Hello Everyone

[Emily Wright]

I had posted a while back but i was just beginning to realize a reality in my life so i was too intimidated to be either coherent or accurate. Now that some time has past i think i can try once more. Hi again all :)

I was hoping that I could get some suggestions on how to proceed from here... let me fill you in on what's been going on;

I was raised male and up til recently I've had no reason to believe I wasn't until recently I decided that I had to see a psycho-therapist for gender -dysphoria. It was there that it was pointed out that I was much too thin. My ribs could easily be counted and my face was gaunt. I had bee that way my entire life since puberty so I never thought anything of it until someone brought it up.. and believe it or not no one had until that point. I had always been very health conscious, and maybe just a bit vain, so whenever any bit of fat settled on my hips I dieted it off straight away. However, now I had someone tell me I was way too thin, and counting the ribs went far to convincing me she was right, I decided to go ahead and gain some weight.

Well, i was still very thin at this point... but after I had put on a little weight I noticed that I was growing what I thought were breast buds. Well, naturally i went to see my doctor. So, the doctor poked me for a bit gave me some hormone tests (which came up “normal” he said) and sent me on my way with the suggestion that I try putting some ice around my nipples to help with the swelling. (he had breasts bigger than me, he said). I was dubious, because I had known my body all my life and I could tell something odd was going on but he was the expert, so I let it go.

So now, 25 pounds later, I'm still thin but..... My hips have broadened, my skin has gotten very soft, and oddest of all, those breasts have gotten large enough to raise eyebrows from the people I know. I had always had a bit of fatty deposit in my chest, it was part of what made me want to diet, but now it was aching and sometimes tingling off and on.

I can still see ribs and I still seem very slim but now from the neck down I am the spitting image of one of those female models in the magazines... needless to say I would love to know what's going on.. especially since I've always felt feminine but have been told I was male. I wont say I'm intersexed, since I haven't been formally diagnosed but I don't know what else to call it since it's obviously not masculine and more in line with how i feel inside.

However, I haven't got a lot of money, insurance yes, but I haven't got loads of cash sitting around ready for me to just start seeing doctors and racking up bills. I'd like to find someone who knows what to look for so that I can get this done right the first time. There is some urgency here as well since people I meet now no longer know whether they should call me maam or sir.. so finding new work or explaining my situation at my current part time job is difficult.

Could someone help point me toward what I should be doing next? Is what I'm going through unheard of? I would just love any advice that can be offered.

(PS... i have never ever and I am NOT taking hormones.. just to clear that up in advance. PPS sorry if this went on for too long)

[melonaide]

I'm just taking a wild guess here but if your boobs are that developed then there has to be a medical reason if you are a guy and if that's not what a doctor thinks then he/she must be overlooking something......if it is indeed to the point you say it is.....and to a lesser degree it may be easier to overlook for any doctor. Just because of an absence of hormone imbalance shouldn't mean that the doctor should just not listen to you if you are feeling pain or strange sensations in that area if it is a competent doctor. I would think if the problem persists that any sane doctor would do a biopsy, x-rays and tests to make sure you don't have breast cancer that males sometimes get....especially if there is a growth that is not fat and does not feel like fat......if it is fat then I think that could be a normal part of having extra weight.

[batousai]

I'm just taking a wild guess here but if your boobs are that developed then there has to be a medical reason if you are a guy and if that's not what a doctor thinks then he/she must be overlooking something......if it is indeed to the point you say it is.....and to a lesser degree it may be easier to overlook for any doctor. Just because of an absence of hormone imbalance shouldn't mean that the doctor should just not listen to you if you are feeling pain or strange sensations in that area if it is a competent doctor. I would think if the problem persists that any sane doctor would do a biopsy, x-rays and tests to make sure you don't have breast cancer that males sometimes get....especially if there is a growth that is not fat and does not feel like fat......if it is fat then I think that could be a normal part of having extra weight.

Remeber PAIS (at least to my knowledge) can do this simply by reducing the effectiveness of male hormones.



Jessica

[Emily Wright]

I have said is gospel truth ^_^ as there is no benefit to me to leave anything out. I'm going to make another trip to the doctor but I would like to go to one that has a little more awareness. I was very thin the first time, though, and it will be a good deal more obvious now that I'm heavier... but the first experience has me dreading the whole thing for no rational reason.

[melonaide]

Remeber PAIS (at least to my knowledge) can do this simply by reducing the effectiveness of male hormones.



