NHS- Update!!

[WXYZ]

Hi my G.p referred me to an endicrinologist when i couldn't take any more i am 29 and had gyno sine i can remeber, they are quite severe. my g.p referred me to an endicrinologist when i went to see him he asked me to take my top off which was really embaressing he then told me that he would take blood tests and if they came back as normal i was more than sure of facing surgery which i was delighted with. i am now 11 stone 7 lost 2 stone, still no difference to my chest if anything they look worse, my bloods came back normal and my G.P has now referred me to a plastic surgeon, i phoned the other day to find out an appointment and i was told that my referral was presently being vetted by a panel who would decide whether to offer me an appointment or knock me back, i am really down, i thought i was in witha chance, i should know by nxt friday if they will offer me one, my gyno is really severe but this panel have not seen them what do i do?am sooo down

I don't know why he sent you to an endo, my GP told me endo's are only needed if they suspect you have a hormone problem (female-like voice, lack of facial/body hair, underdeveloped testicles, basically a lack of testosterone).

You referral is being vetted by a panel? Who are these people?  I have pretty severe gyne (but one-sided) and my GP straight away referred me to an NHS cosmetic surgeon. After I was examined and had ultrasound, he agreed to offer me the surgery. There was no panel involved, the surgeon made that decision on the spot. However the surgeon didn't have much experience in treating gyne and told me I'd have scarring and that he wasn't going to get rid of all the breast tissue. I've heard bad things about NHS F-ups, so I wasn't going to risk that with my body. So I decided to go private. I know it costs quite a bit of money and even though my job pays OK, I'm saving hard towards a house and I'd be 4K poorer if I broke into my savings. So I asked my dad and he agreed to pay for the time being, though I will pay him back in the future, when I'm more financially relaxed.
So I'd suggest to see what happens with the NHS option and try to get a damn good surgeon, but if he's not experienced with gyne, then don't take the risk and save up for private. I'd say ask trusted members of your family (usually parents) they're probably more likely to help with the finances than any other. Otherwise try to get a loan from the bank, or just save up. But I know how hard it is when your gyne is severe, you have to be so careful at work to make sure nobody notices and have to wear layers of clothing, even in a heatwave. You can't wear a T-shirt publicly. You can't go to clubs because the bouncer might touch your gyne when patting you down. You have to really get to know women before you can tell/show them. Damn this gyne is a curse!

Good luck.

[Gaz29]

Thanks wxyz, spoke to my G.P yesterday via desperate phone call, i've had enough, she told me my case is quite severe but would have to wait till they make a decision and she hasn't dealt with a gyne patient for a while,she did say the fact that i'd lost 2 stone would help my case am going to phone hosp on fri see if they have made a decision, don't want to keep hassling them incase they don't do it but i am going out my mind

[Hope]

Thanks for sharing your story wxyz it is very similar to what I am going through right now.

My ultra scan is next week and I am scared to death!!!

As soon as I walked in to talk to the doc about my gyne the nurse was ther, like I said before I thought she was going to leave but she stayed?!

I was embarassed and nervous talking to the doc with her present. she did leave when the doc done the testicle check though.

Even now I dont understand the point of her being there. Oh well that is over now I have to prepare mentally for the ultra scan..

I cant wait for this to end...

[outertrial]

Its because as far as the nhs are concerned  youre having a breast exam and they dont want you to turn around and say the consultant had his dark pleasure with  your firm  luscious beauties when no one was looking.

Actually I was glad the nurse was there because she subtly (by umming and aahing)  backed up my indignance about what a complete and utter patronisingly  clueless nob he was - especially his demand that I spend the next 3 months  making myself dangerously underweight for my height before he would even think about operating.

That said I saw another nhs consultant after that who was a lovely chap and would have done his absolute best for me if we'd managed to get the pct to cough up. But he just didnt have much experience and I decided in the end the nhs wasnt for me.

[kingboob]

Thanks for sharing your story wxyz it is very similar to what I am going through right now.

My ultra scan is next week and I am scared to death!!!

As soon as I walked in to talk to the doc about my gyne the nurse was ther, like I said before I thought she was going to leave but she stayed?!

I was embarassed and nervous talking to the doc with her present. she did leave when the doc done the testicle check though.

Even now I dont understand the point of her being there. Oh well that is over now I have to prepare mentally for the ultra scan..

I cant wait for this to end...

The scan will be fine, these people know what they are doing and have seen it all before......... at least your not having a more sensitive area scanned.....  I have had a scan of the testicles before...... I was about 14 and there was a male doctor and female nurse present, imagine how that felt!

Also, I can remember having an echocardiogram, which is a sonography of the heart, I had to spend approx. half an hour laying on my side while a doctor ran a probe all over my chest area to get pictures of my heart..........  That was before I had my excess skin and massive boobs removed by Mr Levick......

So you can imagine how embarrassing that was, laying on your side with your boobs and stomach flopping everywhere while he tried to get a good picture, but the guy doing the scan was a complete professional and didn't say a word.

