Consequences of Stopping Meds

[kristyk]

I wrote a month or so ago about my tough times and that I was going to have to discontinue my meds. I thought I would give you first hand information on what to expect if you ever have to stop yourself.

First let me say I consulted my Endo, my family doctor and of course my Pysch/therapist all by email no appointment. My endo told me not to go stopping all of a sudden and to buy myself at least a 30 day supply of the med I was stopping before stopping that med, and to do this slowly.

My doctor gave me what to stop first, second and third first was Spiro, I had no ill effects other than being depressed that I had to stop. I took a two month period to stop so my body could adjust before I took the next step.

Second step was progestrone that started 8/15/09 now this has been really difficult I have good days and bad days. Between the headaches, muscle pain, body aches and mode swings I would say the word tough may not be strong enough

If I continue without income and insurance I expect to start whinning myself off estrogen in late October. If anything good could come out of my misfortune it would the real life experience information I can give others.

I never expect this to happen to me my wife and I were doing so well money problems were the last thing we were worried about. However both of us being laid off at the same time and no insurance.

My wife is in her early 60S even though she can do the job very well no one wants to hire her that close to retirement they don't say it but it is true.

Love
KristyK

[Super Amanda]

That sucks, Kristi, I'm sorry. Try to get on some kind of government assistance, I got laid off over a year ago, and the state pays for my hormones.

[kristyk]

Amanda I heard that also, but when we were turned away from food stamps because they said we did not qualify you might say I gave up.

My wife and I are in good spirits and try and help others during this period as much as we can by volunteering our time it gets us out of the house.

Amanda I will contact my local agency and ask them about hormones for me. It would be kind of ironic if I couldn't get food stamps but I could get hormones.

Thanks Amanda you gave me something to think about

KristyK

[Niya W]

Speaking as some who has no health insurgence. Estrogen and progesterone are cheap. The Estrogen is $30 for 300 tabs. Its the spiro that got me. $167 for 200 pills . This is with a script . Here is the crazy thing. Its $87 for the same about off the net with no script .

[kristyk]

Niya I agree the med costs are possibly to manage it would be hard to add that cost into our monthly bills but it could be doable. It's the the cost to see the endo, and the family doctor, my therapist/Psych or get regular blood work done is the sinker to the formula.

That's really ok times will get better and my thread wasn't meant to be a bumper for everyone. I hoped my information would be well recieved and the topic not be taken over by my situation. Although the admiration on you two girls is very sweet and I thank you for thinking about me.


Niya Thanks again for the response hope all is well with you

KristyK

[brenda lynn mwe]

im sorry to hear your hatten to get off your harmones and getting laid off but just don't give up theres a lot of places that will help im wanting to get on med to just haven't got to it yet anything I can do to be some help just ask

[Niya W]

Niya I agree the med costs are possibly to manage it would be hard to add that cost into our monthly bills but it could be doable. It's the the cost to see the endo, and the family doctor, my therapist/Psych or get regular blood work done is the sinker to the formula.

That's really ok times will get better and my thread wasn't meant to be a bumper for everyone. I hoped my information would be well recieved and the topic not be taken over by my situation. Although the admiration on you two girls is very sweet and I thank you for thinking about me.


Niya Thanks again for the response hope all is well with you

KristyK

Try planned parent hood

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center/lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-lgbt-services-26027.htm

[kristyk]

Brenda I'm ok, thanks for the offer for help I have always been a survivor and my wife and I will get through this. The meds that I have stopped are a complete nother issue and

Niya your pictures are so pretty of you
and Thanks for the website information I will try contacting them Monday.

It really would be nice not lose who I am during this hard time

That was great information Niya I do apprecaite it

Hugs
KristyK

[~Kelly~]

Speaking as some who has no health insurgence. Estrogen and progesterone are cheap. The Estrogen is $30 for 300 tabs. Its the spiro that got me. $167 for 200 pills . This is with a script . Here is the crazy thing. Its $87 for the same about off the net with no script .

I think it all depends on where you go and what you are prescribed. My Dr. is fairly conscientious of the fact that most of his TS patients have little expendable money. Therefore he shops around to find drug prices before prescribing them. It is in this way that he has gotten my prescription bill down to around $45ish dollars for a healthy dosing of spiro, estradiol, and progesterone. Many of the large pharmacies offer their "cheap drug plans" but you have to get the dosages that are on that plan. As an example and just as an example, if I was prescribed 100mg of one medicine, I could pay the going commercial rate for 30 100mg pills or if prescribed as such, I could get 120 25mg pills at, say Walmart, for $14. ($4 for a 30 day supply, $10 for a 90 supply....therefore $10 + $4 = $14). Do some research and find out not only the medicines, but the dosages as well and you can cut your prescription bill WAY down.

