Re: Question about lipo and gynecomastia. (male breast enlargement)

[Guest guest]

I was told that I have mild gynecomastia. probably realted to hiv meds.. Has anyone lipo to fix this ? Is it painful? Is the post-op bad.? Is it covered by insurance..? I'd like some recommendations for some of the top doctors in San Diego that have done this procedure on an hiv pos. male. Has anyone regretted the procedure.? I was told that tradtional lipo works best in the part of the body. Is this correct? Any help would be appreciated.. Thanks lukeLife should be easier. So should your homepage. Try the NEW AOL.com.

[Guest guest]

Hello,I have gyno in my left breast. It popped up (no pun intended) at the same time I started taking Sustiva. I have since read that Sustiva has been suspected to be the cause of gyno. However, I also take testosterone injections and have been told this could be the cause. I have had a mammography (who'd have thunk it??!) and the doc said there could be any number of reasons. She said, "it will most likely go away, it's nothing to worry about". As far as I'm concerned she's a bitch. It's a big deal when a woman loses a breast, and she can get reconstructive surgery covered by insurance cause it's not "cosmetic surgery". But according to this doc it's no big deal. Well she ain't a man and it is a big deal to me!But to answer your question. I have not had lipo or anything done about it;

yet. Mine is pretty damn big. A friend said as big as it is, to have it removed might leave the skin sagging. And that worries me. I'm disgusted with my doctors. HIV doc, primary care doc, endocronologist, urologist, cardiologist, all of them are too damn passive about my health issues. They all seem to have the disposition that if the t-cells and viral load is good, and my health is generally good, they aren't supposed to be invested or caring about any other issues.I look forward to any info about gyno and what to do about it.Don Kennedy

[Guest guest]

Hello,I have gyno in my left breast. It popped up (no pun intended) at the same time I started taking Sustiva. I have since read that Sustiva has been suspected to be the cause of gyno. However, I also take testosterone injections and have been told this could be the cause. I have had a mammography (who'd have thunk it??!) and the doc said there could be any number of reasons. She said, "it will most likely go away, it's nothing to worry about". As far as I'm concerned she's a bitch. It's a big deal when a woman loses a breast, and she can get reconstructive surgery covered by insurance cause it's not "cosmetic surgery". But according to this doc it's no big deal. Well she ain't a man and it is a big deal to me!But to answer your question. I have not had lipo or anything done about it;

yet. Mine is pretty damn big. A friend said as big as it is, to have it removed might leave the skin sagging. And that worries me. I'm disgusted with my doctors. HIV doc, primary care doc, endocronologist, urologist, cardiologist, all of them are too damn passive about my health issues. They all seem to have the disposition that if the t-cells and viral load is good, and my health is generally good, they aren't supposed to be invested or caring about any other issues.I look forward to any info about gyno and what to do about it.Don Kennedy

[Guest guest]

Hi Don.

I have heard the same thing about Sustiva.

I have mentioned this in other responses to people. I have never had

gyno ( I take norvir, epzicom, reyataz ), but I spent a lot of time

researching my own problems with low testosterone.

If you are taking testosterone supplements, your body, esp. if you

are middle aged or older will always convert some of that

testosterone to estrogen. The process is called aromatization.

You could ditch the testosterone, but I think a better idea is to add

an aromatase inhibitor ( I have a prescription for Arimidex ) to

lower your estrogen. It's cheap and insurance covers it, and it works.

Check out the Testosterone Nation website for information on gyno and

ways to keep estrogen under control that you will ever be able to

absorb.

Another possible culprit is PROLACTIN. This is a breast milk

secreting hormone produced by the pituitary gland that lots of

medications (including most anti-psychotics ) can cause levels of to

rise to the point of no libido and male breast enlargement.

Your doctor can do lab work to see what your E2 level is. If it's in

the upper third of the " normal " range, then it is too high and your

doctor should be interested in lowering it if she is worth anything.

I couldn't agree with you more about the passivity of most doctors.

Let us know how you make out.

If your doctor won't do the lab work, she's a skunk; gyno **IS**

absolutely something to worry about. Fire her ass and get a better

doctor pronto.

Phil

>

> Hello,

>

> I have gyno in my left breast.  It popped up (no pun intended) at

the same time I started taking Sustiva.  I have since read that

Sustiva has been suspected to be the cause of gyno.  However, I also

take testosterone injections and have been told this could be the

cause.  I have had a mammography (who'd have thunk it??!) and the doc

said there could be any number of reasons.  She said, " it will most

likely go away, it's nothing to worry about " .  As far as I'm

concerned she's a bitch.  It's a big deal when a woman loses a

breast, and she can get reconstructive surgery covered by insurance

cause it's not " cosmetic surgery " .  But according to this doc it's no

big deal.  Well she ain't a man and it is a big deal to me!

>

> But to answer your question.  I have not had lipo or anything done

about it; yet.  Mine is pretty damn big.  A friend said as big as it

is, to have it removed might leave the skin sagging.  And that

worries me.  I'm disgusted with my doctors.  HIV doc, primary care

doc, endocronologist, urologist, cardiologist, all of them are too

damn passive about my health issues.  They all seem to have the

disposition that if the t-cells  and viral load is good, and my

health is generally good, they aren't supposed to be invested or

caring about any other issues.

>

> I look forward to any info about gyno and what to do about it.

>

>

> Don Kennedy

>

[Guest guest]

PhilThanks so much for your input. I will print out this information. I will insist on her having my levels of prolactin and E2 checked when I do my blood work on the 15th. I see her on the 17th and will insist she take action if my levels are in fact out of whack. I have stopped taking my testosterone injections because of fear it may be the cause of my gyno.Gawd, what a web of cause/effect to sort through. Left to the patient to figure out, no wonder we have no faith in doctors or medicine.Don Kennedy

[Guest guest]

Exactly. The arimidex (there are others also, clomiphene, tamoxifen)

lowers estrogen levels. Along with gyno there are also other

physical and psychological hazards to a man flying around with too

much estrogen in his system. I find it irresponsible to the point of

negligence for your doc to ignore it.

Unfortunately, some doctors seem to think that we're f***** lucky

just to be alive and shouldn't conplain about those pesky little

things that disfigure us and strip us of the dignity of a fully

functioning body.

If your Prolactin turns out to be elevated ..( normal range is 2.0 -

18.0 ) there are drugs like cabergoline that can lower it

effectively, but you will also need to get to the bottom of the

reason that it is elevated in the first place.

These are my old Prolactin lab results ( not a problem).

Prolactin: 8.3 (2.0 - 18.0) 7.9 (2.0 – 18.0)

--------------------------------------

Phil

>

> While taking testosterone replacement, do you take arimidex to

prevent gyno and/or high estrogen?  What do you take for elevated

prolactin?

>

> Don Kennedy

>