Calming Effects of Hormones

[MichelleBolton]

Girls, Boys,

Experiences I am having by being on hormones is a calming effect. Prior to hormones I would have told you that I had a 'freight train' of thought about transition and being a girl.

Now, on hormones, I find that my mind, body, and actions a much calmer. The freight train gone, and replace with a overall feeling of calm, that this is right, and that the thoughts do not have to race any longer. It's like my body is reacting, finding balance in mind and body - urgency gone, balance being made.

I've also noticed that I am apt to try to shed stress than carry it, and am avoiding stressful aspect to working to find less stress in my life.

I am happy with the changes in my body - when I look in the mirror I feel more connected to myself.

Clothes have become less important, I dress every day - they are a function of my gender. It's never been about the excitement of wearing womens clothing for me, a bit I guess, since I am noting a change in my mind. Clothes are an expression, yet, they serve function. I do enjoy dressing for special events - finding the right clothes for the event. Yet, clothes for everyday, are every day.

I'm wondering for those who have been on hormones, or those who are on hormones, or people who plan to be on hormones, what are your experiences, what do you think your experiences will be?

I've been on an off hormones previously, yet when I experienced the silencing of the 'noise', I concluded that this is wrong - stopped hormones only to find the 'noise' to return.

Has anyone else experienced this?

My motto for life is living.. to simply live, to live for today, for tomorrow.. I like waking up, looking forward to the day.

I has also found it hard as of late switching back and forth, in respect I work in male mode, all other times I am dressed. I find this mentally draining, does anyone else experience this?

Michelle

[shirley1]

Hi well I am waiting for some mones to arrive, ordered them off a site (self medding) but have told my doctor and will be having blood tests done first.

I have ordered hormone patches and some blockers, doubt I will use the blockers to begin with depends if I feel any different or not.

What am I hoping for, well certainly to be a lot calmer, actually looking forward to my libado to diminish to a certan extent as it does'nt serve any real purpose in my life but is still there. I am hoping I will loose some of the constant aching feelings of being envious towards women every single day, especially when I am stuck in drab mode.

As far as the physhical changes are concerned well thats the only problem as I am not out to those close to me ie family/friends but maybe this will force the issue into me having to tell them, so it will be interesting to see how I react to hormones, I just hope it helps me to find some inner relief and peace from this nagging feelings of discomfort I seem to be getting more and more as I get older.

[Joy Carter]

What are you girls taking and in what amounts ?

[shirley1]

I will be taking Estrodot patches 100mcg to begin with apparently patches can be kept on for 3.5 days so roughly 8 patches per month, and Cyproterone acte 50mg tablets, doubt I will take these to begin with, but have thought I would take them every 2 days if necessary.

Oh by the way I live in Britain so you may not get the same hormones in the states ?

[Kaitlyn Michele]

i started estrodial 24ml/day....in a cream form..i also take finesteride and spirosomething...20mg of spiro..a tiny bit of the other..i have done them for 8 days..

the frieght train stopped almost immediately.. i look at myself in the mirror and smile even tho there is absolutely zero change and wont be for a while..(altho by breasts are a bit sore)

the last 2 days, i have been thinking...what the heck am idoing!!???? everythings fine..the feeling that has been overwhelming slowly over the last 3 years is gone..so then i think ok..i can wait...i dont have to deal with all the crap right now....

i was told as well by more than one girl that once they got that feeling they got off the hrt and immediately they wanted to get back on, etc....

i strongly believe that we literally just reverting to our nature and that my life as a guy was totally neccessary and consistent with my bodily functions...over time however "nature wills out" and here i am..i still can't believe it actually...

somebody should do a study us!!!LOL

[MichelleBolton]

Girls,

Premarin 1.25 mg per day
Prometrium 100mg per day
Spiro 100 mg per day

[Sara Violet]

self med.
2mg estrofem 3x a day under tongue
25mg spiro 3x a day
5mg finasteride per day
for last 4 months

for the other 6 months I just took
.5mg ethinylestadiol 2x a day

much better results from the top one. I won't take more than 75mg of spiro a day as I don't have a way to monitor my potassium lvls.

I feel great about myself. I have an A cup. My face is rounder. My skin is softer. I have started to loose muscle mass. I pass 95% of the time. I look in the mirror and don't hate myself. I never thought I would ever get to this point in my life. I still have a long way to go and probably never have the money for SRS, but I'm really going to try.

[Steph Butterfield]

Hi Michelle,

You are on a safe regime, low doses to begin with, building up the oestrogen gradually.

Your anti androgen and progestin doses are about right too, good luck.

As for me, I as

23/2/2007 - 17/9/2007 2 mg Estradiol
18/9/2007 - 5/12/2007 4 mg Estradiol
6/12/2007 - 5/ 2/2008 4 mg Estradiol
6/2/2008 - 17/5/2008 6 mg Estradiol

[GypsyKaren]

I think the side tracking of the freight train is a common thing, that T is nasty stuff to live with. I did well on HRT before my surgery, but it really seems to have gone into overdrive since my SRS, even though I'm only on a low estrodiol dose now. I've lost a tremendous amount of muscle mass since and I'm finally getting a female waist that's quite noticeable, not to mention the hips and caboose.

