not sure where I stand in the forces??

[northern_sailor]

hi all

I have suffered with gyno since I was 15 (I am 22 now) seen my GP who told me it was puberty and would go away by itself. it never an ended up getting worse in both nipples. its made up of hard uneven tissue in both breasts and is sorta doughnut shaped in the left one (it also get really sore).
anyway I joined the navy when I was 19 (very nearly didnt due to the gyno) and finally plucked up the courage to see a medical officer as it was making me so depressed. she was very helpful and was seen by a breast specialist who explained i needed the gland removing but he would leave a little bit behind to prevent cavity in the chest and that he would use a PS at the same time to remove excess fat (which there isnt much of!) however when I seen the PS on a different day he told me it was just him performing the surgery and he will only be doing the lipo?!? I know the gland is whats making the nipple all puffy n weird but he was adamant it just needed lipo. I just want to ask you guys if any of you have had a similar experience and do I have the right to a 2nd opinion, or to ask my medical officer to get me the surgery from a profesional gyno surgeon? I am seing the MO tommorow and would appreciate any input that wll help get my point accross.

many thanks!

[northern_sailor]

anybody?? just need to make them understand! any input is appreciated

[thetodd]

ive got no idea what sort of medical services are on offer in the forces, but id insist on excision .... if the surgeon isnt experienced in it however i wouldnt. Try and find a surgeon with some experience lipo only wont be enough

[JamesDawson]

If he has no experience in gyno then its not a very good idea. From the majority of posts on this site the main concern is about the scar which is down to the surgeon's technique and experience. I went to a plastic surgeon who specializes in gyno/mastectomies/breasts etc because I knew he had years of experience and in 6-12 months the scar wouldn't be visible.

If you have tissue then it needs to be excised. Lipo will only remove fat. I had the same problem as you when I went to a private clinic and was told I only needed lipo and that I had no gland. For a professional doctor who treated gynecomastia he didn't know the difference between pseudo gyno and actual gyno. I opted for a plastic surgeon instead who knew what he was doing. You will really have to get your point across to you MO. If your near a computer just go onto google and search for pictures of before and after surgery.

[Darth Menace]

hi all

I have suffered with gyno since I was 15 (I am 22 now) seen my GP who told me it was puberty and would go away by itself. it never an ended up getting worse in both nipples. its made up of hard uneven tissue in both breasts and is sorta doughnut shaped in the left one (it also get really sore).
anyway I joined the navy when I was 19 (very nearly didnt due to the gyno) and finally plucked up the courage to see a medical officer as it was making me so depressed. she was very helpful and was seen by a breast specialist who explained i needed the gland removing but he would leave a little bit behind to prevent cavity in the chest and that he would use a PS at the same time to remove excess fat (which there isnt much of!) however when I seen the PS on a different day he told me it was just him performing the surgery and he will only be doing the lipo?!? I know the gland is whats making the nipple all puffy n weird but he was adamant it just needed lipo. I just want to ask you guys if any of you have had a similar experience and do I have the right to a 2nd opinion, or to ask my medical officer to get me the surgery from a profesional gyno surgeon? I am seing the MO tommorow and would appreciate any input that wll help get my point accross.

many thanks!

i'm not in the military, but I am similar to your problem.  Do you have a Canadian Government Employee Blue Cross card?  I just went through this in a similar way.   I got my surgery done with Dr Fielding which alot of his surgery is covered by OHIP.  We have more hoops to jump through, but if OHIP/provincial health care pays for it, so will our "health card"  You likely have a health services rep you could talk to.  He or she will be confused, and as i said there are more hoops to jump through then normal, but at the same time it comes out just as good in the end.  anymore sapecific questions just pm me

[Darth Menace]

sorry man....I must have thought I posted in the Canada section.  My apologies.  please disregard my post