Gynaecomastia (man boobs)

[IanM1957]

Do any of you men have this condition?

I've read that liver disease can cause this (imbalance of testosterone and oestrogen) but it can also be a side effect of Spironolactone diuretic medication.

I have cirrhosis and also take Spironolactone for pitting oedema in my lower legs and feet (the medication is very effective).

Not really sure where to go for advice - my GP who prescribed the Spironolactone or my liver specialist/liver nurse?

Would appreciate hearing from anyone who has experience of this.

Regards

[bantam12]

My late husband had it, his was caused by a benign pituitary tumour.

[IanM1957 in reply to bantam12]

Thanks for your reply, so sorry to hear that your husband has passed.

[Hidden]

I have it & I don't have cirrhosis. Mine was probably caused by long term use of painkillers which lowered testosterone levels. At my age I'm not concerned about it. There is a surgery option to get rid of the excess fat but it wouldn't be advisable if you have cirrhosis.

[IanM1957 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your reply, I've never been a heavy user of painkillers but it's worth me bearing that in mind.

[Huggy7614]

Hi Ian,

I suffered from this when I was on spironolactone. I went to my go initially, who was reluctant to mess with my meds, but at my next consultants visit he reduced the dose to 100mg. This eased it, but it was still there.

It is a known side effect of the drug, but taking the drug is probably more important than the resultant issues!!

At one stage I was on 400mg, then my nipples got really sore!!!

Good luck,

Andy.

[IanM1957 in reply to Huggy7614]

Hi Andy,

Thanks for your reply - I definitely think the next step for me is a visit to my GP, I've found my liver consultant and nurse to be particularly unhelpful thus far - they've insisted that the oedema is nothing to do with the cirrhosis and insist I do not have ascites whereas my GP says I do have ascites (albeit a mild case) and on the balance of probabilities the oedema is caused by the cirrhosis.

[Huggy7614 in reply to IanM1957]

Sounds like a good plan Ian. It is a shame they can’t all sing from the same hymn sheet!!! There are a number of suitable diuretics available. Good luck with it all, hope you don’t need draining for a long time to come!!

[IanM1957 in reply to Huggy7614]

Thanks Andy.

[Dogbot]

Hi IanM1957

I was on spironolactone and had the very sore man boobs it is a direct link go to your GP he/she might send you to your consultant and they can put you on a different diuretic which will solve the problem 👍.

Stay Safe All

Dogbot 🐶🌈

[IanM1957 in reply to Dogbot]

Hi Dogbot,

Thanks for your reply - I think I'll take your advice and see my GP about this.

[Bs1524]

My poor husband has this as a direct result of cirrhosis.

[IanM1957 in reply to Bs1524]

Hi Bs1524,

Thanks for your reply - I have actually been following most of your posts about your husband's condition, I'm so sorry to read about what you have both been going through.

[Bs1524 in reply to IanM1957]

Thank you you are very kind it all seems very surreal as most of the time we are just left to get on with things. I done feel qualified for so much responsibility. No different to lots of others here I expect.

Do you have help and support?

Pam

[IanM1957 in reply to Bs1524]

I'm fortunate in that my liver disease is relatively mild at the moment and doesn't cause any major issues.

You're right -it is a very surreal situation, it was slightly bizarre for me last year when I was also diagnosed with lung cancer and had to have part of my lung removed followed by chemotherapy (so far all the signs are positive that all the malignant stuff has gone).

My girlfriend has been extremely supportive throughout (bless her!).

All the best to you and your husband.

Ian

[JDA69]

My husband has gynaecomastia and takes Spironolatone. When his specialist stopped Spiro about 18 months ago, it went away really quickly. He has had to start it again this year and the gynaecomastia came back almost straight way, he says it's really sore and his nipples really hurt. He can't have furosemide so he doesn't have much choice. He would really like to stop taking them but the alternative of fluid build up and drains is unsurprisingly not so appealing!

[IanM1957 in reply to JDA69]

Hi JDA69,

Thanks for your reply - it is so frustrating, isn't it, when a drug cures one problem but then creates another one?

I think I'll just have to "man up" and live with the sore and tender "manboobs" rather than go back to the massively swollen abdomen and ankles!

[Bellarman]

Hi there bellerman here, I had the same thing purely because of spironlactone it was given to me by my Cardiologist after heart surgery cus he heard it was good for liver problems that I actually had, but he could have given me frucamide, after a couple of years of trying to hide it I asked for a referral to plastic surgeon and he removed it but unfortunately since my liver transplant I've got my body shape back and there are signs that there is still some there, although not a lot, I hope that helps.

[IanM1957 in reply to Bellarman]

Hi Bellarman,

Thanks for your reply.