Got my spiro prescription today

[sandra-leigh]

I had my second doctor's appointment at the trans-health unit today. I had been told that it would be a minimum of 3 appointments before prescription, but today I was given a prescription for the introductory dose of spiro. Estrogen will follow later, as I need to get my chlorestrol down... and spiro just happens to be a chlorestrol reducer, so that helps.

I'll stop by and fill the prescription on the way home and start tomorrow morning.

My starting T is about 1 standard deviation below the "normal" low range. (I should have written the numbers down.)

[Persephone]

Congratulations on getting the prescription, Sandra-Leigh!

[Teri Jean]

Congrats, better living through chemistry. Yay Teri

[danielleb]

Congrats. I can't wait to see what effect this will have on your posts from here on out!:battingeyelashes:

[sandra-leigh]

Congrats. I can't wait to see what effect this will have on your posts from here on out!:battingeyelashes:

Does Spiro make anyone less verbose? :D

[Traci Elizabeth]

My starting T is about 1 standard deviation below the "normal" low range. (I should have written the numbers down.)

OMG! Nothing worse than an attorney expounding general statistics! What's the coefficient of variation and was that from the "sample" or the "population?" Did you do Pearson r and z scores? What was the inter-quartile range? Did you compute the mean, median, and mode? Did you square the std deviation? Why didn't you report the "variance" alone? OH well, your "binomial" distribution is probably all out of whack anyway! :lol:

[Stephanie Anne]

Congrats and take it in the morning.

[sandra-leigh]

OMG! Nothing worse than an attorney expounding general statistics!

Traci, it should be obvious that the only thing applicable in the situation is a T-test :heehee:

I may not be a statistician, but I have my moments. :tongueout

[Persephone]

OMG! Nothing worse than an attorney expounding general statistics! What's the coefficient of variation and was that from the "sample" or the "population?" Did you do Pearson r and z scores? What was the inter-quartile range? Did you compute the mean, median, and mode? Did you square the std deviation? Why didn't you report the "variance" alone? OH well, your "binomial" distribution is probably all out of whack anyway! :lol:

OMG! is right! I just read that to my spouse, a former statistician for the State of South Carolina.


Traci, it should be obvious that the only thing applicable in the situation is a T-test :heehee:

I may not be a statistician, but I have my moments. :tongueout

Thanks, I always love cleaning up my desk after coffee sprays out my nose.

[Melody Moore]

Does Spiro make anyone less verbose? :D
Well Sandra, I am on Androcur for my T blocker, so if I am anything to go by, then maybe not :rofl:but
at least I don't analyse everything to your level to detail & know better to leave the statistics well alone. :heehee:

Just joking, I didn't come here to poke fun at you, I must say Sandra, I am really happy to hear that you have decided to
give hormones a go. So congratulations! I think you know that you need to try this option for your own peace of mind.

My only hope for you is that you find that same inner peace & happiness that many others here
have found & that a lot of the fears, reservations and self-doubt you have soon quickly disappears.

We all have reservations and doubts going into hormone therapy, so that is completely normal and sometimes we tend
to hold on to part of our male self as some type of a security blanket. I have to be honest here & say that I feel that this
is something you tend to be doing a fair bit from what I have read in your postings. But it's OK, because you will find that
most of us have done something like this. I just said earlier in another thread here about how I hung onto some of my male
clothes in case of an emergency, but the truth was it was my security blanket in case I ever crashed during my transitioning.
But I was going through my wardrobe & seen these clothes and said to myself 'No way could I ever wear those clothes again'.

We all fear acceptance as our main issue when we decide to transition, so we tend to have the notion that by reverting back
to male mode might be a way we can take the pressure off ourselves. But I honestly found that what I have gained through
hormones and by coming out fully has allayed all my doubts & fears. And the reason I am saying this to you is because you
might find the same things happen with you that caused you to doubt & question so much. When these fears are gone you
might find that you can't live any other way than as a female. This is what happened to me and I really want it for you.