An ultrasound will be much quicker and less embarrassing than that.... it will all be over in 5 mins.

[WXYZ]

Thanks for sharing your story wxyz it is very similar to what I am going through right now.

My ultra scan is next week and I am scared to death!!!

As soon as I walked in to talk to the doc about my gyne the nurse was ther, like I said before I thought she was going to leave but she stayed?!

I was embarassed and nervous talking to the doc with her present. she did leave when the doc done the testicle check though.

Even now I dont understand the point of her being there. Oh well that is over now I have to prepare mentally for the ultra scan..

I cant wait for this to end...

If you were embarassed talking to the doc with her (the nurse) present, what would've happened if you told the doc how you felt? Would the nurse have left? Since she wasn't needed anyway. I knew a girl at work who was telling us about how she told a male doc to go away when she had a private problem at Hospital. She got a female doc instead. Wonder if they'd do the same vice-versa? I think it's just reserved for women.

Now for your ultrasound, it'll only be for a few minutes and it's just gonna be your man-boobs, not your balls. If you were embarassed by the nurse, you may be embarassed with the ultrasound staff, since like I said they are likely to be female. If you are embarassed try not to show it. There were two females when I had it done, but it wasn't that bad. There's nothing to worry about as yours are unlikely to be the first man-boobs they've seen. But to me it was pointless going through the ultrasound, since I'm not having the op on the NHS. I still hate the fact that my GP sent me to a breast clinic where I was the only male amongst many females, having to wait 1.5 hours really pissed me off.  It's not a good feeling when women come to the brest clinic then spot a man waiting there and wondering if they're in the right place. I said to myself that if any woman asked me what I'm doing there, I'll tell them I'm waiting for my girlfriend. Seriously, I was getting stared at.

[Hope]

Thank you for all your support it has been very usefull to me and I thank you all.

I have been told that a male doctor will be scanning my chest. The scan is quite late it is at 7pm tommorow.

WXYZ I can completely understand how you felt waiting for so long as I had to do it myself!!

Kingboob I can NOT imagine what I would be like having my testicles scanned... I dont even want to think about it... Your a brave man.

[Gaz29]

Hi Folks, First of many hurdles over, the NHS have agreed to refer me to the psycologist 10 month waiting list or i might get a cancellation!!!
It's a start!

[Hope]

Hi Folks, First of many hurdles over, the NHS have agreed to refer me to the psycologist 10 month waiting list or i might get a cancellation!!!
It's a start!

Congratz on that, there is a very good that a cancellation will come up so be ready to take that chance.

I have been lucky as I dont need a psycologist to see me, NHS have said that they will have to do the surgery on me. I have an appointment today and I dont even know what it is for?!?!

I bottled it big time for my scan. I turned up saw all of the women sitting down than I just walked out... Gynecomastia has been a very mentally challenging issue for me, I just couldnt do the scan...

So now I am going to book another appointment.

I fear change... I dont know if I should carry on with the NHS or carry on living my life the way it is...Wear 2 vests everywhere I go...

[Gaz29]

Hi Hope,Go for it it will help in the long run, i am concentrating on the outcome that's the only thing thats getting me thru, I bought 2 nike compression vests one white and one black, the only thing is they sit quite high up at the neck and they are really noticeable they do make a slight difference but to me they are still noticeable, Hope go for it we will get each other thru it!!

[WXYZ]

I bottled it big time for my scan. I turned up saw all of the women sitting down than I just walked out... Gynecomastia has been a very mentally challenging issue for me, I just couldnt do the scan...

So now I am going to book another appointment.

I fear change... I dont know if I should carry on with the NHS or carry on living my life the way it is...Wear 2 vests everywhere I go...

Sorry to hear about you bottling it. What was so bad? Was it the women sitting down in the waiting area or were they Hospital staff in the scanning room? But you said you had a male doc, so I'm unsure what the problem was.  Are you more embarassed that people will see your gyne or just female medical staff? I think most are OK, though I mentioned my bad experience with a nurse who cracked a joke at my expense.  I'd hope most are not like her, but the NHS seem to employ just about anyone these days. Thankfully the woman doc who did my ultrasound was OK. But I didn't bother with the NHS, I'm now going private and I've noticed how much better you're treated by hospital staff.

You should definately carry on with trying the NHS or if you can get the money, I'd recommend private. Wearing 2 vests all the time in the summer for the rest of your life is just wrong. What about relationships? You can't let man-boobs stop you from dating. Man-boobs cause guys to miss out on life. Even if you try to hide it, when you get older there's no telling if you get any health problems or get into an accident and have to be taken to hospital, then they're gonna take your two vests off and they'll all see your man-boobs. I'm sure you don't want that to happen so get rid of your man-boobs now and get on with your life.

Gaz29, they're making you wait for a psychologist. Seems like they're messing you around.

[kingboob]

The doc then said' However since you are having phychological issues they will.?

