Big Day Monday (tomorrow my time)

[LisaMallon]

Well, all the results of all my tests should be in. And my doctor has put me through the wringer. Just about every test known to mankind .. inc a cardio stress test. I barely have any blood left (quickly pass the wine and chocolate).

So even she should pass me physically. Note that is only a pretend whinge, I picked her because she will look after my health through HRT really well. And I like her. Though she will nag me to death about my smoking.

My therapist (they know each other well which is a plus) passed me ages ago for HRT.

SO, unless something really weird happens it is on .. very soon.

Lots of paperwork tomorrow, to put me on a health plan so it will all be covered by Medicare, so it is all what we call 'bulk billed', translated extra zero cost.

I am still torn about whether or not to have some sperm frozen .. and I'd better pull the finger out soon if I want to. Still not sure about that. Any comments will be greatly appreciated.

[ReneeT]

What an exciting time in your life - "stepping through the looking glass", as they say....

If you have ANY interest in being a biologic parent in the future, I would definitely bank sperm. What's the downside besides cost?

I sure hope your doc nags you about your smoking. You are significantly increasing your risk of "blood clots" which if you are lucky will only result in painful, unsightly swelling of your leg, and at its worst will kill you. And, if you do have a clot you will likely have to stop estrogen. For ever.

Best of luck today!

[stefan37]

Congratulations I hope the mental effect will be as beneficial as it has been to me. I echo Renee's statement about smoking. My endo would not even prescribe estrogen to me if I was a smoker. I have 2 adult children so sperm banking wasn't an issue, I noticed my testicles shrunk and my performance almost nonexistent after only 6 weeks of hrt. Those changes occurred much faster than I thought they would. but that also may have to do with my age.

Good luck

[LeaP]

Congratulations, Lisa! I'll keep my fingers crossed. I do know what you mean about having your overall health minded. I started HRT ... but also wound up on blood pressure, cholesterol, and anti-depressant meds.

Maybe in your case two patches: one for estrogen, one for nicotine?

[Traci Elizabeth]

If you are wanting to save sperm you need to exercise that hand.

[Jorja]

So by now you have seen the doctor. What is the verdict?

[Inna]

Oh god not another hormonal B%@^#ch in making!!!!!!........just seriously dry humor, I though I have a try at this..........Super excited for you, the beginning of the new beginning just beginning....here I go again.................I simply cant stop today it must be Isaac,

All the love hon, Inna

[LisaMallon]

Well, passed all my tests (including the cardio stress test, the old tick tock is fine) with flying colours. And got my prescription ... which I could not get filled because my chemist had ran out and I didn't have time (work commitment) to go to another ... you have to laugh at the perversity of life sometimes.

Interestingly I am on patches and she said that these are (here in Australia) now recommended for people over 50, due to lower side effects. Interesting.

Start a low does, back in 2 months for blood tests and seeing how my body is coping. No decision yet on anti-androgens since we both want to see how this goes first.
And I must admit to being conservative, since she did gave me the option. But I prefer to deal with one variable at a time.
Try this, see reaction, then try that. Trouble with using a cocktail at first is that if I react badly in some way then it becomes difficult to work out exactly what is the problem.

Again if I was younger I would be far more adventurous, but as I have always said "I want to transition to a woman .. not a corpse" so softly softlyl Yet another disadvantage of age.

The range of individual reactions is incredible. This is still 'bespoke' medicine since it is still impossible to predict how an individual will react.

And I am back on my fitness campaign, got to get that blood pressure down, it is ok but marginal but I know when I'm fit it is usually 5-10 points lower ... and must make yet another attempt to give up smoking.

I'll ring around a couple of places today to see of they have some in stock before venturing out, don't want to make that mistake again.

Suppose I should have some sort of ceremony when I start ... yeh yet another excuse for wine and chocolate.

[StaceyJane]

That's great. Filling that first prescription is such a wonderful moment. Too bad you have to wait but the time will be here soon.

[Lisa O]

Hi Lisa, Big congratulations! Am very jelly! Now get moving (again....just like those of us who have gotten fit many times) and get your BP numbers down!
L2

[josee]

Congratulations on getting your script for E!
Please quit smoking. Think of it as another important step towards your goal. Break free!

