We are the same age, and I have been on HRT for nearly 3 months. Whether I am in girl mode or guy mode, no one believes I am 50-something. That said, as long as you are healthy, age is irrelevant.
I have had two attempts at HRT. During the first try, my therapist penned a letter for me after about six months of sessions. I made an appointment with an endocrinologist at the VA through my GP there--who by the way is awesome. I wish I could say the same for the endocrinology department. It was totally amateur hour. I wound up in a room with three doctors who wrongly dismissed my letter because it was from a psychologist versus a psychiatrist. These people insisted that I must spend a year in therapy with a VA psychiatrist, and present daily as a woman for a year BEFORE getting hormones. I kept asking them how forcing me to essentially spend a year "in drag" to "earn" the feminizing meds that I needed to feel comfortable presenting as a woman made sense--I even showed them the current standards of care--when I did this, they "compromised and prescribed me Spironolactone on the condition that I would enter therapy with one of their shrinks. I had one session with the VA shrink they assigned. All I can say is that she was unprofessional, unduly familiar and made sexually suggestive comments about my appearance. I never went back to the shrink or their endo department, but I did try taking the Spiro they prescribed--It wreaked havoc on my body so I eventually ceased taking it and my body quickly recovered.
However, my state of mind became filled with panic and a sense that time was passing me by. In the spirit of the Marine Corps, I could almost hear a voice yelling for me to "get off this beach or die." For non-military types, think of the opening scenes of Saving Private Ryan. It took two years after the horrible VA experience, but I eventually found an awesome therapist who teams up with an awesome endocrinology nurse who can write scripts. The therapist assured me that the nurse would get me the meds I needed. The "classic" method described by Pat mirrored my second experience to a T (no pun intended). New therapist penned another letter--emailed it to his nurse partner--with my written consent--I made an appointment with her, we had nothing short of an awesome conversation that ended with her asking me in what form would I like my estradiol(that she was prescribing that day)--pill, patch or injection? I opted for the pill--my "happy pills" I like to call them. The emotional effects were seemingly immediate, but I think just having the script in hand did something powerful even before I swallowed the first tablet.
At our age, the physical effects are TYPICALLY slower and more subtle--but at a month and a half in--at least three women in the office made comments about "something" being different about me--very positive they said, but different, LoL. That said, you probably have time to figure out how far you want to go. I told my nurse that I really am concerned about sudden physical changes. She says that we'll monitor progress and adjust as needed--I can call, text or email with any concerns. I am very fortunate. This part II experience has been like having a great team in my corner--makes everything a lot less scary and worrisome.
Wishing you all the best with whatever you choose to do!
Cheers,
Jill