Jessica


yeah, which would be more likely then having tumors or something on both sides exactly the same...which I mentioned because if there's something there I can hardly see a good doctor shrugging it off, but how would PAIS show up....would it not show by any hormone imbalence?

[Dana Gold]

gave me some hormone tests (which came up “normal” he said)
Do you remember, or have a copy of, your specific test results? Accurate etiology of any gynecomastia and feminizing body characteristics in an apparent male should be investigated with a series of tests: FSH, LH, prolactin, estradiol, estrone, total and free (bioavailable) testosterone, liver and pituitary function, and possibly karyotype. If you have medical insurance and anamolous secondary sex characteristics, then these tests are not only warranted and necessary, but should be covered. The sad part is that even though you may have an underlying medical condition, it may be likely that they now know you are trans (or on the way, should I say?...I notice you have adopted a female name and have been in counseling for such)... and that may be their focus , resulting in automatic non-coverage of hormon-related tests....derived from their transgender-exclusion policy. Without accurate testing and comprehensive examination by an endocrinologist, it is very difficult for anyone, including yourself to know "what is going on". I would suggest you have a serious talk with your doctor, emphasizing health concerns; if they code the test requests a certain way, it may be possible to have insurance cover it.....it all depends upon degree of medical necessity. I was finally able to do this when it "became apparent" (with my formal protest) to my medical grp, insurance and endo that my health care was being compromised by their non-coverage policy cr*p.

Good luck and take care.

Dana

[Emily Wright]

Yes, I did start counseling for gender dysphoria. IN fact, it was my counselor that pointed out how very thin I was. I hadn't then, now, or ever had taken steps, hormone or otherwise, to change my appearance but i can see your logic. The counselor was the one that helped me schedule the appointment and the doctor that I went to see knew of my dysphoria.

I've got an appointment for next week... and I will make sure that I will go in starting cold, point at the subjects in question, and raise my eyebrows in inquiry. Get them to tell me.. I know nuthin' Hopefully that will work...

Thanks again for your input all.

I definitely feel good about finally attempting to find out about this.

[Anniemac]

You sound like me when I was 14 and had this problem! I then came out as a transsexual and don't think it fits because my body is entirely female, but my genitalia is messed up. So, quite litterally, good luck in trying to find an answer and if you do, please let me know how you found it to see if it's what I have. (However, when I was 14, I had gained excessive weight in order to counteract the breast enlargement because of being raised as a male.)

[Emily Wright]

Well! I finished with my appt and I'm due to get a mammogram next tuesday. The doc definitly agreed that there was something up what with my body's characteristics. I am wondering at why it takes so long to see an endocrinologist, though. They set up an appt for me but it's not til dec 25th. Is that unusual?

[Dana Gold]

They set up an appt for me but it's not til dec 25th. Is that unusual?

Yes!!, very much so, not only because it's about 4 months away...BUT... it's Christmas Day, and almost all doctors' offices are closed for routine appointments! :confused:

[Peter]

Dana, I like your perceptive comments. Yes, if one arrives at the endo's office on December 25th, one may very well have to use the same entrance that St. Nick uses. I remember attending a party years ago, and after awhile was told that the "delivery entrance" was around the side. I too would take a doctor's appointment for December 25th with a grain of salt. I suggest that Emily call the doctor's office and re-confirm the date and time.

Peter

[Emily Wright]

Yes!!, very much so, not only because it's about 4 months away...BUT... it's Christmas Day, and almost all doctors' offices are closed for routine appointments! :confused:

It was dec 26th I got my dates wrong. I also was able to talk to my DO and we arranged for another appt with ANOTHER endo NEXT week!!! (tuesday and thursday, respectively) So I have my mammogram and my date with the endo all in one go. YAYYY.

I'll just take my huge hips and bump open the docs doors ^_^

Wish me luck!

[amy3000]

I also noticed such things when I was young. Also when I started my Tg journey I found that I had quite an amount of breast growth just from taking cyproterone acetate (Which lowers free testosterone) - Which I did for over a year untill I started taking oestrogen as well. The oestrogen has had less effect on my breasts than the cyproterone - although now they are not so painful and I don't have the sometimes painful almost donut shaped hard bits that grew under my breasts.

Whatever you find out, even if you find out nothing about any intersex type condition, it is important to follow your heart as far as TG is concerned. Do what feels right for you!

Good Luck