Karen Starlene :star:

[Steph Butterfield]

Hi Karen,

That's what I'm hoping for, as its taken 18 months nearly on HRT to start experiencing some body hair removal and the smidgenist of muscle tissue reduction, but as yet no fat re-distribution.

Quite a few post op friends have said that progression in those areas came mostly post operative.

I'd like to be on a progestin and zoladex, if I get to see an Endocrinologist.

I'm hoping for my main surgery in Spring 2009


Stephanie

[Mary Lee]

Estradiol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estradiol

[Sara Violet]

steph,

I've bee on HRT for 10 months and I've see significant hair loss and a small amount of fat distribution. My girl friends joke that now I have a butt. I don't see it. I have not had SRS.

I was never that hairy, but I had to shave my chest and tummy every two days just to keep up. Now once a week and only because there still are a few stray hairs.

To those who have just started. The changes are so slow most the time you don't notice, others will point them out. Also when you start, I find I was analyzing my body everyday for changes. Now I just take the pills and forget, and every now and then have a pleasant surprise. I noticed the biggest difference when I added the T and DHT blockers.

I read on transgendercare.com that finasteride makes a huge difference in results. Any one else have great success with it?

[Kaitlyn Michele]

sara so far that is so true ..i am only into my second week...oh well..

[helenr]

I will say only what I have experienced. Initially I was taking a combination of anti androgens-mostly Spiro ( I take 200 mg a day) and 1/4 of a fincar pill to help with the back of my head. I truly think over the past 18 months that this 'melting ice cap' has not gotten larger and maybe even some hair regrowth, but that is a big maybe. I was using a Climara estrogen patch-a preferred method for older gurls (I am 61) due to safety-but my breast nipples were getting so sore it was painful if I bumped into something or just turned in the bed. I also fear 'showing too much' chest. Now just the anti androgens.
Everything I read says it is a waste of money to use estrogen without an anti androgen-the nasty T is a fierce competitor and the E won't be effective with the T flooding the body. Now I find that my daily shaving isn't quite as much as before, my chest hair is much finer, and less of it, and I don't have a male musk smell. I don't see any change in my skin, not gained any weight, etc.
I do feel far calmer, don't get horny. If I feel a bit aroused, it can end quickly as it is a bit of an effort to get off, and it doesn't seem important. You know how women always want just to cuddle, not have sex all the time. sort of like that, but don't have a receptive female to be my partner.
I can't be sure if it was the estrogen period (about 6 months) but I do have some tubular breasts-a 38A bralet fits great and shows off what little I have, which is nothing in female terms, but does prevent me from going to the public pool! I guess I can wear a shirt to hide my development.
The brats are still there, don't think they have shrunken up. maybe the little boy is a bit smaller since there isn't the noctural 'gymnastics' that men with testosterone experience. I feel calmer, don't get as upset,etc. I think spiro is a great Rx for mild blood pressure and sure helps me with coping. I crossdress underneath year around, but don't get excited,etc as before. just what I feel I should wear. don't mean to write a novel, but I know others are wondering if this is good to take meds. wouldn't be good if your spouse expects male like attention. good luck to all, helen

[JOANNE]

Michelle

All the TS sites I visit recommend that Premarin be discontinued.:) Personally I am using 2-climara 100 patches (changed weekly) plus bicalutamide (1/4 tablet every 2 days).

[melissaK]

From here: http://www.eje-online.org/cgi/content/full/155/suppl_1/S107


"Indeed, in transsexuals, cross-sex hormone treatment induces changes in behavior and cognitive performance on tests that are known to manifest differences between males and females. In MFs, 3 months of estrogen addition and testosterone suppression resulted in a decline in anger and aggression proneness, sexual arousal, sexual desire, and spatial ability (usually males outperform females) and in an increase in verbal fluency (usually females outperform males) (24, 26, 27). In FMs, 3 months of testosterone treatment was associated with an increase in aggression proneness, sexual arousal, and spatial ability performance, whereas it had a deteriorating effect on verbal fluency tasks (25, 28). These behavioral and cognitive findings in transsexuals following cross-sex hormone treatment are in line with the studies reporting influences of endogenous and exogenous sex hormones on behavior and cognition, as well as on cortical brain activation, in non-transsexual adult humans (29, 30). Whether functional brain changes accompany the anatomical brain changes in transsexuals remains to be elucidated using functional brain imaging techniques."

Your brain size physically changes on HRT. The changes have functional effects. I haven't found a study saying whether going back and forth damages your brain, (or the brains of test rats). The above study only says:

Thus, our reported volume changes in the brains of transsexuals following cross-sex hormone treatment may represent alterations in neuronal cell numbers or the number of synapses. However, more work is needed to uncover particular cells and specific genes on which testosterone (and estrogen) act to regulate cell death in the central nervous system (35).

hugs,
'lissa

[helenr]

very interesting, Melissa. I wonder if with anti androgens alone, whatever estrogen is floating around a male body, however, slight, might be having an influence consistent with what you report ? I have had those sensations you mention-calmer, less upset, certainly less sexually interested. best, helen