Hormones, basicly, why else would i see an Endo? besides its a provocative title ; )

[Aprilrain]

So tomorrow I see the Endocrinologist for the first time. This Marks 6 months on hormones, wow half a year already! I got my letter (for hormones) back in February. I called about two weeks later because I hadn't heard anything from the Doctors office about setting up an appointment I was annoyed when they told me don't call us we'll call you. I called around for other doctors with no luck, though I did make one appointment for May with a GP who is Trans friendly. My next stop was the internet. Long story short, tomorrow I will be under an Endos care. I am anxious to learn what my T and E levels are. From every thing I have discussed with lots of other woman I'm on a pretty typical regimen as it is so I assume everything will be pretty normal. Its good I see him tomorrow as the internet is expensive and the paltry token prescription my GP gave me ran out today!

[Katesback]

Truthfully any doctor will do the job. One not need go to an endo. More importantly with some research you can become an expert on the entire topic including the dosages and blood tests written by doctors that are expert on trans health.

So the wise person would find the research and print the data off making sure it references the doctor who wrote it. Then they take it to any doctor and with thier new knowledge and papers to back it up they get serviced.

[Andrea85]

Truthfully any doctor will do the job. One not need go to an endo. More importantly with some research you can become an expert on the entire topic including the dosages and blood tests written by doctors that are expert on trans health.

So the wise person would find the research and print the data off making sure it references the doctor who wrote it. Then they take it to any doctor and with thier new knowledge and papers to back it up they get serviced.

That's very true. I thought the endo was a must do thing too, till I talked to some girls in Knoxville. The only issue I've run into on that is finding a Dr that is comfortable enough to do the initial work. My GP is more than willing to do hormones for me, but doesn't have enough experience with hormones in general to do the initial work and be comfortable with it. I have found a Dr. that will, so it isn't impossible.

[CharleneT]

The real advantage of an Endocrinologist comes around when you have a problem from the hormones. Kate's right, normally a GP can handle the task of strait forward HRT maintenance. My HRT is dealt with by my Primary care doc (an Internist). But when questions come up, or I have a problem from the drugs; then he calls the endo for advice (who is a Reproductive Endocrinologist working thru the OB/Gyn Dept). That has been needed three times: initial consult, and two problems that came up. It depends on your insurance. Originally I had none, so paying the extra $$ for endo visits was not a good choice. Especially because my doc could get the needed info with a free phone call ;)

[Aprilrain]

HHHMMM I will keep that in mind as my GP isn't against prescribing me hormones and has already done it but is obviously uncomfortable with it. I guess if I do the initial work with the Endo I can just stick with my GP afterward assuming no problems arise.

[Stephenie S]

Yes you can. Kate's right. ANY doctor in the US can prescribe ANY drug he/she wants. You do not need an endo. Is it good to have one? Probably. If you have insurance and can afford it. But you don't need one. Your primary doctor can prescribe both the drugs and the blood tests to keep on top of your regime.

Stephie

[Katesback]

For the record I have known a LOT of trans women that took hormones. Some self administered most under the care of a medical professional. I have NEVER herd of ANY complications from taking hormones if the person is taking dosages that are within the range that is what a medical professional would perscribe. The horror stories I read about are often from people that were in such bad health or had bad life habbits such as drugs, obesity, ect. ect. that I have to discount anything they mention when they talk about complications from hormones.

[Aprilrain]

I had blood work done before I started and about 2 months ago its been normal each time. I have had several physicals in the last 6 months and my BP is always low normal and I walk almost everyday about 3 miles. I'm pretty fit. so I'm not worried about my health at all. Since I already have the appointment I'm going to the Endo. If it ends up being expensive I'm sure my GP will be happy to take me on at a full dose after the initial work has been done by the Endo. She was not comfortable prescribing more than a token amount of estradiol and some Progesterone. I just supplemented what I was getting elsewhere with this prescription. today I hope to have a proper prescription in hand as Im running low and want to get it from Walgreens. Dr. prescribed hormones are a lot cheaper!

[CharleneT]

For the record I have known a LOT of trans women that took hormones. Some self administered most under the care of a medical professional. I have NEVER herd of ANY complications from taking hormones if the person is taking dosages that are within the range that is what a medical professional would perscribe. The horror stories I read about are often from people that were in such bad health or had bad life habbits such as drugs, obesity, ect. ect. that I have to discount anything they mention when they talk about complications from hormones.

The complications I've had are relatively minor, but complications they are. All doses are well within normal usage, in fact most would consider my regime conservative. Still, especially with the addition of progesterone, I have had troubles.

