Unexpected breast growth

[MissTee]

A while back I shared that I was suffering from severe back pain, and the resulting neuropathy was debilitating. I suffered from a combat injury many years ago and arthritis has set in to make my life considerably miserable and normal mobility almost impossible. Since July I have been in physical therapy and under the treatment of a spine specialist team, and have been getting injections and taking nerve blockers. I have come a long way and recovered beyond expectations without surgery.

However, spinal injections, steroids, and nerve blockers have cursed me with a dose of gynecomastia I was not expecting. My female spine specialist says she has seen it in about 35% of her patients over the years. She and her specialist the team has deemed it as non-physiological gynecomastia -- meaning it's drug induced. I can easily fill a B cup now, bordering on C. It is not fun, pleasant, or desirable (itching, burning, pain, tenderness.) This week I completed a second opinion exam with a completely different spine center and the conclusion was the same.

I'm told by all to focus on quality of life and healing as much as I can without invasive surgery. Dealing with breast is a lesser evil. Consensus is there are worse things than big boobs.

[Eryn]

Quite a few of us wish we had your problem, at least the breast growth part!

Yes, growing breasts are uncomfortable, as I've found in the past six months. Unfortunately, all that discomfort has achieved for me was to go from flat to an A-cup. My previous forms now don't fit so I've switched to ordinary women's "add a cup size" breast enhancers and loosely fill a 38B bra.

I'm hoping for more, but it's slow in coming.

[Katey888]

Let me offer some sympathy MissTee... :hugs:

Coming from a perspective of those of us who choose (and are fortunate enough to be able) to selectively celebrate and express our femme side, I can empathise and imagine that this must be darned inconvenient and uncomfortable for you. Problem with many modern drugs and procedures are the unwanted side effects, but as you say, it's a trade off to avoid other risks.

I hope your rehabilitation continues to go way beyond expectations and your unwanted side effects diminish... from another very part-time girl who would also not totally embrace similar developments... but I guess you just have to accommodate them as best you can... :thinking:

Katey x

[Sarasometimes]

Firstly, Thank you for your service! I'm sorry you got injured in the course of your enlistment and I hope the new team may get you better results. Since you are on this forum you may desire to wear a bra and possibly that could be recommended as a way to relieve the pain from your growing breasts. Maybe you could ask what would be the best way to reduce the discomfort. Maybe even stress that you will try anything.
I wish you the best and we all are indebted to you and your fellow soldiers for the sacrifices you have selflessly made for us.

[donnalee]

I've experienced the same sort of growth, which started when I was put on medication for heart failure after already taking low dose spiro. It seemed a reasonable cost for keeping on breathing and I came to enjoy them, although there was a lot of sensitivity and some pain initially.
Things could be far worse.

[Lyla]

As I am blossoming my self, I know all to well what you mean about the tenderness. I don't think I've laid on my stomach once in the last three weeks without a painful reminder, some days even scratching or touching them was almost too much. I'm still small at an a cup, but they are starting to bounce or jiggle when I walk even when wearing a bra. I feel like I'm on cloud nine when I look down and see my to little mounds separated by cleavage with a pretty little bow at the bottom.

[Krisi]

I would suggest seeing a doctor but I see you're already under a doctor's care. Just be sure to do what the doctor says and get checked up as often as necessary.

I was put on Androgel and one of the side effects was possible breast growth. That didn't happen. It's all for the best though, having small breasts would make it difficult to wear my breast forms.

Best wishes for better health. That's the important thing.

[Robin414]

Me too, and my behind is unexpectedly bigger, and my waist is unexpectedly smaller! Worse things...yah, being dead I 'spose? 😕 Hey, it's not all bad!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYgXYWNOBBk

[MissTee]

Thanks for the concern everyone. I will be on steroids another 30-45 days I'm told, and the recent attempt at coming off the nerve blockers was a disaster. However, we have been able to lower the dosage twice since early November so there's continued hope for improvement, but it will be very slow. Another year maybe. I am also hopeful that once I can start bike riding and exercising again that I can trim some (or all) of the growth.

No one has recommended wearing a bra, and I doubt it will be offered up. My physical therapist is looking into a compression band he said has helped others. It holds everything snug (without the lift and cupping look of a bra) and keeps the irritation of fabric rubbing from occurring. I guess in my frame of mind, and with everything else I have going on, enjoying my endowed breasts has not been a thought. Especially since they hurt. Another place and time I might think differently, but I really enjoy my forms more. I can put them on and take them off at will and that has greater appeal to me.

[docrobbysherry]

Miss Tee, u mention "growth" but not if u have put on weight to go along with your breast growth?

Because breast growth is not uncommon in larger men anyway.

[Robin414]

Absolutely Sherry, but what if you're not 'large'?

255073

[Krisi]

If you have a legitimate reason for breast growth (medications to treat a medical condition), you don't really have to hide them unless they embarrass you. It would be pretty rude for anyone to ask, but if they do, tell them the truth and that should shut them up.

Taking hormones just for breast growth is another story altogether.

[MissTee]

Yes, Sherry, I've put on weight too. Again a by-product of steroids, drugs, and the inability to exercise. That said, the breasts are more pronounced than what would be reasonable for the added pounds. Also, the compression band is to help with soreness and discomfort rather than anything appearance related.

[Lena]

I have this issue going on 2 years now but because of testosterone replacement. Turns out testosterone can convert to estridol. I take estrogen blocker now that slows it but rarely do I go a day without feeling pain, itching or tenderness. Those that say they want it, don't know what "it" involves. And no, it's not weight, I weigh 155 and have a 30" waist.

So I understand what you're going through and don't know what to tell you. Avoid caffeine? Wear Oxford and loose t-shirts? Throw away polos. Wear undershirts (I like camis and juniors tank tops.)

[Heidi Stevens]

Since I'm 9 months in on HRT, let me give you a few clues on what happens. The growth process does make you sore and itchy. It wasn't so bad I needed help to control the symptoms. If the nipples get irritated, by all means get a bra, sports bra or a cammi to keep your shirt off. Sports bra would help hold things in and in place if you're that worried about it.

I'm a good A cup, but just went shirtless on a Hawaiian beach couple weeks ago. In the photos I look like a regular 60 year old male with moobs. Oh one caviate, after 6 months if you're still on the drugs causing the growth, it will take surgery in most cases to remove excess moobage if it bothers you. Learn to tape that moobage and wear that low cut top!:devil:

[CathyWallace]

I got some breast growth (but only a little) when I started Testosterone for low T. My nipples got huge (I love them!) and are now the same size as the last segment of my thumb. My testes shrunk to the size of peas so it is much easier to tuck.