Woman's Multi-Vitamins

[Guest Orva26]

Hello,

So I am slowly discussing hormones with my therapist and one of the things that came up is vitamins and how taking some will probably be a good thing. I have the idea to find myself a woman's multi-vitamin but I don't know what's a good brand/one. Also, I'm no nutritionist so would taking woman's multi-vitamins while not being on HrT screw me up in anyway? I'm guessing not but I don't want to end up doing harm to my cause.

Thanks,

Orva

[Guest Julie T]

Orva

Hi sweetheart, we cannot discuss herbals, which are generally useless anyway, but regular multivitamins are okay to talk about. I take a standard one-a-day type woman's vitamin, Nature's Best from Walmart, I think. There are two brands they carry and one or the other usually has a buy one, get one free deal.

I researched these and the men's multi-vitamins and compared the two? It seems it was the extra iron content in the women's vitamins that set them apart. I suggest they wont upset your hormone balance one way or the other, as long as you stay with standard multivitamins, and stay away from those useless phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens would not do anything, except give a false reading on your blood tests. Then you would be prescribed lower dosage of estrogen than you really need.

Julie

[Guest Orva26]

Hey now, I said nothing of herbals. I wouldn't do that, the stories of liver failure I've read here are scary. And even though I'm no biologist I do know enough about drug to drug interactions to stay away from unregulated things.

I'm just talking normal vitamins here!

Right now I just have a One-A-Day multivitamin formulated for teenage woman. Figured if I was going to biochemically shift my body towards that then these should be a good primer. I've been taking 'em for about two days now. I'm probably going to try and get a separate B vitamin as well. I hear B vitamins, B 12 in particular, might be beneficial to take while on HrT because they boost energy and will help fight off some lethargically created by the biochemical reset. But I am going to hold off on the B vitamins for now because most of the ones I've seen are quite potent and I don't know what levels I already have present. I'm going to see about getting a general physician around here and see if they can help me out with the vitamins.

Its strange though they aren't really anything special yet taking them is something I general am eager to do. Its like it is some small measure of progress in my mind.

[Guest Miss_Construe]

Orva,

That is a step I also took. There are a number of ways to prep your body for HRT and some considerations while taking hormones. I am a fitness junkie so I think I put too much emphasis here. The vitamin advice given by Julie is spot on. She always knows what the score is though. I also added some fish oil to help out my hair.

April

[Guest Lacey Lynne]

Orva:

Great question. My own reply.

As a multivitamin, I use two daily of:

http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4033454

As an antithrombin agent, I use two daily of:

http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3685052

As thrombus prophylaxis, I use one daily of:

Enteric-coated aspirin 81 mg.

As a recovery/restoration agent, I use two daily of:

http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=10762944

As an immunity-enhancement agent, I use one daily of:

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?

q=american+health+ester+c+500+mg&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7_____en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=14168212282829015710&sa=X&ei=rOIbTuz0BYniiAKGmoT3CA&ved=0CGoQ8gIwAg#

Diet:

Vegetarian.

Beverages:

Water. Water with lemon slice and lime slice. Straight-black java. Nothing else. No sodas. No alcohol. No junk.

Exercise:

L.A. Fitness four times a week with balanced anaerobic and aerobic work-out routines. Combined and refining movements on anaerobics with 3 exercises for 3 sets for 20 reps per muscle group. High-intensity, short-burst elliptical aerobic training.

Walking the mall for between 5-12 miles EVERY day.

This whole plan pivots upon the linchpin of synergy. It all works TOGETHER and works well. Final result?

I can go out androgynously in loose clothing and long pants. They grin and snicker.

When I through on a tight girl's Nike shirt and short girl's denim shorts, still doing the Stone Butch Paris Hilton look (a twist on androgyny), well, I'm not gonna say.

Many people, guys AND girls, young AND old, are giving you The Look.

Rock ON, honey!

You can do it! The results are worth it! It's your choice!

Lacey Lynne

True, some say I don't REALLY work at transitioning. Wanna bet? Give the above regimen a try for a month, then let's talk. Tell you what, do THIS and your hair and makeup presentation won't matter much. Trust me on this.

Give it a go, girl. You'll feel great. You'll look great.

[Guest Alexandra89]

Also, I'm no nutritionist so would taking woman's multi-vitamins while not being on HrT screw me up in anyway? I'm guessing not but I don't want to end up doing harm to my cause.

It shouldn't. Vitamins are vitamins, and as long as you don't overdose on any of the poisonous ones, they shouldn't hurt, and no daily vitamin pill would hit that hard.

Personally, I don't take vitamin supplements. The idea of taking a pill that doesn't treat a specific condition tweaks one of my neurotic chords, I guess. I compensate a well as I can with a balanced, varied diet.

Not that anyone should ever emulate my habits. I've always been small and prone to respiratory diseases, but I've never broken a bone (unless you count teeth, but that's not my fault and it was only four in the back anyway). There's also that "being a total psycho" thing.

-Alex

[Guest Tara_S]

Orva26,

You should be aware that taking "women's" vitamins might have a negative effect on your body and how you feel. Any good Endocrinologist would explain as they did me the extra Iron content is not good for your body. I made that mistake myself when I 1st transitioned thinking it would be better for me(transition or not our bodies ARE different than that of a natal woman). Some people might be OK with the extra iron but most cannot cope with it. To much could make you feel fatigued and weak not to mention bind you up. As others have mentioned a good generic multi vitamin would be a much healthier way to go. Check the label and skip anything with iron. Also when you get an Endocrinologist speak with them about it or ask your primary care doctor about vitamins with iron in them if you have more questions.

Tara

[Guest Orva26]

I think you are on to something with the iron Tara. I've been noticing that a few days I have been quite lethargic after work. Even going to sleep abnormally early, dozing off at around 9 - 9:30 pm and sleeping pretty much straight until 6:30am. Sure it makes me well rested for the next day but it means tons of stuff doesn't get done. Like emailing my therapist or calling my brother. I don't know if I'll have time to look for a multivitamin without iron in it but I'm going to stop taking the ones I have now, I'll just rock the B vitamin supplement I have without the multi and see what that does for me.

I did poke around looking for a new multivitamin and found a general one and was all like, "YAY!" Until I looked at the whole label and realized it said across it, "NOW WITH IRON!"

[JJ]

Hey-Thanks for mentioning iron!

I was approving the post and suddenly a light went on. I've lost around 95 lbs this year but am not feeling as well lately. I've tried to figure out what it is but nothing seems to work, When I read your post i realized I had been forgetting to take vitamins for weeks and on a low cal eating regime there is no way to get enough vitamins, especially iron. I had forgotten what a difference iron makes.

Thanks again

Johnny

[Guest Isabella_Anne]

What I take is from Costco and its from Nature's Bounty Hair, Skin and Nail. It has a bunch of Biotin as well as the usual other vitamins. Its about 8.00 for 250ct. I have noticed my hair is fuller and stronger, my skin feels more flexible and my finger nail grow way faster and are very very strong. I am not on HRT yet, but that's my input on the subject with testosterone running through my veins. YUCK.......

Isabella