2 weeks in and my breast are showing?

[jules]

I have been 13 days on sprio so far and the changes so far have been small but the biggest thing so far is my breast.
I have searched on how to measure youself for a bra and so far i am a 36 d.
36 on the band size and 40 across my nipples.
Is this normal for these to start growing so fast. And i lost 12 lbs so far. Dont ask me how but its gone.
When i have my tool belt on i can actually see the girls starting to show on the saftey vest.
This is not suppose to happen for at least 6 mounths to 2 or 3 years. And im 48.
Hopefully nothings wrong.
That where im too so far and i am very very happy. :)
Just came up from the deck for a min. With the strap for my tool belt going across them it was starting to become uncomfortable. Christ i think they have gotten bigger.
Have to see my doctor just to make sure everything is alright. I tend to worry about stuff somtimes :(
Its the hypercondriac in me.
the reason i am telling everyone this because i am a little worried that i could be having a reaction to the meds.
even the calf mussels in my legs cramped up the bad they were tender the next day.
so again im worried not bragging but actually worried.
Hugs
Julie

[Kathryn Martin]

The leg cramps are caused by the fluid loss when being on Spiro. Nothing unusual there really. Weight loss is also quite normal since your are starting to lose water and soon muscle mass. I think your measuring technique is incorrect. If you have a band size of 36 and across the nipples 40, then you are a 36 A. If you have defined pectoral muscles, then the tiny increase of an A cup can look alarming.

So don't be alarmed, you would have to have 44-45" Bust to get to a D cup and that takes a lot longer than two weeks.

[jules]

thank god because now im getting foot cramps as i type this:sad:
i thought it was a blood cloth.
i know i was wrong about the bra size because that is why i typed this.
i should have phrase it better then i did and asked how do you measure your size?
i have a appointment on friday with my doctor to make sure things are good.
and again thank you for the info on the cramps you have no ideal how good that make me feel :)
and the weight loss it never even dawned on me about the water loss.

julie summers

[kimdl93]

I think it's a good time to relax, Jules. The mind can play all sorts of tricks.

[Jorja]

Drink at least 8 - 8oz. glasses of water per day to alleviate cramping.

[HelenR2]

If you are a 36d now I would guess that 14 days ago, before you started the medication, you were a 36d or maybe even a bit bigger.
Twelve pounds weight loss in thirteen days???? Fluid loss caused by Spiro wouldn't even begin to explain that.
That is as polite a reply as I can manage.

[Karen62]

For info on how to measure yourself (I do so weekly as I also track my weight, body fat %, visceral fat measurement, etc.), I follow the suggestions on http://www.transgendercare.com/medical/resources/tmf_program/tmf_program_7.asp.

I did experience what I thought was a somewhat speedy initial breast growth, but not from zero to D cups! I had lost 65 lbs. in 6 months just before I started HRT. When I was so heavy, I had full A cup moobs. When I started HRT, my body fat % was much, much lower, and I had lost all of that breast fat. I have lost an additional grand total of 5 lbs. more since starting HRT 2 months ago (do I ever now sympathize with women and their challenges with weight loss, even on a ketogenic diet!). However, my bust size has all but fully returned, even though I am still 11 inches smaller in the waist. I was initially excited by that progress, but I now accept it as simply reinflating the existing fat cells in my bustline area, and for anything more, well, this girl will have to be patient like everyone else. :battingeyelashes:

Karen

[Eryn]

Did your endo talk to you about monitoring your potassium level? Leg cramps might (or might not) be a symptom of your potassium being too high.

I also got dehydrated on the first day and have now learned that a water bottle is my friend. So is the bathroom! :)

[DebbieL]

Spiro can change your potassium levels. Orange Juice or low sodium V8 are good sources of potassium, but don't overdo it. Your body needs to adjust and will correct itself over time.

Men usually have broader shoulders, and if you do a lot of lifting or pushups, you probably have built up pectoral muscles. I suspect that if you bought, and tried to wear a 36D bra, you would find a rather large gap. Remember, if you measure under the bust, then the nipples, you need to deduct 4 inches, then each 2 inches is 1 cup size.

When you breasts actually start to form you will see and feel "Budding" (a set of lumps around the nipples, that will start to grow. You will be very sensitive around your nipples and for a while, you will need to wear a camisole or T-shirt to work if you are still working in male mode. If you are wearing forms, you should not use adhesives right now. They can be irritating to the nipples.

It is NOT normal for your breasts to grow that fast. Even with very high doses of estrogen, it would normally take 2-3 months before you started having obvious breasts. You may have "man boobs" - deposits of fat around the pectoral muscles, that will add bulk. These tend to have more fat between the nipple and the arm-pit.

You probably SHOULD check with your doctor, let him look at the breasts and see if there is anything unusual.

Some transgender women will increase estrogen production when they start the androgen blockers. If you are generating more of your own estrogen AND you are on high doses of estrogen, you need to have your dosage of Estrogen reduced. Too much Estrogen can cause blood clots. Clots in the wrong places could cause heart attacks or strokes. My doctor also has me take low dose aspirin.

If you are taking oral estrogen, it's likely that your liver and kidneys are passing most of it through. Later, your body will reduce how much gets through to the bloodstream. The doctor will check your prolactin levels to see how much is really getting through.

