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Dr. Stoll,
I developed Gynecomastia when I was 13 or 14, and have had it to this day (I'm 24). Is this a sign of some sort of internal imbalance? The conventional treaments for this condition are either surgery or hormone-suppressing therapy, and I'm very hesitant to try either of these potentially dangeous methods. Are there any natural treatments that you're aware of? Thanks in advance for your help.
Will
In Reply to: Quick question for Dr. Stoll regarding Gynecomastia posted by Will on September 07, 2000 at 00:33:10:
Hope Dr. Stoll replies to you. Meanwhile, here's my son's story. He too developed gynecomastia (breast enlargement)on one side at 13 or so. The Dr. said it was common in boys at this age, was due to hormone fluctuations, and would go away. But it didn't! My son suffered with worry, embarrassment in gym class, etc, for 3 years. His self-esteem was going down the tubes. Our pediatrician (female) continued to insist there was no problem, nothing to be done. Finally took him to a family practice Dr. (a male) who immediately recognized the emotional impact of this condition. He recommended a surgeon, and 2 weeks later my son had a simple, outpatient surgery (about 1 hour). He recovered quickly and his whole life improved! He has a normal "guy" chest - no more hiding. He was 17, and the Dr. said it was not likely to go away on its own. I only wish we had done it sooner! Insurance paid for the surgery. Best of health to you!
In Reply to: Quick question for Dr. Stoll regarding Gynecomastia posted by Will on September 07, 2000 at 00:33:10:
Bodybuilders get this all the time due to the aromatization of testosterone (steroids) into estrogen. Teenage boys are loaded with testosterone and sometimes they have similar problems, but it is more rare. There are anti-aromatase drugs, such as Clomid, used to prevent this. Bodybuilders typically resort to surgery once they get gyno, however. I've heard that milder cases will go away on their own if estrogen levels return to normal - i.e. after puberty or sessation of a steroid cycle. More severe cases allegedly do not, even after T levels haved returned to normal. The hormone suppression therapy or 'natural' methods may or may not have a goal of suppressing testosterone levels - you should check to verify this. That would be fine if it worked and you don't mind losing muscle mass and other side effects such as the the sudden desire to start a building a doll collection. Depression has been associated with a sudden drop in testosterone.
The most renown surgeon for this problem is New York's Dr. Bruce Nadler. He has a web site; see the link below.
I am not a doctor, so don't take what I've said as gospel truth. Verify what I've said with your own research.
In Reply to: Gynecomastia posted by Lincoln on September 07, 2000 at 15:23:01:
Corrected link below.
I'm 50 with gynecomastia, especially on one side.
My surgeon said basically he could cut it out - that he had nothing else to offer me. Of course, to a hammer, everthing looks like a nail! He said he did this surgery all the time, and he knew what code to charge it to for the insurance to pay for it, because apparently using the code for surgery for gynecomastia would get it refused by most insurance companies as being cosmetic surgery.
RHJ++
In Reply to: Re: Gynecomastia - corrected link posted by RocketHealer Jim++ on September 07, 2000 at 17:14:12:
Thanks for fixing the link.
My understanding is that gyno can actually get sore and tender to the touch, hardly 'cosmetic' if you ask me. True?
In Reply to: Re: Gynecomastia - corrected link posted by Lincoln on September 07, 2000 at 20:27:58:
True (sore and tender to the touch, especially early-on) in my case. My wife was quite taken back early on when it was so tender.
My surgeon said to take an antinflamatory like ibupropin if it got too swolen/sore. I've not needed to do that, and I prefer not to take anti-inflamatories unless I really need them.
My case seems to have settled down. Not tender at all, but not getting any smaller at all, darn the luck!
RHJ++
In Reply to: Quick question for Dr. Stoll regarding Gynecomastia posted by Will on September 07, 2000 at 00:33:10:
Hi, Will.
Gynecomastia at this age is best treated by altering the hormonal output from the hypothalamus and the easiest way to do that is by the practice of SR for about 6-12 months.
References, "The Stress of Life" by Hans Selye, MD, "Mind as Healer, Mind as Slayer" by Ken Pelletier, PhD and "The Relaxation Response" by Herbert Benson, MD---IF you need more explanation as to why this is.
Go to the glossary and archives about SR and about stress for what to do.
Please share your experiences as this disappears.
Walt
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