My insurance is HMO, so the process of referal was a pain in the ass. As many of the brothers have suggested before, I saw my family doc and complained about "pain from strange lumps" in my chest around my nipples.

Instead of referring me to a surgeon right away she scheduled me for a mamogram. Needless to say I wasn't real thrilled having this done. However, the hospital I went to has a completely different machine for male mamogram testing. It wasn't too bad (but still embarassing).

The test revealed what I already knew, but it was interesting to see an actual picture of the gyno itself. I should note here that this is god-given gyno, which I've had since puberty. It would have been hard to get gyno on my one and only cycle which, due to a nasty bout of diverticulitis, ended up being nine lousy amps of durateston (brazilian sust for you newbies out there).

Anyway...two weeks after the test results came in I was finally referred to a general surgeon. He felt me up and asked me the usual questions. He also mentioned something particularly interesting concerning the drug tagament which is used to treat acid reflux disease. He said men develop gyno from using too much of this stuff do to its effect on the liver. He didn't really explain although I would guess it has something to do with the body's ability to deal with estrogen (just guessing though).

He asked me if I wanted to do a biopsy or just have the gyno removed (including the mammory glands). Gee doc, I don't know...I like my tits soooo much. Of course I said rip the motherfuckers out. He did caution me that there would be (probably) indentations in my nipples that may not go away for some time, if ever. However, if I'm prone to gyno it could come back just as easily (even without supraphysiological levels of test) if the glands aren't removed. So again, I told him to get rid of the fuckers. I figure I can hide indentations, but I know I cant hide the gyno.

Thats really about it so far. Insurance is paying for it (thank god) but I'm nervous as hell right now. For anyone interested I'll post updates after surgery.

I wouldn't mind some prayers from the Iron Brotherhood being sent my way, and maybe even a poem from Ranger if the fucker ever decides to come back :P