XXYKindaGuy: Klinefelter syndrome diagnosis a relief after childhood woes.
Samuel Pierce knew something was amiss growing up. He lacked hair growth and muscle mass, experienced numerous learning difficulties and at the age of 23 his “sex drive decided to die”.
It was at that point he knew he needed some answers. Mr Pierce, who is a chef at The Oxford in Timaru, was referred to a specialist in Christchurch, who eventually diagnosed him with Klinefelter syndrome – a chromosomal condition that affects male physical and cognitive development.
In simple terms, Mr Pierce has an extra X chromosome. There are varying degrees of symptoms, which often include small testicles, a lack of testosterone, breast tissue, and weight gain on the hips and tummy.
Infertility is also a factor for Mr Pierce (24). “I’m sterile, so that really sucked for me,” he said. “I was shocked because I really wanted kids.” Mr Pierce was diagnosed on November 9 last year and has since turned his attention to raising awareness in a positive way.
He has launched a YouTube channel to share his story and inspire anyone – with or without the condition – to enjoy life and achieve anything they set their mind to.
“The messages I get from people are insane, how much I’m helping them and helping them with their kids.” – Samuel Pierce
In just three months Mr Pierce “XXYKindaguy” has gone from having no answers to creating a profile on social media that has amassed thousands of followers from around the world. Among them is “another XXY guy”, Ryan Bregante, of the United States, whom Mr Pierce plans to meet when he travels there in September.
Overall, the feedback he had received was very positive. “The messages I get from people are insane, how much I’m helping them and helping them with their kids. People saying ‘thank you, you’ve uplifted me’,” Mr Pierce said.
“Every day I talk to about 10 to 15 new people all over the world. “Now I know what Klinefelter syndrome is and I can help others with it.” Mr Pierce said although his diagnosis was a shock, it was the answer he had been searching for.
“It saved my life, I believe. I know that sounds cliche, but it gives me all my answers from my whole life.”
Mr Pierce now gets regular testosterone injections. Despite the pain that came with it, the results were worth it, he said. “I’m now seeing body hair, muscle mass, and emotionally and physically I feel better. I’m no longer down in the dumps.”
Mr Pierce, whose social media profiles include a blog called xxykindaguy, welcomes anyone wanting to contact him to do so at xxykindaguy@yahoo.com
One Response
Hey buddy,
This is a nice story to read. Good site too, I’m glad it exists.
So. I also have a story.
Yesterday, after waiting 11 weeks for the results to come back, I got the “yes” I wanted. When I saw a urologist November 11 2020, he suggested I perhaps had Klinefelter syndrome, had I heard of it? I had complained of pain in my testes, so proceeded to have two ultrasounds and numerous tests, which led to my urologist visit.
My wife and I feverishly googled KS that night. I must say I was surprised more than anything. Pleasantly surprised. Even with google’s lack of positive information. There actually IS an answer to the riddle that is me! Holy shit!
I’m 45 years old and have worked in the entertainment and event industry in Australia for about 25 years as a musician, filmmaker, roadie, driver and anything else you can think of in the industry of celebrity creation. I am also a qualified car mechanic. In 2019 I got really sick of it all after almost losing three of my fingers on my left hand. (MY FRET HAND! I play piano, drums and guitar.) So I decided on a career change. I enrolled at a university here in Melbourne and got accepted to undertake my Bachelor of Science. Studying with a group for my first big exam in May last year, biology, my tutor cited Klinefelter syndrome as an example of a genetic anomaly, as we had learned the first inklings of Mendelian genetics. I didn’t think much about it, until my urologist appointment in November.
So since then, the USA has been the place to watch on the news, crossing fingers that some semblance of sanity will reign there again, one day. Sending peace and goodwill to all the people, after the year they’ve had. I’m lucky to be born in Australia. Right now, us and the kiwis are the luckiest on the planet. And then it was confirmed that yes, I had KS. I gotta tell ya, I’m over the moon, super excited, ecstatic! You said the exact words I said to myself!
“It answers all the questions.” All of them. I’m looking forward to putting weight on, I’ve never been able to. I’m 6’5”, and always, always been super thin, copped crap for it my whole life. Didn’t wear shorts (embarrassing ankles) until I was 22! Pricks at work always said I had a concave chest, no pecs at all. But I was brought up in a fundamentalist christian cult, and thought all my trauma, angry anger and mental problems throughout my life were due to the abuse I suffered at the hands of evil Jehovah’s Witnesses.
So, I have stopped trying to kill myself!
Thanks for letting me get that all off my chest.
Find me at tjbroad@deakin.edu.au
Tim Broad (I’m too sexxy…)