It's taken me about five years to register here...

[Paa_Paw]

There was a day when a toddling little grand-daughter said: "Paa Paw, ou gots boos." The difference was that I laughed.

That girl is now the wife of a Soldier and a mother. How time flies.

It will sound trite, but it is true that for some of us it is simply mind over matter. I don't mind, so it does not matter. The truth is that the number of us who can see it that way is not large. For many, Gynecomastia can be stigmatizing and surgery is their only relief.

[grotesk_uk]

I finally got an appointment to see a surgeon in three weeks. I am dreading it already and have not even told my girlfriend about the letter.

I am not looking forward to getting my top off for yet another person. Also, I am terrified of the surgery itself. I don't think there is anyone in my area who specialises in gyne surgery, so I am dealing with a guy who usually does recon work on women, I assume following a mastectomy.

My mind is all over the place but I feel I must see this through as I have battled through so much fear and embarassment already...

[Monkey83]

I know about the denial man. Ironically that denial allowed me to have enough confidence to not allow this to affect my sex life. I kept rationalizing it like, if I just lost a little more weight it would go away. When I found the term "gynecomastia" and about the glandular tissue, I didn't leave my house for a week. Then I was like darn it, I am going to do something about it and researched the surgery. Apparently, it is just a simple procedure. I believe it's going to be covered by public insurance, but if not I will figure out a way to get it covered by private insurance. Either way, the idea of it being resolved in the near future is giving me peace of mind, in that now I know I don't have to live with it forever. I hope you can do the same bro, good luck!

[George Pope, M.D.]

Grotesk_UK,

I hate to even type that screen name; you really should change it.  It can only serve to lower your self esteem even more. I've just read this thread, which dates back to late 2011 when you signed on.  Hopefully by now, after spending almost a year on this forum, you feel a little better about yourself and your gynecomastia.  I can understand the emotional setbacks that occur (like when your child made a comment), but you should feel better about your situation after reading all of the supportive comments that flood this forum.  This is a great place to spend a little internet time, for sure.

And try not to be deathly afraid of the surgery.  I know as a surgeon I'm biased, and maybe because I do this every day, but it's a safe procedure with very few complications when done by an experienced plastic surgeon.  If you can get it covered by your country's national health insurance, that's great.  Otherwise, try to scrape up the money to get it done.  Here in the U.S. we have companies that will lend money for surgery at low to no interest; maybe you have the same option in the U.K.

I'm really enjoying the Olympics, BTW - your country is doing a bang up job hosting.  I don't know if you're from London, but the images of the city are spectacular!  I'm ready for a visit there!
Good luck to you - try to stay positive.

Dr. Pope, MD
Orlando, FL

[grotesk_uk]

Thanks George. I really appreciate your kind words and that of many other people on this site.

[TheNWS]

I feel sad for you knowing that you have no emergency money for the procedure like I was lucky to have.  I feel your pain and living in the uk myself I know that taking the NHS path can be a very long road.  But if you can somehow get the surgery do it, I was worried about the results of it but trust me it's 100 percent raised my confidence and I can now move on with my life like I know you will once the surgery is done! all the best
TheNWS.