Doctors Visit

[Justagirl💃]

Went to a urologist today to get things moving regarding fertility. I honestly thought it would just be a what brings you in today here’s a cup leave it on the shelf when you’re done type visit.
Not so much. Very much a drop your pants and examine things. Honestly have never been more embarrassed during a dr visit.
I also was honest on the patient form regarding breast development under the endocrine issues or history and such. Which warranted him to do a breast exam. Given his inspection of both top and bottom things seemed normal and healthy but he ordered on top of a hormonal panel a mammogram. I never had one and not too much of a fan of the idea. I’ve been confident of my issues overall but today just kind of as a man in late 30s was very embarrassing. Sorry if not relevant to things here just kind of had to vent

Mammograms are not that bad 'normally'. 
Of course the last one I had they made me wait almost 4 hours "until they could have 2 technicians in the room with me."

They never did explain why. 

[Parity]

Went to a urologist today... just kind of as a man in late 30s was very embarrassing. Sorry if not relevant to things here just kind of had to vent

Firstly, you may feel embarrassed and that's okay.  For peace of mind Dr.'s have seen it all and I'm sure it wasn't for him.  Your young yet and I feel as you age as I have you just won't care.  It's not a big deal except to you.  You will get beyond that.  Allow the time.

Next, never feel sorry for for sharing your feelings on how the day went or how your breast have impacted you today.  That's why we are here.  To help each other through these issues.  You will be fine.

[AlfaQ]

I have a blood test tomorrow and my goal is to go wearing a bra. It's with a female nurse so should be less anxiety provoking. 

[Zaphod B]

I have a blood test tomorrow and my goal is to go wearing a bra. It's with a female nurse so should be less anxiety provoking.

I have started wearing a bra to doctor's appointments.  They have seen it before and the reason for wearing it is easy to explain if anybody asks, which they probably won't.  When they use a stethoscope, they just go right over the bra the same as they would do with a woman.  it is a good way to build your confidence.  I have been wearing one every day for several years and seldom leave the house without one.  Once you get used to it, you will never go back.

[AlfaQ]

Wore a black sports for today's blood test.  Quite a compressive  bra but the outline of the  straps and underband where  definitely visible through my shirt but I don't think the nurse even noticed.  That's another step forward for me. 

[Sophie]

In my experience, the doctors, nurses and MAs or any other medical professional don't care. 

I've worn a bra to every medical appointment since I was sixteen years old. I can say this because that's how old I was when my mother said that my gynecomastia was severe enough that I had to start wearing a bra full time. 

They might not care, however, that doesn't mean that you may not have a reaction from them. I have had some that I can read their expressions or body language that indicate a surprise 😮. 

We don't see a lot of men at the Breast Care Center. We do see enough of them. All of the staff has been through "sensitivity training" which covers gynecomastia and trans issues. We do still have some old biddy's who resist the fact that some men have breasts and transgender women have breasts and they deserve the same respect and care for their breasts as genetic women. Those two ladies should just retire anyway 😌. EVERYONE else is very accepting and especially Jessica, our surgeon encourages those men who have breasts to seek a radical mastectomy as a last resort due to the risks involved. 

❤️Sophie❤️

[Parity]

Sophie,  
  Thanks for that.  Sometimes I need to be reminded myself that this is not life threatening and no further action need be taken other than normal well being care.

[Sophie]

You're welcome, hun 😘!

[Dudewithboobs]

Morning and hope everyone had a merry Christmas. I had my follow up with my urologist from months ago yesterday and when I was there he asked general questions and how things were going since last visit regarding issues that brought me in.
Informed things are going very well and so far so good with the natural path rather than the medication prescribed. He seemed happy bout it and did a general exam and noted size and volume of things appear to be healthier than previous notes and noted the fertility facility he sees provided positive news. He followed up with a breast exam and mentioned it felt there had been more development to which I confirmed and informed I measure myself time to time since onset just to see if things are growing and have grown about an inch since last visit

He asked why I didn’t get the mammogram he recommended and in notified the insurance I have is beyond horrible. Should send you an adult toy so you can go @&$! Yourself horrible. And when I called to ask if it would be covered they told me because I am male, and given breast cancer in men compared to women it would be considered unnecessary and considered elective in terms of a routine preventative coverage and I’d likely be responsible for the cost.

He apologized and understood and said he will recommend it to my insurance that it be covered due to concern of age of onset, prior test results providing concern and contrary to lab results showing improved levels breast growth continuing. He also wants me to get a test that will check my pituitary. And ordered an ultrasound as a secondary to see about the growth and if it is adipose or glandular and said I’d follow up with my NP regarding that but he would make the referral.

[Evolver]

I'm sorry to hear that you had to go through that, dude. It's downright rude of people in the medical field, whether they be doctors or insurers, to just go ahead and assume things. In my neck of the woods there has been a bit of noise lately about 'medical misogyny' which describes the situations where women's issues have sometimes been ignored, even if they include debilitating pain, because things are based on men's symptoms, research and determinations. It seems like the same happened to you, but opposite, if you know what I mean.

Good luck with everything going forward.

[Justagirl💃]

A similar situation happened to me in that the breast centre and my insurance doesn't deem "male mammograms" necessary, and I have a history of breast cancer surviving a lumpectomy in 1989. 
The doctor kept ordering one and the breast centre kept cancelling the order. 

They finally agreed after the doctor called them on the phone himself and demanded to see mammogram results because of my past history. I also have the "breast cancer gene", so it's even more important. 

They did do my last mammogram but refused to schedule my next year's appointment. They also made me wait almost 6 hours until they could have "two technicians" in the room with me at all times (as though it was some sick fetish or something). 

I only know why because I asked and they were honest with me. 

[Dudewithboobs]

I’m so sorry ya had to deal with that Just. And evolver medical misogyny is a great word for it. 

[WPW717]

I am in the US, PNW & I was just denied a mammogram. The NCCN guidelines state that for the category of MEN 4 that yearly mammograms should be done. I don’t have HER 1or 2 mutations, nor do I have the BRCA mutation, BUT , I do have a CHEK 2 gene mutation known to have a 20-44 % chance of being cancerous in females. It wasn’t studied in males so I guess they figured they can ignore the possibility. It has been a 4 year old struggle to get answers for a multitude of medical issues that have popped up.
99% of the doctors I have dealt with have never heard of this syndrome and only one was honest about admitting it was beyond his expertise. They can read like me, can’t they!!!
MEN type 1,2,2a, 2b are 1 in a million occurrence, MEN 4 is 1in ten million, admittedly rare but I have been able to glean a lot about it, but not the medical community here. I rankles me a bit.
Also for rants sake … the bra and stethoscope situation, as a retired OR/ICU nurse I never auscultated a heart or chest except by direct contact.
I had a GP who told me not to disrobe and proceeded to listen through 3 layers of flannel for approximately 6 seconds. The most you can get from that is an apical rate. His notes I got later were incredibly detailed on S1- S4 and a murmur, what a crock. 
He is no longer in the mix. Best friend, retired ENT doc wanted me to file a complaint but that would only get me labeled a problem patient. I deferred and moved on. I could rant more but I will be done for now.
Gov’t needs to get out of healthcare!

[Johndoe1]

I had a conversation with a lady friend who I admitted I worried if my breasts were trying to kill me. She attempted to cheer me up by saying, no more than hers were trying to kill her. Then an awkward silence. I don't think she had ever thought I might be more like her than she realized. Not only is prostate cancer a reality for me, but breast cancer too. I don't think she thought about it in those terms. There was a certain kind of bonding that happened in that moment. We were fairly close before. We are closer now.