Hugs :hugs: Melody Xx

[sandra-leigh]

I think you know that you need to try this option for your own peace of mind.


:yt:

When I hit the big five-oh later this year, I'll be able to look back and say that I set myself a goal and pursued it, pushed past the fear, and got there. I don't know yet if my body will tolerate the drugs, but tomorrow morning I'm going to start finding out.

It won't start being really real until I take that pill, but already I am pleased that when my birthday comes around I'll be able to say that I did something meaningful this year, that I didn't just live one day to the next.

You are quite right, Melody, I have to know. One way or the other. Otherwise I'd end up living my life regretting what I didn't allow myself a chance to do.


I did take a big leap of faith once before in my life, when I was 30-ish: I quit my cushy job and left my very comfortable ruts, and went to Europe for a while, not having any idea if I would like it, and not having any idea where I would work once I returned. I did have some rough times (in different senses) while I was there, but I also had some good times and learned from both the good and the bad. I don't regret going: it was a voyage of self-discovery, an exultation of experience.

[Kimberly Marie Kelly]

Been fairly absent from the forum, I've been pretty much living my life 24/7 since Dec 1st 2009. I've been on Spiro as a T blocker for over 20 months now. I'm slightly diabetic with elevated Blood pressure when I started. In the 2o months I've become the healthiest I've ever been. By blood pressure, and every other marker is where it should be for a 54 yr old woman. Most importantly I am me, happier and more content with so many more friends in my life. I'm back in a relationship with God and have found a beautiful church. I am happy Sandra that you've started on your journey to better yourself and to discover yourself. Kimberly Marie Kelly:)

[sandra-leigh]

I took my pill almost 10 hours ago, but I don't feel any different yet! What a hoax! :eek:

:tongueout

(Actually I've been a bit foggy today. But that happens some days anyhow, might be just one of those days.)

[StaceyJane]

10 hours should be plenty of time to change you into a girl! LOL

[Melody Moore]

I took my pill almost 10 hours ago, but I don't feel any different yet! What a hoax! :eek:

:tongueout

(Actually I've been a bit foggy today. But that happens some days anyhow, might be just one of those days.)
10 hours should be plenty of time to change you into a girl! LOL :lol:

But on a serious note Sandra, the greatest changes to how you feel are going to happen if you
are taking Oestrogen, not just an anti-androgen. So do you have plans of this in the near future?

[Traci Elizabeth]

10 Hours? Heck after that amount of time you should have to be sitting to pee.

[sandra-leigh]

But on a serious note Sandra, the greatest changes to how you feel are going to happen if you
are taking Oestrogen, not just an anti-androgen. So do you have plans of this in the near future?

We're going to give it a couple of months before that, likely. My cholestrol is 6.9, which is not so good for starting estrogen -- there would be concern about stroke risk. The clinic has a free dietician that I will talk to, and I'll try to convince myself to exercise. That's not easy for me, as I tend to think of Gyms in terms of hampster wheels. I'd be willing to play some pick-up basketball or volleyball, or to go for bike rides if it were a lot warmer -- but exercise machines don't attract me.


10 Hours? Heck after that amount of time you should have to be sitting to pee.

I did, for a change :) I've been wearing a pencil skirt the last few days, too tight to push down a bit while standing up. But my wife gets home in about an hour and I guess I'll have to switch out of the skirt, and then I'll probably go back to my old habits.

[Melody Moore]

We're going to give it a couple of months before that, likely. My cholestrol is 6.9, which is not so good for starting estrogen -- there would be concern about stroke risk.

Sandra, the best way I found to reduce cholesterol is by eating less meat & other products that are high in animal fats or saturated fats.
This includes dairy products like butter, milk & cheese. I still eat cheese, but only buy low-fat cheese. I have cut back on my intake of milk
by not eating cereal & by not drinking so much coffee. My diet is also based around more fruit & vegetables. For protein I eat fish, a little
ham, skinless chicken & stay well away from bacon & eggs. I have small portions of red meat in a stir-fry and only a few times each week
to reduce my intake of saturated animal fats. Instead of using butter I use Canola margarine as a spread on bread or on raisin toast.