Dont all the guys who are worried about their gynaecomastia have phychological issues??
The answer is yes, I guess. Why NHS didnt pay for my surgery and for ALL the other uk residents' surgeries with gynaecomastia?

NHS says: The NHS will not pay for surgery for cosmetic reasons alone. Reconstructive and cosmetic surgery to correct, or improve, congenital abnormalities and injuries will usually be carried out free of charge.

So did you have man boobs when you were born or had any injuries that "created" your man boobs? obviously not lol

Oh right, so what about people that have had 'man boobs' since they were 8 or 9 years old, does that count?

What about people that have self inflicted injuries....... should they be helped? 

[kingboob]

Has anyone seen any 8 years old kid with gynaecomastia apart from user kingboob? And what is worse anyway, having gynaecomastia when being 8 years old or 18 years old? Obviously 18 years old..cos someone who is 18 years old has suffered, has (maybe) never being to the sea with his friends or has never (maybe) manage to have a relationship or even just sex.. Obviously a 8 years old kid with gynaecomastia (kingboob claims that exist i repeat) it does not go with his friend to the sea...or does not have sex.. etc
so even if it existed such a case, nhs would have to choose first of all to support the 18years old guy cos he suffered more in his life.
Anyway it is the last time i respond to that user called kingboob that only posts annoying comments. (i tried to use the most polite adjective i could think).

I don't understand what you  are trying to say here...........because your previous post:

here you

  Is your view that the NHS should help all people with gynaecomasita or not? 
Seems to imply that you don't think the NHS should help people with this problem? Where as it is my view that help should be provided, especially in severe cases............ 

 My point was  simply that if you don't help people with gynaecomastia and if you only help people with:

congenital abnormalities and injuries

then where do you draw the line, as I pointed out, what about a young person with gyne would that count as congenital or what about someone that is scarred for life after a self inflicted injury....... say crashing a car while drunk, should they be helped?

AS for what you are saying about the age thing..... well if somebody had taken charge and helped me out when I was younger I would not have had all the mental scars to deal with as a young adult....... 

I don't think it is a case of what is worse, and I think the NHS generally treats those in need first..... although in my experience the NHS is totally inadequate when it comes to treating anything other than emergencies.

I'm not trying to have a fight here...... I think maybe there is just some crosses wires.

[WXYZ]

This thread was started by Hope who said he felt very embarassed when a nurse was present for his consultation. That's OK, everyone's different and we all know about how hard it can be for some people to go shirtless when they have a condition like gyne.

As for health workers, yeah I'm sure most are professional but there are some who are not quite there. I myself have experienced inappropriate behaviour by a nurse and have heard a few things to. Doesn't mean all are bad, it means when they are bad we remember them for it.

By the way humpty, we really don't need to know your doctor examining you anywhere on your body.

[Hope]

Hi Hope,Go for it it will help in the long run, i am concentrating on the outcome that's the only thing thats getting me thru, I bought 2 nike compression vests one white and one black, the only thing is they sit quite high up at the neck and they are really noticeable they do make a slight difference but to me they are still noticeable, Hope go for it we will get each other thru it!!

Thanks for your support. I know how annoying it can be to wear vests...

Sorry to hear about you bottling it. What was so bad? Was it the women sitting down in the waiting area or were they Hospital staff in the scanning room? But you said you had a male doc, so I'm unsure what the problem was.  Are you more embarassed that people will see your gyne or just female medical staff? I think most are OK, though I mentioned my bad experience with a nurse who cracked a joke at my expense.  I'd hope most are not like her, but the NHS seem to employ just about anyone these days. Thankfully the woman doc who did my ultrasound was OK. But I didn't bother with the NHS, I'm now going private and I've noticed how much better you're treated by hospital staff.

You should definately carry on with trying the NHS or if you can get the money, I'd recommend private. Wearing 2 vests all the time in the summer for the rest of your life is just wrong. What about relationships? You can't let man-boobs stop you from dating. Man-boobs cause guys to miss out on life. Even if you try to hide it, when you get older there's no telling if you get any health problems or get into an accident and have to be taken to hospital, then they're gonna take your two vests off and they'll all see your man-boobs. I'm sure you don't want that to happen so get rid of your man-boobs now and get on with your life.

Gaz29, they're making you wait for a psychologist. Seems like they're messing you around.

I beleive I fear change. I do not want to change but at the same time I do.

Yeah my doc is male, as soon as I saw everyone sitting down I just couldnt bare the fact that I actually have gyne. So far my experience with nurses have been good (Besides that one that was around when I had to explain to the doc my issues).

I think I am embarassed that people will see me with gyne.

I have rebooked the appointment with the doc for this thursday. I dont even know what this appointment is for?!? I just got a letter saying I have to see the doc. I also have to rebook my scan.

Psycologically this has been the most difficult thing to cope with... I HOPE I can get through this.

Thank you so much for everyone sharing thier experiences and supporting each other. I certainly appreciate it.