Should Doctors not be held accountable?

[robodaleks]

Hi,

Been reading a lot of the threads for some time now so decided it was time to sign up and put across my own feelings. If the topic has been done to death apologies.

I remember when I was 18 and I went to my local GP as I was concerned about the size of my breats. I explained that they had been like this since I was 14/15. He told me it was normal and would disappear in a few years.

So I wait...and I wait...nothing changes.

When I was 28 I had moved town and went to another doctor. She said 'They look fine, stop worrying'.

I am now 35 and for the best part of 20 years I have experienced the same kinds of things mentioned in other threads (not going swimming, taking top off at beach etc).

I have always known my chest area did not look right and it's only been the last year I have started surfing / researching the issue. Now I know when I look at pictures that I have Gynecomastia.

It actually makes me feel annoyed. I feel like both the GP's I have consulted should be held accountable. Ok, thats a sweeping statement, but all I wanted was for someone to say 'Yes, you could have Gyne, I will refer you to a specialist'.

Can't they be sued! Or told to pay for the surgery! Fair enough, that won't happen but seems to me that patients are easily dismissed.

I  now have a young family and to be honest it's bloody embarrasing that I can't take my kids swimming etc. No more. I have finally decided to visit a GP again and literally demand that I be referred to someone that is qualified to give an opinion.

By the sounds of it the surgery will be expensive (lived in Norway for the last 2 years so will probably be mega-expensive) but if it gets me peace of mind...Amen!

[Mr_Nip]

With gynecomastia different rules seem to apply with regard to doctors.  Some of them probably don't understand the mental torture that sufferers experience, therefore, they just try to make sufferers feel better by saying, "you look fine".   They see no medical emergency and don't generally refer people for things they consider cosmetic.   I think that medical universities should be teaching the basics of gynecomastia to all medical students.  Having passed my 40th birthday before knowing that my condition has a name and that I'm not alone, I have also felt similar frustration.  With the obvious case I have, all of the various doctors I've seen since my teens should have explained that help is available.  None of them did.  Don't look back.  Look forward.  We can't change the events that brought us here.  Darned if we can't take control going forward, though.  

[usernameX]

I completely agree with you bro. Listen to this...

I went to the doctors about 2 weeks ago. The purpose of my visit to see if my chest looked in order and everything was healing correctly. (I had surgery August 2nd btw)

I said to her exactly this...

"Hello, umm are you familiar with gynecomastia? Because I had sur"

she quickly interupted me without even letting me finish my sentence saying

"Dont worry hunny, its completely normal at your age, it will go away"

Dont get me wrong she was so sweet about it. But its as if they are hardwired to TELL you that its fine even if it destroys you mentally.

I had to wait to actually tell her that I had the operation and I simply wanted her to look at it and see if everything looked OK.

Point is, I know where your coming from bro. I do think they should be held accountable but thats because of our own anger. Its not as if a doctor told you dont have cancer and you later died that year or something.

[usernameX]

EDIT: Thats why its up to us to go immediatly to specialists. Because you know what, doctors arent exactly lying when they tell you its normal. Its sucks shit to have, but it is somewhat normal.

[robodaleks]

Its great you guys have taken the step to do something about it. I am going to do it, but I still know I will have to swallow some pride.

Here is hoping that Doctors etc wake up and see that physically and mentally this is an issue that effects a hell of a lot of people. Think its fair to say it is a soul destroying complex!

The pleasing thing for me is that, in the famous mulder and scully words, 'we are not alone'. Hats off to the site owner, moderators and all those who have contributed to the board. Without it I think I would have went another twenty years wondering if I would ever be brave enough to confront the issue.

Respect to you all.

[nonini]

Why do you need a doctor to tell you that there is a problem. Its not really a medical condition its more of a personal thing, just go directly to a plastic surgeon. If its very expensive in your country maybe you can do the Poland option.

[Mr_Nip]

Why do you need a doctor to tell you that there is a problem. Its not really a medical condition its more of a personal thing, just go directly to a plastic surgeon. If its very expensive in your country maybe you can do the Poland option.

Nobody's saying a doctor is needed to tell that there's a problem.  Even a total BONE HEAD with gyne knows he's got a problem.  Doctors are supposed to be able to recognize the possibility of ligitimate medical conditions and advise their patients of the possible options.  That's what doctors are supposed to do, and they're not doing it in many cases with gynecomastia.