Before I changed my diet I would skip breakfast completely and have a couple of cups of coffee and a few cigarettes. Sometimes I might
have something around noon or mid afternoon. Then at night I would have a big meal which was my worst mistake. When I wake up now
I usually still have that cup of coffee but also I have some raisin toast & banana. Around mid-morning I have a tuna sandwich with lettuce,
tomato, onion & some low-fat mayonnaise. At lunch time I just usually have some noodles as a light snack as well as a piece of fruit. In the
mid afternoon I usually like a toasted ham, cheese & tomato sandwich. By the time dinner comes around, I am not feeling very hungry so a
very small serving of stir-fry with a little bit of rice is usually enough. I really like stir-frys because when they are done right the vegetables
are not overcooked and still retain freshness which is better for you & they are low in fat. If you need to use oil, virgin olive oil is the best.

When I go to bed at night I don't feel bloated after over eating. I also think this helps me to get a better night's sleep. There isn't
a lot really in my system that is going to create more cholesterol overnight. I was also taking Lipitor (http://www.lipitor.com/) to help reduce my cholesterol.
I found by eating when I needed energy throughout the day that I started to lose weight. So now I tend to 'graze' with my eating
habits & eat only small portions of food. My cholesterol levels have been coming down despite the recent problems I had with my
gall bladder, but the doctors also think damage to my gall bladder was already probably done long before I went on hormones.

I hope this information helps you to reduce your cholesterol. :hugs:

[morgan51]

Get a book on the paleo diet your colesterol isn't the problem you will be amazed if you follow this thru!

[danielleb]

Does Spiro make anyone less verbose? :D

I think it's working!:D
Look at this thread, we're still on page one!:eek::heehee:

[sandra-leigh]

I wouldn't be able to do the paleo diet as I am vegetarian and paleo involves meats and fish.

I don't get any fats from meat 'cuz I don't eat any :)

On the other hand, dairy is a part of my diet the great majority of days. I've cut down my dairy quite a bit since I was a teenager, but I'd rather drink half a litre of milk than half a litre of cola. (If I go out to a bar, I'll drink ginger ale or juice.)

Unfortunately, vegetable proteins usually involve carbs (= starch).


My gender therapist was happy when I showed her the spiro today, and was pleased for me for the same reason that I was happy to get the prescription: namely, that I'm giving myself the chance, the opportunity, to see how it goes for me, and that whether it works out for me or not, that at least I will know and not live a life of regretting not trying.

[Billijo49504]

WOW!!! Thats great, but spiro is also a water pill. It's not as bad as lasix, but you should see more water works action. I've been on spiro for lots of years, to keep the fluid down in my legs. Of course I take about 8 times what I used to take. Now with my Alora patches, cuz my Dr said it was the safest way, I'm on my way. And soon you will be too. Good luck and enjoy the trip. Remember it's a one way trip.....Billijo

[Traci Elizabeth]

Good luck and enjoy the trip. Remember it's a one way trip.....Billijo

That is an understatement. I have read so many posts where other gals have told newer one's to give it a try (taking HRT) and if they change their mind or want to quite for any reason, they can do it and all will go back to the same you were. That is "hogwash" in my book.

Myself for example, I have responded very rapidly and aggressively to HRT with Spiro and Patches. My breasts after only just over 10 months are now a 36C. And they are not "man-boobs" by any means but very perky female boobs with all the female internal structures. And there is NO hiding them in a baggie sweatshirt or anything else. Plus I am now totally sterile & have zero sexual desires in the ways of old.

I even joke with my wife that mine don't sag and they look like pre-pregnancy, pre-gravity high headlights.

So for many, it is a one-way street. Sure I guess one could do what our F2M brothers do & have breast surgery to remove them and start taking "T."