[Kaitlyn Michele]

i've had some issues in how well HRT worked .. not health issues...but this is a big problem if you have it..

i left my GP because she really didn't know how to help me.. and i left 2 doctors prior to the one i have now.... lots of people doctor shop for all kinds of maladies..in our case, those of us that are serious and in control of our thought process (not always the case with tg people in throes of GID) will have our own info, will have an idea of what we want, and can hopefully find a doctor willing to prescribe..it's not that complicated, some spiro and some form of estrodial usually does the trick... it's monitoring blood levels for good results, getting the right delivery system , and monitoring liver, cholesterol, etc... any good doctor can do it..

i found an excellent PA/Doctor combo in center city philadelphia..they work WITH you not against you...they work hard to minimize costs and are very friendly to the community..they were my third try..it takes patience and persistence..

[Aprilrain]

saw the doc today, he seemed very nice. we chatted for bit, he asked me some questions about my GID, if I was full time, name change etc. He just prescribed for me what i was already taking only he's letting me stay on cyproterone (which he can't prescribe) he said it works better anyway! He ordered blood work for T and E and not sure what the third vial was for, maybe liver function. anyway it was a good experience and he wants to see me in 4 months.

[Jessinthesprings]

Truthfully any doctor will do the job. One not need go to an endo. More importantly with some research you can become an expert on the entire topic including the dosages and blood tests written by doctors that are expert on trans health.

case in point... My doc was going to let me be with T levels of 200 fearing the sideffects of excessive Sprio dosages. I knew that was wrong so I gathered to scientific papers to support what I already knew. He has almost doubled my dosages and wants me back in a couple of months to check levels again. Sucks I'm teaching my doctor but, the alternatives are much worse.

[Kathryn Martin]

I think in many ways we all are teaching our doctors a thing or two. I have found amazing information inlcuding papers on almost every aspect of transitioning with the Canadian Rainbow Health Coalition. (http://www.rainbowhealth.ca/english/trans.html)I have taken some of this material to my doctor and he read it all before prescribing. Now he is willing to take on other trans patients.

[noeleena]

Hi,

April, Did you have any other tests done or will, i can give you 17 that we do. T & E dont tell you much its the other tests you need to know health wise. because you could take some meds & with out knowing they could do you a lot of damage, i know my test results as i moniter my self & all ways have,

Do you have your results & do you know what they mean.
The other point is if they do things to you that are not good then change them to another type & dose rate & your endo is the best one to do that as he / she has been trained were as the local G P s have not in the main & some know nothing at all about those meds & how males react to them. so your endo is a very importaint person . contrairy to what some may think.

There is a point ill make here , dont think that the meds you are on now well this applys to every one ,male or female , that we assume we can just take them for life meaning the ones we first started on say 30 = 50 years because your body receptors will rejected them so we need to remember we will need to change over to others along the way. . i know this from 37 years experance.
& the hassles of different meds. over that time .

iv changed mine & ill change them again latter on .
& the meds , most are synthic & will work for a long time how long & because every one is different we have no data not for males so allways keep in mind the blood tests are very important .i do mine every year in aug .

Any way just some thing to keep in mind .

...noeleena...

[Kittykitty]

For the record I have known a LOT of trans women that took hormones. Some self administered most under the care of a medical professional. I have NEVER herd of ANY complications from taking hormones if the person is taking dosages that are within the range that is what a medical professional would perscribe. The horror stories I read about are often from people that were in such bad health or had bad life habbits such as drugs, obesity, ect. ect. that I have to discount anything they mention when they talk about complications from hormones.

"For the record" I had severe complications that were caught just in time by a competent medical professional. Without her expertise, I might not be here right now. I am not obese, don't smoke, drink, or any other thing that might lead to complications. My doc deals with hundreds, if not thousands of transwomen and men.

So now that you know of one case, how about backing off the medical advice? Life advice is life advice, but posted opinions like this are dangerous, imho.

Just sayin'.

[Katesback]

My statment is not medical advice. It is a statment of fact based upon my obersvations. I am not advising anyone to do anything. RE-read my statment.








"For the record" I had severe complications that were caught just in time by a competent medical professional. Without her expertise, I might not be here right now. I am not obese, don't smoke, drink, or any other thing that might lead to complications. My doc deals with hundreds, if not thousands of transwomen and men.

So now that you know of one case, how about backing off the medical advice? Life advice is life advice, but posted opinions like this are dangerous, imho.

Just sayin'.