No money for surgery... alternative? help

[EUwanekezi]

i have had gynecomastia for 6 yrs and i am 20 yrs old now. i am in good shape and health. i got a blood check and found out that my Lh hormone was twice as high as normal. Due to lack of money, i was wondering there is an alternative to getting rid of my gynecomastia without surgery. i have heard of 'diet aid of questionable value'. Does this medication work. i have tried working out my chest muscles but it doesnt work. i am skinny and not fat therefore there should be no reason for me to have gynecomastia. i suspect that i have kleinfelter syndrome because of my high LH hormone, small testicles, gynecomastia, bashfulness, and i stand 6 feet 6 inches to 6 feet 7 inches. Please help me.

[Paa_Paw]

First, you should notice that the product you mentioned was indeed nothing but a diet aid and it is of questionable value.

When and if an alternative to surgery becomes a reality the news will be all over these pages.

The problem is that Gynecomastia is not a disease that can be cured. The condition is actually one end of a scale that is "Normal". We are, to our thinking, on the wrong end of the scale. That is an embarrassment, to say the least, but that does not make it abnormal nor does it make the condition a disease.

Sadly, there are a lot of preparations marketed for Gynecomstia. Most are simply herbal compounds that are actually sold as nutritional supplements and the labels specifically say that they are not for treatment of any condition etc. In short, none of them will do you any good. These are not medicines.

Klinefelters is a different issue altogether. There is a specific test that will either eliminate or confirm this. If I were in your shoes, That is where I would put my money next.

[xelnaga13]

If I were you I would get tested for klinefelter syndrome and go from there. Maybe insurance will cover you if this turns out to be the case. You may also benefit from hormonal therapy.

Don't waste your time or energy chasing a cure. If anyone here had any luck with those products we would spend all day talking about golf rather than our gyne.

There's always a personal loan or care credit if it's really negatively affecting you. However, you will still need to resolve any underlying hormonal issues before surgery.

[EUwanekezi]

Thanks... i have not been tested for kleinfelter syndrome but i have all of the symptoms for it including a high LH hormone level which makes me suspect.
I just hope insurance covers some of the cost due to my suspected syndrome because my family cant afford to pay a whole $2000 plus. my gynecomastia is somewhat mild with a puffy nipple... here is a close picture of how my chest looks like. This is not my picture but it has a close resemblance to the exact size and look of my gynecomastia

[greatlakes]

LH? Thats related to things (body screaming to produce T) -  but not the issue. Whats your testosterone and estradiol? Gynecomastia can be the result of underlying medical conditions. If you have low T and or High E you need to get this under control - or your gyne may get much worse as you age. So first lets stabilize your health and prevent future growth.

And was long as we are on the issue of hormones and testicular function - is there any concern over testicular cancer or fertility ? Has this been discussed with your doctor?

Now about the costs. Depending on where you live, its going to be around 6 grand. Thats one heck of a lot of money these days, but you can save for it.  Less then most used cars, and less than 4 months of college costs. It might take you several years, but you can save it - if thats what you want.

[xelnaga13]

Thanks... i have not been tested for kleinfelter syndrome but i have all of the symptoms for it including a high LH hormone level which makes me suspect.
I just hope insurance covers some of the cost due to my suspected syndrome because my family cant afford to pay a whole $2000 plus. my gynecomastia is somewhat mild with a puffy nipple... here is a close picture of how my chest looks like. This is not my picture but it has a close resemblance to the exact size and look of my gynecomastia

After you started this thread I did a little wiki research. You're correct that high LH and low T are trade marks of kleinfelter.

I agree with greatlakes in that you will need to get a complete hormone panel. I imagine you need to get a specialist on board asap, who can administrate a plan of action.

[thetodd]

A lot of people self diagnose Klinefelters, ive yet to see a case on here.

I know the health service may be a bit different across the pond, but klinefelters is not the sort of thing that goes unnoticed. When you look on google people think "wait, i have love handles and gyne, and my testicles are a bit small". From cases ive seen the testicles have a very abnormal look, not just amall.

This is a decent example,

technochase.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Klinefelter%E2%80%99s-syndrome.jpg


So dont worry to much about klinefelters, go and see an endo and start saving for surgery if you chose to go down that path.

[Paa_Paw]

As one person already pointed out, a lot of people who came here thought they had Klinefelters Symdrome. I have been here for 8 years now and made over 3500 posts but I only recall a single confirmed case of klinefelters. Since this condition carries with it a long list of potential medical issues, It should be among the first things you should try to eliminate. No matter how that test turns out, a set of hormonal tests would probably be the next thing. Your hormones will need to be in balance or surgery would be a waste of time and money and this is not a job for an amateur.

[EUwanekezi]

i did a blood test and my testosterone level is normal but my Lh hormone was twice as high than it was to be. i am very tall, i do have rather small testes (confirmed by my doctor), mood disorder, high Lh hormone, and gynecomastia. i am not sure what caused my gynecomastia but prior to puberty i was taking a heart medication because i was born with ASD (heart defect) and i read that heart medication can increase the risk of gynecomastia. Coincidentally 2 years after heart surgery i hit puberty and i had gynecomastia but my doctor told me it was a process. but it lingered for up to 3 years when it was supposed to stay no longer than a year. That is when i knew that something was wrong.

[Paa_Paw]

The "Heart Medications" that have been implicated or connected with Gynecomastia are typically those used for control of hypertension. Specifically, Beta Blockers have been mentioned.

Since I already had enlarged breasts and did not want to have them further enlarged I had my Doctors work around the Beta Blockers for years. Finally I was given no alternative, a Beta Blocker was the best medication for me. Reluctantly, I gave in and guess what? Nothing happened!

The simple truth is that there is a long range that is called 'Normal" and having Breast enlargement is actually on one end of that scale. Most people here would probably think that we are on the wrong end of the scale but that is purely opinion.

We live in a time where we try to assign some kind of blame for everything. Gynecomastia is one of the things people are trying to find something to blame it on. Sorry, The major cause is: "I don't know."

[greatlakes]

i did a blood test and my testosterone level is normal but my Lh hormone was twice as high than it was to be.

Define "a normal T level"...  

I suspect your "normal level" is too low. The high LH seems to point to your body saying the level is too low. Also Testosterone level is not enough, you need to know Estradiol levels. Have you had a sperm count?

In the mean time, if you are skinny - try adding some muscle. Heavy lifting and protein. Building up your frame may help balance your appearance.

[Paa_Paw]

Good point. T levels cover a wide range depending upon the age of a person. The "Normal" level for a 90 year old man is a fraction of the "Normal" level for a 20 year old. Simply saying "Normal" is not sufficient. The level needs to be adjusted for age.

If the Estrogen levels are also "Normal", It still does not mean anything. A person with Estrogen levels in the high end of "Normal" and Testosterone levels in the low end of "Normal" would still be Estrogen dominant. This is why those tests are meaningless one at a time. It is also why it pays to get an opinion from an Endocrinologist. The hormone levels need to be compared to each other.

None of the hormones play solo performances, They work together like an orchestra. Ananlysis of hormonal tests is best done only by a professional.

[coko222]

Hello,if you have not enough money for the surgery..first and last solution is that you just take a balance diet and do more and more exercise..after one week you must chek the weight by digital scale..i hope your weight is decreased...