HRT Issues?

[DizzyRose]

Hey guys and girls! I was just looking to get some personal experiences and/or knowledge on HRT here. I just started a couple months ago (Estradiol *MG a day), but I've been reading a lot about progesterones and such and wondering if I should ask my doctor about them on my next visit (which just happens to be this next Tuesday). Though I'm not sure if age is a factor in doctors prescribing them or not, I am only 21. So far I haven't noticed much by way of positive changes, with what I've been taking. Some body hair dispersal maybe, and slightly more 'solid' feeling breasts.. But I seem to have had more negative effects so far.. Bloating, often feeling hungry, drowsiness, and of course breast soreness. So I was wondering if these things are normal or when I should expect to start seeing more apparent results. As stated, personal experiences are welcome, I much prefer reading about what others have gone through than random factoids. :)

[Katesback]

How about talking to your doctor? Or taking a gander at Tsroadmap or tswomensresources?

Thinking you will get FACTUAL information from PROFESSIONALS.

[ReineD]

Kate, I believe the OP will be talking to her doctor in her next visit. But she also wants to know what other people on HRT have experienced.

[luvSophia]

Ummmm, are we self-medicating here? ** mg/day to start with sounds pretty high to me.

[Traci Elizabeth]

Heck, they won't even let me take the pills for estrogen. I am stuck (pun intended) with the patches on my butt! :D

[RockerTerri]

If youre 21, you have plenty of time, age dosent usually matter much (after puberty that is) until our early 30s.

As for what I have experienced, ive been on HRT for 3 months. Already I have a noticable reduction in the amount and thickness of my arm hair, and my nipples are extremely sensitive, due to developing internal ducts. I am in my early 30s, by the way, and so far, results have been pretty positive.

I use estro and spiro, my dose is a good deal lower than yours...8mg/day sounds quite high, make sure youre keeping on top of your lab tests, and above all, listen to your doc.

Blocking testosterone is as important (if not more so) than adding estrogen.
Once again, talk to your doc.

EDIT. That breast soreness is quite normal; I urge you to to take a peek at a good resource, like transgendercare.com, and get some more info; the breast soreness and body hair is a really good sign, it means your body IS reacting to the hormones; so you are aware, HRT can take several years in some cases to really cause big changes, if at all.

[Dawn D.]

*mg does seem a bit high, though, your doctor knows best, right? Usually they start you out at a fairly low dose and gradually move you up. Everyone's effects from HRT will be a very personal affair. What you get from it has a lot to do with your genetics and age. If I were 21 when I started I am pretty sure the results would have been quite dramatic in comparison to even how well I have responded over the last two years. And I started HRT at 50! I've been pleased, even so.

The things you describe as having happened thus far seem to be fairly routine for most. And, yes for me too. The hunger part is the most difficult to counter act, "must watch weight"! So start a good exercise program, now! The breast tenderness is typically a sign of things to come. How big a gain you make there is part of that genetics aspect. I did fairly well again. I'm in a B cup. My mother was a C. And from everything I have read and heard, this seems to be the pattern as well. You usually get about a cup smaller than your mother. For me it's just fine. They're plenty big enough. Again, this is after two years. BTW, they at times still are painful. Don't know if that is a signal that they may still grow more or not and personally, I am not concerned over it.

So, give it more time. Two month's is not really very long. Let things develop and see what mother nature has in store for you!



Dawn

[RockerTerri]

*mg does seem a bit high, though, your doctor knows best, right? Usually they start you out at a fairly low dose and gradually move you up. Everyone's effects from HRT will be a very personal affair. What you get from it has a lot to do with your genetics and age. If I were 21 when I started I am pretty sure the results would have been quite dramatic in comparison to even how well I have responded over the last two years. And I started HRT at 50! I've been pleased, even so.

The things you describe as having happened thus far seem to be fairly routine for most. And, yes for me too. The hunger part is the most difficult to counter act, "must watch weight"! So start a good exercise program, now! The breast tenderness is typically a sign of things to come. How big a gain you make there is part of that genetics aspect. I did fairly well again. I'm in a B cup. My mother was a C. And from everything I have read and heard, this seems to be the pattern as well. You usually get about a cup smaller than your mother. For me it's just fine. They're plenty big enough. Again, this is after two years. BTW, they at times still are painful. Don't know if that is a signal that they may still grow more or not and personally, I am not concerned over it.

