gyno from mumps?

[matt115]

hiya guys,

Been scanning over this site for a while and its about time i joined! I'll give you some background and hopefully you can help me out with a few things:

I was healthy, active and perfectly normal guy untill about 12months ago when i developed mumps. At the time i was around 165lbs with a bodyfat of around 8-10% (was considered to be in good shape)at 5ft 9 and 25yrs old. Then i got a case of mumps which lead to severe ballache to put it bluntly (orchitis i think is the posh term) and since then i developed gyno and generally feel like crap. I went to the doc after a few months, at this point i just had a penny sized lump above one nipple. They werent concerned until if continued to grow over the next month and spread to another lump under the nipple as (led to puffy nipple a well) and i got sent to an endo. They did tests and got the following results (did around 3 but all came back very similar)

Testosterone - 19 (9-35)  av for 25yr old = 23
estrogen - 54 (14-45)     should be around 20-30 i believe
shbg - 68 (6-50)          av for 25yr old = 33
free testoserone - 4.9

Slightly suprised test was actually ok as thought this was the problem but with SHBG being that high its using it all up. To put in perspective the free test levels of an 85-100yr old is 5.4 and for my age optimal is 9.3-26.5 with the average of 13.5. Combined with high estrogen clearly my ratio isn't too favourable. To combat the gyno i went on a 6month trial of tamoxifen (10mg for 2months and 20mg for 3months) which initially dulled the pain slightly but over the last few months it has now spread to the other breast and all lumps have grown and puffy nipples are getting like worse and now i have cones for a chest during the day.

I havent told anyone at all, no family/friends as i hate it so much - i cant bare to talk about it and the only person in the last 9months to see me topless is my endo. I broke up with a gf over it as i just couldnt face it. i have so little confidence now, its massively effecting my quality of life but NHS dont care and say its purely a cosmetic issue. Over the last 12months i have also lost a lot of muscle mass/strength on a gradual basis(benching gone from 140 to 80, squat 140 to 90) and have gained a lot of fat on love handles and chest. I've become 'rounder' and softer and i think this is down to high estrogen and non existant free testosterone - still around 165lbs but lost muslce and swapped it for fat it seems. I have poor memory/concentration at work, and tbh with a complete lack of libido i just dont feel too masculine anymore. Endo says estrogen doesnt matter in men and says she only has concerns about free test levels if they dip below 2.5 which seems a little abusrd!

Apologies for the length but a lot to get down. I welcome any advice and fire away with any questions

[Paa_Paw]

Mumps was common when I was a boy. (I am now 75 years old) And, Stories like yours were common also. Except for all the modern lab results that is. The potential results were varied and sometimes dire.

Mumps is still a potentially deadly disease, It is good that you seem to have dodged the bullet.

I'm sure there are many who would like to see the unfolding of your story. Hopefully things will work out well for you.

[hatemymoobs]

Well not from mumps, but from low T and high E2.

You should get your hormones in check, balance them, see if it corrects the problem. If not... save up and shoot for surgery.

This is a shitty problem, but at least we all have each other, right? =P

[Paa_Paw]

Sometimes there is a measure of comfort simply in knowing you are not alone.

[matt115]

Well its seems its an indirect problem caused by the mumps leading me to have a hormonal imbalance. The trouble is that my doc doesnt seem to think there is a problem with my hormones and would rather treat numbers rather than symptoms. She says that only when free test dips below 2.5 (mine was 4.9 despite a 90yr olds being 5.5) will they even consider some kind of 'action'. I really wish i had bloods before i was ill to show whay i believe will be a massive change.

Any have any ideas on what to do to balance hormones or have been treated effectively with anything?

Diet wise I have everything that should help, fish oils/zinc/high protein/vitamin D and a weighlifting programme based around heavy hard compound exercise.

[matt115]

Been a long time since i created this and although the hormones seem to have balanced out the gyno remains. After the 6month trial of tamoxifen the gyno did slow during medication but came back worse after - seems to have settled now. It casues me discomfort at times but it's mainly the look and confidence issues it causes. It's not the worse by any means but it bothers me to the point i dont live/socialise like i used to so its time to resolve the issue!

I've got the money saved and im most likely going to use Dr Clark in Poland (im based in the UK and NHS offer nothing) in the next couple of months. She seems to have a good track record uless someone has opions otherwise?? cost is also a factor with it around one third the price of UK surgery. Just sorting out leave from work and liasing with clinic for a suitable date before i get it done!