Well, I can't believe I've not found this forum before seeing as I've searched the internet a LOT over the last 10 years regarding gynecomastia!
Anyway...
I'm 21 and first realised that my chest wasn't right when I was 11. My initial reaction was to keep covered up. I'd broken my leg over the summer and I thought that it might be because I'd not been very active for 3 months that I'd gained some weight on my chest. I waited for it to disappear but it didn't. I was 13 when I went on a family holiday to Corfu. The temperature was insane, the hottest the Greeks had had in years. I had to spend most of my time in the pool, meaning my top was off. I kept it at the side of the pool so I could cover up as soon as I got out. My Mum noticed and a few weeks later, back at home, she showed me a letter in an agony aunt column in the newspaper. It was from a mum who had discovered her sons chest. "Dear Deidre" told the Mum it was a side-effect of puberty and by the time the boy had gone through it (around 16/17) that the breasts would naturally dissapear.
I carried on the same routines for the next few years, really taking in the advice. I just kept my top on, didn't go swimming, made lots of excuses not to have to do PE and anxiously waited for puberty to end. I got to 16 and I'd piled some weight on and the breasts remained. I got to 17 and they were still there. Bearing in mind this had become taboo in the family. My parents and sisters were all aware of the condition but knew I wouldn't speak about it. I began to lose all the weight I'd gained through healthy eating and by the time I was 18 I was a good weight, but the breasts remained. Since the age of 12 I'd never had a serious girlfriend, had given up swimming and sports and had really not spoken to anyone about the condition. This continued.
I was invited to go to Florida with my best friend and his family when I was 20. Going to the USA had always been a dream of mine and this was an ideal opportunity. I couldn't wait, but my chest worried me. How could I go to Florida without taking my top off? I finally gave in to my embarassment and booked an appointment with my GP. He examined my chest, talked to me about how it had effected me and told me that the NHS were able to fund an operation. I was ecstatic. He weighed me and checked my height, and then worked out my BMI. I was 28 BMI, to be eligble for the operation you had to be below 25. He told me he couldn't refer me and that he could refer me to a dietician to help me lose the weight instead. I went to the dietician, once every four weeks for about 6 months. I followed the advice but didn't seem to lose much weight. I lost a bit, but not enough to be below 25 BMI. Understand me when I say if you look at me I don't look overweight, I'm well proportioned (apart from my breasts). I'm of an average build and I'm happy with my size. Following the dietician I started trying to go to the gym, but it was so difficult, not the workouts, just being there. I felt like I was being stared at and found myself holding my tshirt out. I never shifted the weight. I did go to Florida and loved it, however I only went in the pool when just me and my friend were around (I'd told him about the condition and he was very supportive) and when we went to the waterparks I had a day on the deckchair. I used to love swimming when I was younger so I felt I missed a great time at the waterparks.
I'm now 21 and am still suffering with gynecomastia. I'm the exact same weight as when I went to see my GP a year and a half ago. About a month ago I started looking up on Private Cosmetic Surgery. I came across Harley Medical and built up the courage to book an appointment. I saw a Nurse who did an examination and told me I was looking between £3500 - £4500 depending on what the surgeon diagnosed me with. She couldn't tell if it was gynecomastia or just excess fat. I wanted to have the surgery and decided it was time that I finally sat down and had a conversation with my parents. I told them where I'd been and what was said and my Mum was very supportive. My Dad, not so much. He told me that if I didn't seclude myself and exercise then I wouldn't be in this situation. By seclusion he means that I don't go out around town or to the gym and I don't see my friends much, but I like to keep myself private, it's easier to avoid being looked at. Anyway after the earbashing I broke down into tears in front of my parents, I think this is when they both realised just how much this had effected me over the last 10 years. My dad became a bit more supportive, but was unwilling to help me until I went to my GP again. He thinks that the GP will do something due to how upset it makes me. I know exactly what the GP will say, but my dad won't accept that. However, I booked an appointment and am due to see my GP next week. Today I had another consultation with a different cosmetic sugery group, this time Transform. My sister had had a surgery with them a few years ago. I saw a surgeon this time and he finally confirmed that I had gynecomastia and that it wasn't excess fat. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted when he told me, I'd often thought that maybe it was because I was inactive when I broke my leg that it started and it was just a build up of excess fat. Anyway the surgeon told me all about the procedure and then I was given a price, £4400. With help from my parents this is affordable to me, however my dad still wants me to see my GP before I begin the process privately.
It feels really good to write my entire story. There are probably bits and bobs that I've missed out and my sentences might not make sense in places but I'd love some feedback from the users of the forum. I think it's great that there's a place where sufferers can talk and share experiences.
James
Topic: My Gynecomastia Story (Read 14402 times)
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