hes a slimish guy with a large case of gyno. Perhaps he always had it but not sure.

If anybodys heard of Goldie lookin chain the UK rap group, they have a new song on their album called HRT. Its all about one of the band members getting gyno after smoking weed. Whilst they have added humour to it and exaggerated some parts, it is supposedly true that he got gyno from weed. The song can be sampled or downloaded on itunes.
Title: Re: WEED!
Post by: gynosucks1 on November 15, 2005, 05:49:41 AM
i've always had wayy bigger insecurities about the size of my head than i ever did about my chest

it's funny, but everytime i smoke pot i look like mr garison from south park to myself in the mirror
Title: Re: WEED!
Post by: tonysoprano on November 17, 2005, 01:24:00 PM
I have grown up with 7 very close friends all my life. we are all 25 now and still all best mates.
around 15/16 we all started smoking pot , and soon it was very heavily (2 years later we were smoking 5 days a week on average), and we all gradually cut down and then stopped smoking after the age of about 22.

9/10 years after we all started and about 2/3 years after we all stopped, and only one of us doesnt go to the beach on weekends and never takes his shirt off... guess who?
Title: Re: WEED!
Post by: Blarneystoner on November 17, 2005, 01:24:17 PM
thanks for the responses guys.

MY PLAN: continue to smoke weed (0-2 times a week) and tell the doctor that i've tried it but seldom do it (hopefully he won't even bother asking). if he gives a revision, i'll stop or signifigantly reduce my intake (which isn't much in the first place). If he doesn't, i'll keep on smokin until I see a difference.
Title: Re: WEED!
Post by: Blarneystoner on November 17, 2005, 01:26:50 PM
BTW, I think the claim that weed can cause gyne is possibly government propaganda to scare people away from it, which many of the "side effects" are.
Title: Re: WEED!
Post by: throwback111 on November 18, 2005, 08:20:15 PM
its bullshit weed is fine, it does not lower testosterone levels.

http://paranoia.lycaeum.org/marijuana/facts/3-mj-myths
Title: Re: WEED!
Post by: Hypo-is-here on November 19, 2005, 02:28:57 AM
I quote the study you have presented

Quote Verbatim
The U. of Iowa study found that chronic marijuana use
had no effect on testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle
stimulating hormone, prolactin and cortisol in men or women.
  Noting that six other studies had failed to show
lowered testosterone levels in men, Dr. Block concluded: "It
appears that marijuana, even heavy use of the kind that's
typical in the United States, doesn't alter testosterone levels."  
Unquote


So they only tested testosterone levels in the blood.

It is a well known fact that testing testosterone in the blood is completely useless unless you also measure the protein that binds testosterone known as SHBG.  Increases of SHBG would significantly reduce the crucial levels of free testosterone.  We do not know if this happened in those tested in the study because SHBG was not tested for.  They could have got around the need for testing SHBG by testing for free testosterone by equilibrium dialysis, but they didn't test for that either.

Which means their testing of testosterone is utterly useless is it gives an entirely inaccurate picture of what is going on.

Additionally Androgen deficiency is defined as a lack of testosterone and or a lack of its metabolites.  Which means that those in question could have still been androgen deficient if the marijuana caused an adverse affect on dihydrotestosterone levels, but again this was not tested for making the information pretty useless.

Furthermore this study only looked at testosterone.  It was not looking at the issue of gynecomastia.  Gynecomastia is a condition which is caused by a poor androgen to estrogen balance.

In this study they did not consider the effect on estrogens at all.

This makes this study utterly redundant on a third level in that you cannot use it to in any way to say that smoking marijuana doesn't cause gynecomastia.  This study is not in any way looking at the use of marijuana and its link to gynecomastia, you are misusing its information in applying it to this context.

As it stands you have half of the picture and an utterly flawed half at that.

For ANY study on marijuana to be legitimate when viewing any potential effects on the endocrine system
the following minimum would need to be tested;


LH
FSH
Testosterone and SHBG
Free Testosterone
Prolactin
Estradiol
Estriol
Estrone
Progesterone
IGF-1
Dihydrotestosterone
TSH
Free T4
Free T3
Corisol
DHEAs

Hepatic function tests
Dynamic Adrenal function tests
Renal function tests















Title: Re: WEED!
Post by: throwback111 on November 19, 2005, 09:16:41 AM
I can only speak for myself, I got gyno before i started smoking weed. I smoked weed for the last 7 years and it just stayed the same. I could not even wear a t-shirt, When i got my surgery I smoked before and after my surgery.


I dont think my gyno is coming back so im gonna keep smoking, this is how i look smoking a 1/8 of a ounce a day for years:
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/6113/dsc003486vy.jpg
http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/5579/dsc003486yj.jpg

I think more people will get man boobs from beer with all those calories
Title: Re: WEED!
Post by: Hypo-is-here on November 19, 2005, 09:58:01 AM
You are one person throwback- a case of one ;D

The whole point/argument regarding both alcohol and marijuana is that in those that smoke/drink it there is a statistical increase in the number of people that develop gynecomastia.

Looking at marijuana;

If you take a x thousand healthy men who do not smoke marijuana and you compare that with x number of healthy men who do smoke marijuana, there will be a statistically higher number of men with gynecomastia in the latter group.

There is a proven albeit weak association between the two.

Many men will of course smoke or drink and have no problem whatsoever and not develop gynecomastia; that I would have thought is rather obvious.

But if you are one of the men in the minority, who is predisposed to gynecomastia who has developed it because of drinking or smoking marijuana, I don't suppose the fact that the odds that it would happen to you were slim would make you feel any better, do you?

Marijuana and alcohol are not strongly associated with gynecomastia in the way that steroids are or in fact a whole variety of medications, but they are nevertheless causative factors for some people.







Title: There are a very small number of people wRe: WEED!
Post by: Paa_Paw on November 22, 2005, 08:11:30 PM
There is a very small number of people who have medical problems for which Marijuana has given relief.

It is absurd that more research into this is not being done.

Meanwhile, the stuff is illegal.  That is the bottom line.
Title: Re: WEED!
Post by: Hypo-is-here on November 23, 2005, 01:09:40 AM
Having been one of a number of men given a treatment called Nabalone (marijuana) to stop me being constantly physically sick on chemotherapy back in 1991 I concur Paw Paw.

It obviously does have its legitimate uses and like many drugs should be reseached more actively.

I think the fact that it is a naturally occuring substance that cannot be patented has a lot to do with the lack of fundiing/reseach.

That said the limited reseach that does exist does point to adverse changes in endocrine function and unless this is called into question I think you would need a pretty good reason to be using it, unless you are agreeing to expose yourself to the risks that seem to come along with it.

At present I would put the risks in the same brackett/context as smoking or drinking alcohol.




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