But Sandra needs to get ready!!!!! Womanhood watch out as here she comes.

[sandra-leigh]

Hard to say if I'm seeing more water-works or not: my usual panic attacks involve water-works as it is.

I was foggy the first day, a bit the second day, the third day I was fine, and today I'm feeling optimistic.

Yesterday evening the hairs on one of my nipples started catching on my clothes and there was a tinge of itchiness associated. But that could be coincidence. I'm hoping the small RSI flare-up is coincidence.

[Laura_Stephens]

Anyone taking any type of "water pill" for any length of time needs to have regualr blood work. they tend to cause your body to lose potassium. If you lose enough, it can have VERY serious consequences.

[Traci Elizabeth]

Actually it's the other way around. Spiro takes the salt out of your blood leaving higher levels of potassium in it's place. I am on mega does of Spiro and have strict orders from my doctor to drink 3 quarts of water a day minimum and to stay away from as much potassium as possible because too much will kill you.

[CharleneT]

Spiro can make you tired, which could also be called "foggy". It is lowering your blood pressure, at least some ( depends of course on the dose and your body's reaction to it). It will not create much in the way of "feminization" but it does set the stage for estrogen. The first big sign you may see (other than peeing and being tired) is the decline random sexual stimulation. That and cramps, they can be pretty bad at times. Do be careful of potassium and the issues relating to it.

As for your diet and the cholesterol numbers, do you eat much in the way of soy products ? When I was a vegetarian I ate too much in dairy at first, then later learned to move things like tofu and tempah into place. Better diet in several ways.

[Traci Elizabeth]

Spiro can make you tired, which could also be called "foggy". It is lowering your blood pressure, at least some ( depends of course on the dose and your body's reaction to it). It will not create much in the way of "feminization" but it does set the stage for estrogen. The first big sign you may see (other than peeing and being tired) is the decline random sexual stimulation. That and cramps, they can be pretty bad at times. Do be careful of potassium and the issues relating to it.





All very true and those cramps can be sever and in several places at the same time.

[sandra-leigh]

I get random foggy (hard to think clearly, don't want to do much) days due to my depression, and in the week before I had not been taking my anti-depressant (wind chill was really wild that week.) I also hadn't been eating well. So the fog could have been due to any number of things.

Diet: yes, regular soy, and that isn't a menu issue as my wife is Japanese. Or rather the issue becomes that she likes very soft soy and I prefer firm soy.

Random sexual urges: those have been down anyhow. I'm not going to tell you, though, that I deliberately looked away from the low-cut top of the woman who was doing my pedicure, but I don't know that appreciation of beauty counts as a "random sexual urge". Besides, I was studying the size and shape and support mechanisms, trying to decide (yet again) what size and shape I want to be and how to arrange them as artfully. It was Educational, it was :o

[Billijo49504]

If I remember what my doctor said, that spiro doen't strip potassium from the system. That's why the blood test are so important with spiro. Because too much is not good either. The down side of spiro is I can't enjoy my bananas, as I used to. But that is a small price to pay, for what is ahead. Even if the ride gets bumpy, enjoy the ride. It's better than a roller coaster. Oh, for Laura, I see my PCP every 3 months, just like clock work. That is unless there is some problem.....BJ

[Laura_Stephens]

Actually it's the other way around. Spiro takes the salt out of your blood leaving higher levels of potassium in it's place. I am on mega does of Spiro and have strict orders from my doctor to drink 3 quarts of water a day minimum and to stay away from as much potassium as possible because too much will kill you.

Traci, you are more than likely 100% correct. Medicine is not my background. I had a problem with low potassium while taking Hydro Chloro Thyazide. Thanks for setting me straight.

[sandra-leigh]

Yesterday evening the hairs on one of my nipples started catching on my clothes and there was a tinge of itchiness associated. But that could be coincidence. I'm hoping the small RSI flare-up is coincidence.

Both of those are still ongoing. Still not enough to say they are more than coincidences though.