So, give it more time. Two month's is not really very long. Let things develop and see what mother nature has in store for you!



Dawn

I truly hope that bit about "a cup size less than your mother" isnt true, as my mom had massive breasts...

[DizzyRose]

Thanks to most of you for your responses. No, I'm not self-medicating.. My doctor started me off at * MG for 2 weeks, then went up to *. Also I do intend to talk to him during my appointment about stuff like this, I was just looking to get people's personal experiences on what their results were. Mostly in reference to progesterones, since I was not prescribed them.

And to Kate, I have read TSRoadMap, and numerous other resources on the web. But I have seen a lot of conflicting information, thus I wanted to hear from people who I felt would be the most experienced on the issue.. Aka people who have been through it, so your rudeness is really unwarranted..

[RockerTerri]

Thanks to most of you for your responses. No, I'm not self-medicating.. My doctor started me off at * MG for 2 weeks, then went up to *. Also I do intend to talk to him during my appointment about stuff like this, I was just looking to get people's personal experiences on what their results were.

And to Kate, I have read TSRoadMap, and numerous other resources on the web, and I have seen a lot of conflicting information, thus I wanted to hear from people who I felt would be the most experienced on the issue.. Aka people who have been through it, so your rudeness is really unwarranted..

Its really hard to know what to expect, sadly; our bodies react as differently to HRT as they did to the natural hormones we were born producing. Age, genetics, dose, diet, excercise, method of taking, all (among many others) are factors. Will you see changes? Yep, almost certainly; I dont know of a single person that did not see some amount of physical changes.

But also, what will those changes be? Do all people look the same? Were you extremely masculine (ie, body hair, pattern baldness, muscular, et al) before? That matters. One GG will have the figure of Marilyn, another will just be slim, without big curves...both are still women, with estrogen in their systems.

There is no real "normal" level of development sadly; the pain in the breasts and reduction in body hair is relatively common after 3 or so months. Beyond that, who knows? Youre as likely to get a concrete answer from a Ouija board as you are a proven, scientific table of "normal development".

Sorry I cant give a better answer, but there it is. For what its worth, most of us really do quite well, it just seems to take 2-3 years for changes to really occur.

Edit. I am about as far into my HRT as you are, and so far, I have zero complaints. I want a great shape with a tiny waist and all, but if it dosent happen...o well. The changes I have already experienced are great.

[Dawn D.]

I truly hope that bit about "a cup size less than your mother" isnt true, as my mom had massive breasts...


LOL! Yeah, that could be unpleasant! For your sake I hope it doesn't follow the program.:timeout:



Dawn

[DizzyRose]

Its really hard to know what to expect, sadly; our bodies react as differently to HRT as they did to the natural hormones we were born producing. Age, genetics, dose, diet, excercise, method of taking, all (among many others) are factors. Will you see changes? Yep, almost certainly; I dont know of a single person that did not see some amount of physical changes.

But also, what will those changes be? Do all people look the same? Were you extremely masculine (ie, body hair, pattern baldness, muscular, et al) before? That matters. One GG will have the figure of Marilyn, another will just be slim, without big curves...both are still women, with estrogen in their systems.

There is no real "normal" level of development sadly; the pain in the breasts and reduction in body hair is relatively common after 3 or so months. Beyond that, who knows? Youre as likely to get a concrete answer from a Ouija board as you are a proven, scientific table of "normal development".

Sorry I cant give a better answer, but there it is. For what its worth, most of us really do quite well, it just seems to take 2-3 years for changes to really occur.

Edit. I am about as far into my HRT as you are, and so far, I have zero complaints. I want a great shape with a tiny waist and all, but if it dosent happen...o well. The changes I have already experienced are great.

Yeah I understand that. I've so far not met any girls who saw no change either. And I'm not sitting around staring at the clock (metaphorically) waiting for changes to happen either. XD I've actually been quite patient with my transition. I originally came out to my family and began full-time living as a teenager. I only just last year started seeing a therapist and (finally) began HRT earlier this year.

I was also *never* masculine in the least. People often assumed I was a girl throughout most of my childhood and teenage years. Though my genetics seem pretty predisposed to femininity. My mother wears a D cup bra, one of my sisters wears a D as well, and the other wears a DD! I myself can fit a low B cup on a good day.

[Elizabeth 66]

I read somewhere to look at your mother and sisters, and you should be a little smaller, i hope not too, My mum is massive, i don't want to be!