[Laura912]

Most of the advice is correct. However, your weight loss is not fluid loss because the 12 lbs loss correlates with 6 liters of fluid in round numbers which is close to your entire blood volume. There is increased diureses (urination) with spiro, a mild diuretic. Along with the increased urine secretion goes some of the electrolytes like potassium and sodium which is why Debbie's suggestion about OJ is good. Add bananas to that. If you increase water intake, the kidneys will try to hang onto the electrolytes more so you will lose a little less of those. The cramping does suggest that you need the serum electrolytes measured as a check that they are not getting to wonky. (Wonky is a perfectly good medical term.)

[Heidi Stevens]

Jules, I'm 4 weeks or so ahead of you in the process. I'm on spiro and E. About 3 days in, I had tremendous leg cramps, especially at night. I was told this was common. Every time I was able to walk them off. Things settled down after a week. I also lost about 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of weight. I attribute this to fluid loss from the spiro. Every thing now as settled down. I too imagine that your "breasts" are your peck muscles with some Moobage thrown in. I'm still waiting for the buds to kick in. Enjoy the softer skin which you should soon have.

[Persephone]

Along with the increased urine secretion goes some of the electrolytes like potassium and sodium which is why Debbie's suggestion about OJ is good. Add bananas to that. If you increase water intake, the kidneys will try to hang onto the electrolytes more so you will lose a little less of those. The cramping does suggest that you need the serum electrolytes measured as a check that they are not getting to wonky. (Wonky is a perfectly good medical term.)

Spiro is considered a "potassium-sparing diuretic." That means that you are likely to retain potassium while eliminating sodium. Too much potassium and too little sodium can be very bad! They need to be in balance. Bananas, orange juice, and most sports drinks are higher in potassium and could make the situation worse!

It should be pointed out, however, that while the manufacturer's literature concerning Spiro as well as the FDA Warning regarding Spiro indicate that its "potassium sparing" nature could be of considerable concern, there are medical practitioners who have observed less significant potassium retention in their own patients.

Do not get medical advice from the internet! (And, for the record, I am not a medical doctor nor do I pretend to offer medical advice).

Hugs,
Persephone.

[jules]

Thank you for the info. At least i know everything is normal.
I do drink a ton of water But not enough Apparently.
Thank you all for the very helpfull info.
I really appreciate it.
And just to clear the air on myself i am learning this as i go.
Am i a frad? Who knows
have i lied to everyone? Who knows
this gos both ways so in the grand scheme of things we dont know who we are talking to.
We just have to have faith ! but! Keep it the back of our heads that they could be full of poop.
Untill we know for sure and that could take a wile somtimes.
that is how i look at things. Like a friend said take everything with a grain of salt.
Hopefully i got that right.

Julie summers

Thank y


Yes persephone you are exactly right.
i have read up on it and have the info.
And thank you for the response.
anything with potassium i stay away for untill i get my blood work done.

Aldactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic and works by preventing your body from retaining too much sodium, while helping keep potassium levels elevated. However, blood potassium levels higher than normal, known as hyperkalemia, are dangerous. Hyperkalemia may cause an irregular heart beat, nausea or a slow or absent pulse. In severe cases, it may also cause a heart attack. Because it is a potassium-sparing medication, avoid foods high in potassium when taking Aldactone to prevent hyperkalemia.

Thank you
Julie

[Laura912]

Lest too much info gets twisted about spiro, the manufacturers literature did not always agree with what we saw in patients. Hyperkalema is bad but I never saw that in anyone to whom I had given spiro.

[jules]

Fair enough but i will ask my doctor on friday just to be sure.
Its better to be safe then sorry.

[jules]

245218
remember the leg cramps?
Not im getting a ultrasound after going to see my doctor yesterday. He said it could be a small blood clot or just fluid.
As you can see i leave a dent when i press on it. Feels like pushing on puddy.
It started a couple of days ago. Cant remember hitting myself on the shin but nailled myself yesterday twice right on the shin bone and got it across the knees this morning with a pice of rebar.
Not having a good day and a little worried to be honest.
In the waiting room waiting for my appointment.245219

[Vivian Best]

Your skin not snapping back to normal shape is usually a sign of not getting enough water! You say you drink tons of water, how much is tons? In the past I would have severe cramps in my legs and feet and started drinking significantly more water and the cramps have gone mostly away. You should be drinking five or six 8 once glasses of water a day.

[jules]

Ite not a blood clot thank god. But i thi k you right about the water.
I drink water but only at night and maybe a bottle at work. Its not neary enough.
It gets worse as the day gos by but had settled last night because when i work up i felt it and it was normal.
See the doc for my results tomorrow.
Dont mean to be a wimp but i have never had this befor.
Going to bring a crap load of water with me tomorrow.

Thanks for the reply Vivian

Julie

[Karolyn]

Woah, so it seems like fluid loss is a big deal. I had a kidney stone 7 days after starting spiro. And those are calcium blocks formed with too much calcium, but mostly dehydration. I also lost about 4 pounds even when I was eating a lot. My urologist told me to drink 3 quarts (about 3 liters) of water per day from now on. Sounds like you should do that too.

[Zooey]

Yeah, the dehydration was a big deal for me. I don't think I was ever drinking enough water before, but once I started spiro it became much more obvious. I felt totally dessicated, and if I drank alcohol it was even worse.

I drink a TON of water now, and I'm feeling great. :)

[Laura912]

Time out! What you are demonstrating is pitting edema. Not going to do the differential diagnosis here but stay in close touch with your doctor.