Now to decide whether I'm going to tell my regular doctor that I'm on spiro. I cleared the trans clinic to correspond with him so as to get some of my historical blood work numbers, so he may ask what that's about anyhow. I better decide quickly, as my next appointment is supposedly an hour from now. (He knows about me being TG, but he's the one that told me the big scare stories that I mentioned in another thread.)

[Traci Elizabeth]

Both of those are still ongoing. Still not enough to say they are more than coincidences though.

Now to decide whether I'm going to tell my regular doctor that I'm on spiro. I cleared the trans clinic to correspond with him so as to get some of my historical blood work numbers, so he may ask what that's about anyhow. I better decide quickly, as my next appointment is supposedly an hour from now. (He knows about me being TG, but he's the one that told me the big scare stories that I mentioned in another thread.)

It is best to be honest with your GP. It is your choice not his but he just needs to know what meds you are on so he can help in monitoring your systems and body.

[CharleneT]

Both of those are still ongoing. Still not enough to say they are more than coincidences though.

Now to decide whether I'm going to tell my regular doctor that I'm on spiro. I cleared the trans clinic to correspond with him so as to get some of my historical blood work numbers, so he may ask what that's about anyhow. I better decide quickly, as my next appointment is supposedly an hour from now. (He knows about me being TG, but he's the one that told me the big scare stories that I mentioned in another thread.)

I'll go one more step on this one: you HAVE to tell your GP at the begining of your next visit (today?) - if not before !! Spironlactone is serious medicine and the effects/side effects are wide ranging. You are tying your doc's hands behind her/his back by not being forthcoming with this info !! While privacy is a concern, especially with things that have to do with transition, this is a place where you need to give it up in favor of getting quality medical care.

[sandra-leigh]

Well, my doctor went off on a long spiel today that started with the Arizona shooting and went through synergy in the build up of knowledge and discussions of the positive power of peace. And I'm sitting there mentally twiddling my thumbs and waiting to tell him about my (pre-existing, non-hormone related) leg pains. Something about he wanted to assess the quality of my information processing and reasoning (which was not very good when he first started treating me for depression, but there was no particular reason to bring it up today.) Anyhow, by the time I got the physio referral for my sciatica, I was ready to get out of there!

I didn't deliberately hide the information from him, but his attention was so much on whatever it was he was thinking about that it wasn't a suitable time. As is common when I see him, I was wearing a skirt, had a visible bust, and was carrying my purse. After his monologue, I didn't need yet another one of his monologues about how "brave" I am to "explore my gender", yada, yada, yada. Though I did not manage to escape without one of his mini monologues about how intelligent I am. Where's that emoticon for "talk to the hand" ?

[Traci Elizabeth]

Shame, shame, shame...and here I thought you were one of the brave souls.

You chicken little!

Seriously, he needs to know. Don't play around with your health else who will be left for me to "bug?" :hwac:

[CharleneT]

You present as a woman, he knows about your gender issues, and you don't tell him about the Spiro ? While his babbling doesn't give you a chance, I guess, I'd consider either interrupting him - or better yet - get a new doc. His time with you is about you, not US politics. He doesn't seem to be paying attention and that is a bad sign in medicine.

[sandra-leigh]

Today was unusual for him. I don't know what was going on. Anyhow, I'll see him next month. The clinic handling the hormones also knows the medications I am on, and there isn't any known interaction with spiro. When it comes time for estrogen then the situation will need closer monitoring as there could be interaction with that.

Presented as a woman... hmmm, at first I was going to say No, but there is more truth to that than I first thought. My hair is chin-length in the front, bra-length in the back. I was wearing my rimless glasses, and my dangling black pearl earrings peak out from below my hair as I move. I was wearing a women's black sports turtle-neck ("Elita" brand), and a front-close bra but no forms this morning as the combination gives me enough of a bust to be visible. I had light lipstick on, but no other makeup. I had a full length purple skirt and light-blue tights under that, and high-heeled ankle boots; the purse I was carrying is definitely a "woman's purse". I have gold polish on my finger nails. Panties underneath, but no-one would see that. If you look past the fact that the shave could have been closer, I guess that I was "presenting as a woman", at least physically.