[Paa_Paw]

First of all, I do not know about you and your condition. For me, Gynecomastia is normal, it runs in the family, I'd be odd  not to have it.

Because of the very high incidence of the condition, Many Doctors look upon Gynecomastia as being well within what is normal unless the man has very large breasts.

Complicating things even further is the issue of BDD.

Last year a lad of 15 was posting on the boards and he was truly desperate. His condition being made worse by the fact that his father did not take him seriously. I communicated with the boy on the boards and privately as well. because of his youth, I wanted to get his father's E-Mail address so I could communicate with him as well.  The boy told me of his various appointments with different doctors. One day he posted a brief message that simply said " I don't have Gynecomastia after all, My doctor says it is something much worse called BDD.

So, your Doctor may be programmed to brush you off. and no you cannotbe called to task under the conditions I've seen here in this post.

Many of us tend to take the doctors advice and silently obey. Make the Doctor earn his money, Question what he said. You are short-changing yourself when you accept the well rehearsed answers.

My Doctor never answeres me in such a way, he knows that if he did it would be the last ime I saw him.

[carguy]

This crap is so draining i dont know why a doc would brush it off. They really need to change what they read about gynecomastia.
I mean here i am sitting in class with breast how the F&^k am i supposed to concentrate on my work. Then these docs want u to run and play sports with breast jiggling.
Thats like telling a girl with a d*&k everythings ok.
How can she concentrate on school work while she hides her package. this crap pisses me off. Man did this do a number on me.

[nonini]

Nobody's saying a doctor is needed to tell that there's a problem.  Even a total BONE HEAD with gyne knows he's got a problem.  Doctors are supposed to be able to recognize the possibility of ligitimate medical conditions and advise their patients of the possible options.  That's what doctors are supposed to do, and they're not doing it in many cases with gynecomastia.

Well I dont see any pics posted by the guy so am not sure how u can clearly see he has it.
And most of the time its not a medical condition its just that we are uncomfortable with our body image, I mean if we just didnt give a shyt what anyone thinks we would be just fine, thats not a medical condition.
And the guy said that he will demand that he be reffered to someone else, he should go girectly to someone lese.

[Grandpa Bambu]

Having passed my 40th birthday before knowing that my condition has a name and that I'm not alone, I have also felt similar frustration.  With the obvious case I have, all of the various doctors I've seen since my teens should have explained that help is available.  None of them did.  Don't look back.  Look forward.  We can't change the events that brought us here.  Darned if we can't take control going forward, though.  

Ditto!

I was in the same boat as you.  At 41 I had Gynecomastia and didn't even know the condition had a name. I am very disappointed that none of the GP's that I have seen over the years offered any info on Gynecomastia. However, in all fairness, I never once mentioned it myself to a GP. How could they know how I felt about it?

Anyways....  Like Mr_Nip said:

"Don't look back.  Look forward.  We can't change the events that brought us here.  Darned if we can't take control going forward, though."


That's an awesome statement dude!  

John.

[Grandpa Bambu]

I have finally decided to visit a GP again and literally demand that I be referred to someone that is qualified to give an opinion.

Going to your GP is a waste of time dude. Go directly to a PS for help.

John.

[Paa_Paw]

The issue of Gynecomastia is that there is seldom any physical detriment. The effects are almost entirely Psychological.

There are three Doctors who can be of great help.

An Endocrinologist

He is the person best qualified to interpret your hormone test results and be sure that there is not an on-going condition that needs to be treated. He is also your best insurance against regrowth after surgery.

A Psychologist

The problems associated with Gynecomastia are almost entirely Psychological in nature. He can help you cope with some of the problems you face. If you have insurance and have been turned down for surgery, He may be able to help you greatly in the appeal process. He may help in yet another way, in that he may be able to help you establish reasonable expectations for surgery.

A Cosmetic Surgeon

Ultimately and finally, If you are determined to get rid of the problem, and there is little chance of that happening spontaniously, you'll need the services of a surgeon.

Note that a GP is not listed!

[robodaleks]

I hear what you are saying. However, for many the gyne term is not known to sufferers. As a result the GP is the first point of contact. In my opinion, if the GP had even a fraction of the facts that can be read on boards such as this one then people would have the problem dealt with much more quickly.

[Paa_Paw]

Yes, your first point of contact would usually be the family Doctor. but the ultimate responsibility for your medical care lies with you. Any time that you question your primary care Physician, you owe it to yourself to ask for a second opinion.