[Kathryn Martin]

Interestingly I am on patches and she said that these are (here in Australia) now recommended for people over 50, due to lower side effects. Interesting.

This is a well known fact. Patches put a lot less stress on the liver. I have used patches since day one. I am curious why she hasn't given you antiandrogens because they are usually what people start with, although I started with the recommended cocktail from day one and had zero side effects other than a rapid improvement in general well being.

[LisaMallon]

Thanks for that, but quitting smoking is the hardest thing to do ever, transitioning is simple in comparison :straightface:.

My real problem is not nicotine addiction, that is easy to overcome. I actually really, really like smoking. I like the taste and the smell. I like how it aids my concentration and it calms me.

I get very cranky when I'm not smoking. I'm not the most patient person at the best of times and suffer fools only with great will power... but when off the tobacco... watch out, here comes 'Miss Sharp Tongue' .. and I crucify fools, after a public flogging.

Katheryn, as I said a bit of a joint decision.
Just my natural conservativeness of doing one thing at a time. I expect to be on them in a couple of months, once we gauge what the effects of just the hormones are. Helps to work out the correct dosage.

Plus, they tend to reduce blood pressure, which is good. But I want to see what I can do naturally first, to get a baseline measure to help work out the correct dose (plus how the est/test levels are then).
Last thing I want to do is switch to hypotension, which can happen. Or spending months adjusting this then that, to get to the right hormone/BP levels.

I'm happy to take it slow and easy. Another thing to consider is that when I stop smoking that will probably drop the BP a few more points as well.

Easiest way to deal with multi-factorial problems is ... cut the factors.

[Nigella]

Welcome to the club Lisa.

When I first went on HRt, it was agreed that t blockers was not an issue due to low levels of T. Patches were my endo's choice due to less chemicals going through liver. Anything you can do to reduce the risk factor will only help you in the long term. :)

[Jorja]

Here is something for you to think about. I don't know if you will consider SRS or not but you will have to quit smoking before "most" doctors will do the surgery. So, you might as well quit now and get it over with.

[JohnH]

If you are wanting to save sperm you need to exercise that hand.

You mean Rosie Palm and her five sisters, don't you?

John

[Traci Elizabeth]

You mean Rosie Palm and her five sisters, don't you?

John


LOL! Of course I do. But then again I know nothing about that but read about it once in a comic book.

Yep! Us gals over fifty get the patch on our arse. I wear two at a time (max dosage).

[JohnH]

How about the needle? That's how I take my estrogen!

John

[LisaMallon]

How about the needle? That's how I take my estrogen!:eek: actually make that a double :eek:

Oh I hate needles. God do I hate needles. Re BP issues, getting a blood sample done (or vaccination etc) puts it into the stratosphere .. the day before ... just thinking about it.

I remember having to have rabies jabs years ago .. oh that was so not fun. Not just the year of vaccinations but all the blood samples along the way. If it wasn't for the minor fact that I might have died from a brain destroying disease in just about the most horrible way imaginable .. I wouldn't have done it. Still was a nervous wreck.

In fact I can't even watch someone else getting a jab.

You have my undying admiration.


So, you might as well quit now and get it over with.

Uhhh. As I said transitioning is easier. Smoking has become in the western world such a ju-ju thing (top absurd levels actually, it is not that bad, many other things will kill you a lot faster).
But a good cigar, a nice fill of tobacco in a pipe, a good (not that there are many nowadays, you can't get French ones in Australia any longer for example) cigarette.

The aroma. The first coffee and one in the morning .. then the second .. and so on. The one after a good meal, with a good wine .. then the later brandy .. and so on.

I could write a book about the tobacco I have known and loved.

Absurd things to non smokers, the first one after really heavy exercise .. wonderful.
A big hike to the top of a hill, sitting down and admiring the view .. the smoke makes it even more wonderful.
Sitting around a campfire in the middle of the desert after 4WD driving for ages with a beer or a wine.
Working on something, with a fag in the mouth (British fag that is, for the colonials = a cigarette).
Funny I can always fix something on my truck (4WD) faster with one .. even (usually) when it is out.

Tobacco the world's greatest .. and worst drug.

