Self image advice

[curveball]

Here I am, two days after surgery, and  in need of some perspective.  My gynocomastia (I hate that word) showed up when I was 12- or 13 and I'm 26 now.  It wasn't peticularly severe but that didn't not keep me from thinking/worrying about it ever since the day it arrived.  I have not been able to swim, change in the locker room, look in the mirror, etc with out worry since its arrival.  Now it is gone I guess (surgery).   It is hard to explain, but even after the surgery, I feel bad because I ever had it at all.  I feel ashamed that my body ever produced gynocomastia and the physical removal is just a mask over something.  It has to do with masculitnity I guess. I don't feel like a woman but I certainly don't feel like a man.  What happened?  Please tell me that somebody out there with this is a cage-fighter, bull-rider, pornstar, or all of these at the same time!  I know that these exaggerated symbols of masuculinity are not very helpful or healthy bars to measure myself by, but I think you know what I mean.  As time goes by it is possible this feeling will go with it.  I am very thankfull that this place exists; I am glad my thoughts and feelings about this don't have to just twist and writhe (or some other uncomfortable adjective) inside my heart anymore.

[zane949]

congrats on your surgery dude, now is the recovery process mental and physical, pretty soon it will all be a fart in the wind, it will take some time  for your mind and body to heal final results could be up to a year.

[ozymandias]

Hi,

First of all congrats on getting the surgery done.  Very soon you will be asking yourself why you didn't get it done sooner!

On your second point: think about bodybuilders, athletes, actors who have got this surgery done!  It is a very common condition, and many guys get it corrected.  I would even suggest you hang out at the mall one of these days and watch the guys walking by... how many do you think have noticeable gyne?  Trust me, it's a lot more than you think!  I certainly notice it because I had the condition myself.

Gyne doesn't imply anything about your sexuality, masculinity or anything unless you allow your self-image to be affected by it.  The way I looked at it, my physical self didn't match up with the self-image I had, the kind of man I know I am.  Think of your situation in the same terms: your self image as a man should be already taking shape, if not set in stone.  Removing the gyne simply brought the physical self closer to how your mind perceives yourself.

[mmamatt]

Hey mate, I went to a GP before I went to my surgeon and got my surgery done... The GP suggested I see a councillor before and after I get the OP to help the physchological healing from getting the surgery done.. But I personally didnt get it done nor think I need it... And yeah I train/fight in MMA