Chest size

It's has been over 5 years I got my pm implanted on left chest. I have been noticing, from day1 my left chest is bigger than the right one. I was at shopping mall trying out different shirts and noticed that now my left chest looks more like a breast. I am now getting more and more conscious about what I wear. I am thinking if I should get liposuction done. Is this common for the chest to grow? Should I wait for my pm replacement, and ask doctor to do something about it during the procedure? Pls advice. I am feeling very embarrassing to go wear t-shirts. Thanks

10 Comments

thanks Tracey

by somat - 2013-02-05 09:02:09

Thanks for reply Tracey. You also replied to my other post. I have Identity pm, which is the smallest Pm available in market (as per St. Jude website). It could be fluid retention, but it is not near the PM, it is below the PM. My left chest actually looks like a male breast. I just tried to feel it, and it does look like fluid. Thanks for the suggestion, I will try the heating pad.

But I am kind of feeling weird. Is it ok, to take pictures, and post a link to them here?

odd

by Tracey_E - 2013-02-05 09:02:54

The only three things I can think of are fluid retention around the pm, a build up of scar tissue, or the pm is really big. If it's fluid, try a heating pad on low for 15 min a few times a day. I had this after my second one. If it's scar tissue, they can clean it up when they do the replacement, I had that after the 4th one. It didn't look different from the other side, but it didn't feel good, was starting to get achy after so many replacements. If it's just the size of the pm (which I doubt because it wouldn't havet grown since you got it!) then consider a smaller one next time rather than a big one that has a larger/longer battery. Hope that helps.

And my guess is you are the only one who notices! We can pick out flaws on ourselves that our friends and family barely notice even after we point it out to them.

nothing unusual

by somat - 2013-02-06 01:02:27

Thanks AngrySparrow. Actually this was not sudden. I noticed my left chest being bigger than right one, after 2 or 3 months of implant. And it has been like that. For some reason, I am feeling that it is getting bigger n bigger slowly. There is no way I could measure it. It could be my intuition as well. Nothing weird is happening to any other parts of my body, just the left chest. Everything else is normal. No pain. I am not taking any meds. I sometimes sleep on my stomatch, and recently started playing tennis, I think that started to do something to my chest. May be I should wear some male bra to keep it rigid? I dont know.

Btw, I am new, so could you help me what you mean by GP & EP?

sure

by Tracey_E - 2013-02-06 10:02:18

if you want to, go for it

Link to the pictures.

by somat - 2013-02-06 12:02:37

I tool 4 pictures, all of them show, left chest (right side) on the picture. It does look really bad.. :(

Please comment and let me know what could be wrong. Thanks.

https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0ByCiRu86pWeEaEtUbGVJVDFtX0E/edit?usp=sharing

pics

by Tracey_E - 2013-02-07 01:02:22

Finally got a chance to look! Try the heating pad, that may be all it takes. Honestly? I'd be willing to bet if we were face to face, I'd never notice any difference if you hadn't pointed it out. If the heating pad doesn't help or it gets worse, get your gp to check it out. Guys can get breast cancer so anyone- guy or gal- should always check out any change.

will try heating pad

by somat - 2013-02-07 05:02:24

Hi Tracey, Thanks for suggestions. I will try the heating pad, and see if it helps. Otherwise will mention it to GP during my next visit. The thing is, I knew it from day one, but recently I observed that people at work are looking at my chest when Iam talking to them, so its making me feel bad, and embrased to wear any polo shirts. :( Very depressing. I did not want to tell anyone that I have a PM, so thats the problem. Otherwise, its all not that bad. Thanks again for helpful tips.

terms

by Tracey_E - 2013-02-07 05:02:36

ep = electrophysiologist
gp = general practitioner

bandage idea is good

by somat - 2013-02-07 05:02:52

bangage copcept is good, but it is a lot of work if I want it everyday, and especially if I have to wear it when playing, i would need to have something to hold it in place, like straps. I read online that there are some manbra's available in marker, its just, they are not that easily available. I will do a little bit more research and post in forum if I find anything useful. Thanks for the tip. I will try it this weekend for my tennis match.

shirts

by Tracey_E - 2013-02-07 06:02:02

IMO, the wrap will show through a shirt and bring attention to it. I could be wrong but I'd be willing to bet they are not truly staring at it, that it's your imagination because you're sensitive to it. Most people are pretty clueless about details of another person's appearance. What about shirts a size bigger? Fingers crossed the heating pad takes care of it.

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