But most of the medical sites i have been on say that Transsexuals on an hrt regime don't grow beasts anywhere near there mothers, and in fact most need some augmentation. i suppose each of us can only wait and see.

[Karen564]

Thanks to most of you for your responses. No, I'm not self-medicating.. My doctor started me off at * MG for 2 weeks, then went up to **. Also I do intend to talk to him during my appointment about stuff like this, I was just looking to get people's personal experiences on what their results were. Mostly in reference to progesterones, since I was not prescribed them.



The very 1st thing I noticed is you didn't mention and Anti-Androgen meds.....(T Blockers)

You absolutely need T-Blockers in your HRT, and even more so because at your age, because your right around your peak levels of Testosterone production...in other words, get the T down so the E can do it's job..then you may not need to be on such a high dose of E..

If a doctor gave me ** mg of E , such as what your taking, I would be inclined to run away & find another doctor if he didn't have me on T-Blockers 1st..

Excessive meds is not the way to achieve faster results, but it will put your vital internal organs in jeopardy faster..


Which btw,,,, What kind of Doctor is this?? is he a specialist or your PCP?

[DizzyRose]

The very 1st thing I noticed is you didn't mention and Anti-Androgen meds.....(T Blockers)

You absolutely need T-Blockers in your HRT, and even more so because at your age, because your right around your peak levels of Testosterone production...in other words, get the T down so the E can do it's job..then you may not need to be on such a high dose of E..

If a doctor gave me ** mg of E , such as what your taking, I would be inclined to run away & find another doctor if he didn't have me on T-Blockers 1st..

Excessive meds is not the way to achieve faster results, but it will put your vital internal organs in jeopardy faster..


Which btw,,,, What kind of Doctor is this?? is he a specialist or your PCP?


He's an Endocrinologist who my therapist has referred a fairly large number of transpeople to (according to her). I'm not sure why I wasn't prescribed an anti-androgen, that's what I was concerned about and one of the main reasons I made this post. I have my first 3-month follow up appointment this Tuesday, and I've definitely been intending to ask him. Another somewhat odd thing is he didn't talk to me about my levels. I had the tests done, called back in 2 weeks and his nurse told me he had already prescribed medication to me. I wasn't aware this was out of the ordinary.

[Karen564]

OK, so it's the right doctor to see, then let me ask you, hows your liver & heart? as in, as far as you know, your healthy, right?

Not every Endo will give you all the numbers, mine didn't right away either until I asked..
But I do find it Very strange he doesn't have you on blockers...and the only reason that pops in my head at the moment is that your blood test came back with a problem.. whether it be a Liver, Kidney, or an abnormal EKG reading..

As far as the progesterone, it's all debatable, and even if you thought it may help, I would wait until you get your base T & E levels where they should be 1st before introducing another drug into the mix...
But if I was you, I would ask him exactly why your not on an Anti-Androgen...

[RockerTerri]

From everything I have read and the few other girls i know, progesterone really isnt worth the risks. Get your T and E levels right, your young enough (I am jealous, I soooo wish I had started at your age) that you should get awesome results.

Some reason youre not on spiro now...low BP, etc?

[DizzyRose]

From everything I have read and the few other girls i know, progesterone really isnt worth the risks. Get your T and E levels right, your young enough (I am jealous, I soooo wish I had started at your age) that you should get awesome results.

Some reason youre not on spiro now...low BP, etc?

When I said progesterones in my original post, I actually meant anti-androgens lol. I read a site earlier that lead me to believe they were the same thing. And as far as not being on an anti-androgen goes.. That's actually what I've been wondering and why I've been reading a lot of sites and resources about it. It's going to definitely be something I ask my doctor this Tuesday.

[GypsyKaren]

Dosage amounts are not allowed in the open forum, that's what we have Safe Haven for, so please help me out because I'm too lazy to edit so much.

It's been all of two months, GG's don't sprout boobs overnight and neither will you...be patient.

Karen

[ReineD]

My mother wears a D cup bra, one of my sisters wears a D as well, and the other wears a DD! I myself can fit a low B cup on a good day.

My mother wears a DD as well, and my aunts (on both sides) range anywhere between Cs and DDs. My female cousins are all well endowed. But, not me. Hormones trigger breast growth, but breast size is determined by inheritance (I don't know whether size is determined by a dominant or a recessive gene) and also by environmental factors ... diet which influences hormone levels, body weight, life cycles (a woman's breasts change size and shape throughout her life).