I don't tend to think of that as presenting as a woman, though; I tend to think of it as presenting as "just me" in a fairly casual mode. I didn't spend more than a brief time picking out my clothes, didn't do a close shave, didn't hide my beard shadow, didn't put on any eye makeup, didn't put on any rings or necklaces. I wasn't wearing a dress. And I didn't even try to have a "femme voice". I wasn't at all surprised when the cab driver called me "Sir".

What's it like... One analogy would be that it is like learning a foreign language. You might know enough of the language to "get along", and might even happen to look rather like you could be a native speaker, but until that mental switch flips in your head and you start thinking in the other language, you know yourself to be a "foreigner". I don't "think" in Woman yet.

[Traci Elizabeth]

I don't "think" in Woman yet.


AH! Just wait until you do. Life will be so much better then.

[sandra-leigh]

Still nothing obvious happening. I have been sleeping more lately, but that's not uncommon in the general public at this time of year in this area (the nights are long and yesterday we were within a couple of degrees of being the coldest place on the planet.)

I might perhaps be having some ED, but I haven't put that to the test, and it might not be any more than I was having before starting the spiro.

My gender therapist is quite pleased that I've started, and even my regular therapist is supportive and understood completely when I said that I just had to know, that whether I decide that I like it or not, it is important to me to try.

[ReneeT]

Congratulations, Sandra! This is an incredible journey we are on! I will be very interested to hear how things go for you, as i have just started my hrt as well (details posted elsewhere, so as not to hijack your thread). Enjoy the ride!

[StaceyJane]

First appointment is next week!!!!!!!!!!!

I will try to post regularly about my experience. I hope you do too.

I think others can learn and gain courage from our experiences.

[sandra-leigh]

I am by no means positive, but I think I am getting some breast development from the spiro. The signs that I (think) I see were there before I started estrogen two days ago.

The spiro began by reducing my breast size -- the fluid reduced and the fat reduced. What was left seems to be slowly increasing in size, and is quite firm, as if muscle or fiberous tissue was there.

The (shakey) evidence I have is that I am getting closer to having a "mammary fold" under the breasts (the one I had last year disappeared after my sudden size increase of the time). My nipples are hanging lower, and are now decidedly not centered between the upper part of the breast and where the mammary fold will be. And as I move my arms, increasingly frequently the sides of my upper arms are brushing near the nipples -- something that happened during the increase last year. I am getting slow hints of rounding of the underside of the breasts.

I do not have any tingling or ache near the nipple; I didn't get those last year until the (temporary) growth was at its peak. No sign of breast-buds yet. So it is hard to say if it is true permanent development or wishful thinking or just "breast sag".

I am still on the reduced spiro dose, as spiro makes me tired. (Estrogen has kept me semi-awake the last two nights and gotten me up early.)

[Melody Moore]

Sandra, you don't sound to me like you are showing signs of breast development. The low hanging nipples is a
typical male trait. As you start to develop breasts there will be a soreness that you can't ignore and your nipples
will start to centralise themselves more on your breasts as they grow, so they don't usually hang down like this.
They start to point straight outwards like most 12-13 year teenage girls breasts do! LOL

Just be patient hun, you've started Hormone therapy finally and I really don't recommend that you keep worrying
about your breast development because it will happen, but time & lots of patience is a must. Have another look
again at this after you have been on Oestrogren for 3-4 months, then you will have something to really talk about.

:hugs:

[Billijo49504]

Very true Laura, I see my Dr every 3 months. And he decided what blood work I need....BJ

[Ericka2]

Gee Melody, thanks so much for your input, I'm trying so hard to stay away from those late meals but it seems so hard to do, I guess I need to put a little more effort into it....

Love, Ericka