Anyway just been frigging around. Been delaying the inevitable and all that.

Came up with some absurd plans, for some ceremony or something.
Sod it, I just put the patch on.
Start now or I will, as usual, procrastinate forever.

Edited to add:
And I just took my BP before a put it on: 122 over 86

[JohnH]

Ah, here was a time when an evening consisted of being out on the patio, wearing a sheer nightgown along with 4 inch stiletto sandals, smoking a cigar while drinking bourbon on the rocks, while my wife smoked cigarettes and drank diet coke while wearing pants and flat shoes. Then I started having a cigarette with coffee after breakfast. I got to enjoying the smoking a little too much so I swore off tobacco! My wife is addicted to cigarettes so I understand what you are going through!

John

[LeaP]

... Smoking has become in the western world such a ju-ju thing (top absurd levels actually, it is not that bad, many other things will kill you a lot faster).
...

Good luck with your, er, luck on that.

My mother died of lung cancer, my mother-in-law of emphysema, and my father-in-law of lung and bone cancer. All in their early 60's. All life-long smokers. Call it ju ju if you want, but the World Health Organization just released a report projecting that one BILLION people will die of smoking-related causes in this century.

You've got it bad, Lisa. Almost all smoking addicts love their tobacco and all it's associations. I did too (quit in my 20's). It's part of the addiction.

[JohnH]

Lisa,

I suggest you look at the following website:

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/tobacco_related_mortality/

In a nutshell:



Cigarette smoking causes about 1 of every 5 deaths in the United States each year.Cigarette smoking is estimated to cause the following:

443,000 deaths annually (including deaths from secondhand smoke)
49,400 deaths per year from secondhand smoke exposure


In comparison about 32,310 people died in traffic accidents in the U.S. in 2011.

John

[arbon]

My real problem is not nicotine addiction, that is easy to overcome. I actually really, really like smoking. I like the taste and the smell. I like how it aids my concentration and it calms me.

That really really liking it and how it aids your concentration, calms you - that is all part of the nicotine addiction, and it is definitely not easy to over come.

I quit 2 1/2 years because I wanted to transition - that was important enough to me to go through that serious uncomfortableness of quitting, not fun! but it can be done.

Good luck :)

[josee]

The thing that helped me kick a 15 year habit 21 years ago was when I started looking at it as controlling me. I didn't want something like that keeping me a slave to it.

Stop glamorizing it.

It will kill you. It will take your ability to breathe away. Ever seen those elderly folks dragging a cylinder of Oxygen around?

Right now it is just reeling you in to your grave like a fish on a hook.

[JohnH]

In 2008 I worked at a Ford dealership as a salesman. At the time I was 56 years of age. We would horse around and play pranks with each other - e.g. "What's worse than a tornado - a Texas Titty Twister" [reach for the breasts of the victim and give them a twist]. There were a number of times that I would chase other salesmen, and no matter how young a salesman was, if he was a smoker I would always catch him.

That taught me inhaling tobacco smoke definitely cuts the breathing ability.

John

[LisaMallon]

Being a bit serious, I haven't had any bad health effects yet.. which is actually a disadvantage.
I have a friend who has (nearly) given up, because it has affected his breath. So he is motivated and he's getting there.

Hard to motivate yourself when there is no immediate gain.
Oh I'll do it, just got to plan a staged shutdown.
Giving up the coffee for a while will be a wrench (cutting associations) and also alcohol is a no-no for a while .. because that increases the desire and weakens the willpower.

God, no smokes, no coffee, no booze ... boring.

[Stephanie-L]

Lisa,
One thing I would recommend, if you have a caffeine addiction, is to take caffeine pills to wean yourself off the coffee. A caffeine withdrawl headache is really terrible, and not something you want to deal with on top of quitting smoking as well as drinking. Quitting smoking is a good thing though, and I wish you much luck.....................Stephanie

[Jorja]

God, no smokes, no coffee, no booze ... boring.

One step at a time, one day at a time.

[LisaMallon]

No, its about breaking associations. First coffee in the morning = 1st smoke.
A drink = more smokes.

And so on.

So to deal with the smokes I have to cut the associations as well for a while (not forever though) since I am a behavioural smoker, not just a nicotine addict.