[Aubrey Green]

Kristy, I would look into your Dept. of Social Services, you can find out through them about insurance. California has Medical, which is insurance for those who do not have the means to afford it. Since you have doctor, therapist, and Endo all involved in this, you may be able to get insurance and prescription help thru them. Don't hesitate and don't give up just yet!

:hugs:

[kristyk]

Whats great is to have so many great support people when you least expect it.
I don't think I could ever actually give up but you can be pushed so far that things seem unreachable.

I wrote in regaurds to helping others and to my surprise I was the one who recieved the help.

Thanks you all have touched my heart with your support

Maybe I should look into goverment help I feel so ashamed to ask for help on getting me my HRT I know I shouldn't and I will try this week to contact one of the agencies spoken in this thread.

Thanks for the help

KristyK:hugs:

[Niya W]

I was helped along my journey by group of great Ladies. If I can help some out I will.

[kristyk]

Do you think I am giving the lose of being able to see my doctors and have blood drawn to much concern.

Should the fact that I can't see the professionals I need to or get any lab work done stop me from taking my meds?

It seems most of the responses focused on my being able to afford my meds and I was most concerned with paying for everything else such as lab work, doctors, therapists. Maybe I was looking at my problem and over judgeing the importance of regular doctor visits and results on blood work.

Thanks again
KristyK

[Beth-Lock]

Here, with me, in Canada, everything is covered, at least at this point in my life, but the doctors run the show, and my doctor has been sitting on my case for an eternity, and showing no signs of taking action. As a result, I am resigned to doing without indefinitely.
It is always something!

[helenr]

possibly a maintenance dose of estrogen-I picked up a Walmart listing-$10. for three months supply. Surely a light dosage shouldn't require regular bloodwork,etc. Goodness, what could suddenly go wrong? Helen

[kristyk]

I guess JCAMY answered your question Helen by her own research which tells what can go wrong when on Meds and not having lab work or endo visits!

Helen hormones is notjing to play with.

The goof news is I found a job the bad news is their insurance is terrible but better than nothing


JCAMY says
Estrogen:
+Over all feminizing effects.
-Can lead to cholestasis. Affects the production proteins including lipoproteins, binding proteins, and proteins responsible for blood clotting.

*Injectable if Possible: less Clotting tendency. IF not Sublingullar

Estradiol/Estradiol Valerate:
-Oral versions: Estrace, Estradiol acetate, Estrofem
-Transdermal preparation: Alora, Climara, Vivelle-Dot, Menostar, Estraderm TTS, EvaMist
-Ointments: Divigel, Estrasorb Topical, Estrogel, Elestrin
-Injection: Estradiol cypionate, Estradiol valerate

conjugated equine estrogens:
-Premarin

Ethinyl Estradiol:
-thromboembolic complications, Avoid.




Anti-Androgens:
+Decrease and or inhibits effects of testosterone to reduce it's level to normal female level.
+May cause Gynecomastia (breast growth).
+decreases acne and hirsutism (male pattern hari growth)

spironolactone
-High Blood clotting tendency.
-Spironolactone often increases serum potassium levels and can cause hyperkalemia.
-May increased risk of bleeding from the stomach and duodenum.
-may cause Ataxia.
-A carcinogenic effect has been demonstrated in rats.

Cyproterone
-liver toxicity (200-300 mg/day monitored for changes in liver enzymes)
-Low aldosterone levels may lead to salt loss and hyperkalemia (excess potassium).-In combination with ethinylestradiol increased risk of deep vein thrombosis.
-Associated with depressive mood changes in some patients.
-can increase adrenal androgen production, in some cases resulting in an overall rise in testosterone levels.
-have withdrawal effects.

Flutamide
+Gynecomastia.
-may also cause gastrointestinal side effects.


Micronized progesterone:
+Can also inhibit testosterone production.
+does not counteract the beneficial effects of estrogen on blood lipids.
+Metabolized to 5-alpha and 5-beta Pregnenolone (natrual tranquilizer).
+increase breast development?

[giuseppina]

Hi Kristy

Sorry to hear about your and your partner's lack of income. :sad: I'm not a medical doctor, but I think you're proceeding sensibly.:) If you're taking the drugs, follow the doctor's recommendations w.r.t. blood tests. Their purpose is to find evidence of things starting to go wrong before they become life-threatening.

To those who suggested using sources on the internet: the drugs may or may not have the same amount of active ingredient specified on the container or they may be contaminated, perhaps dangerously so. I'm talking about sources which don't meet standards comparable to those in Canada, the US, and other industrialised countries. Safety is paramount.

Taking drugs from an unknown source is as dangerous and potentially life-threatening proposition as taking them without a doctor's supervision. :naughty

Cheers
Giuseppina