Saturday starting a new regimen. What can I expect?

[Guest Risu]

Hello all!

This Saturday will be the first time I add Progesterone to my HRT regimen. When explaining it my doctor explained how it stimulates certain areas of the brain and is very similar to having a period. Obviously, only a chemical period. He said the first time may be pretty intense with mood swings and things of that nature and that if I didn't like it we would stop using it but he feels that it really complements HRT.

So I am wondering what some of your experiences with it may have been? Of course, my mileage may vary and I may not have much of a reaction at all, but in case I'd like to be prepared. I don't want to chew any friends out or anything, have a bad day at work or perhaps get too overly emotional and say something more than I should to the guy I like. Of course, I plan to try and be on guard, but I've had days while on hormones where a sad commercial has made me cry. Sometimes things happen we cannot help or stop.

My last question is this... I have to decide to add it to my morning or evening dose... I am wondering if I shouldn't wait to take it in the evening so that maybe I'll be able to sleep through most of the worst possible side effects.

Thank you all for sharing your insight and experiences. I am simultaneously excited and frightened about this step but I have a feeling in time it will work out for the best.

*Hugs*

~Risu.

[Guest Robin Winter]

Honestly, I've asked my endocrinologist about it and she didn't feel it added anything of value to the hormone therapy. I'm not sure I accept that though, and I think I'll bring it up again in the future once the effects of my current regimen slow down. I'm thinking maybe at the year mark. I hope you'll post about your experiences with it.

[Drea]

Maybe nothing, maybe something. Please let us know.

I been on the stuff and off it...the only thing I can attribute to it was that I only seemed to have the occasional hot flash when on it.

[Guest Donna Jean]

.

Been on it for a year and 1/2.....can't say that anything different has happened except that during the first 10 days of the month when I cycle it....I get VERY emotional and cry a lot....

No bigger boobies or nuthin'.....

My doctor tole me last visit that I can drop it if I want...

I just may.......

Donna Jean

[Guest Svenna]

Risu,

I haven't been on it yet so I cannot speak to your concerns at the moment...

I did want to add what my endo says about progesterone to the discussion, if I may...

My doctor said that progesterone will effect the shape and contours of my breasts as they develop and he mentioned some emerging research that suggests it may have other benefits to the developing female mind also. He is going to start progesterone after 2 months, at the same time as he bumps me up my E and Spiro. I am going to switch to injections for E soon after, also...

It seems like various doctors have differing opinions, not only about HRT, but many medical issues. Heck, some doctors still routinely give full-mastectomies to natal women when research has clearly shown that lumpectomies provide the same survival rates. Why? The research I read indicated it was because mastectomies are what the doctor learned decades earlier in medical school. One major problem for doctors is trying to keep up with new research and learning newer procedures. Of course, some doctors are on deliberate 'auto-pilot', as reprehensible as that may seem...

The point being, WE must do our own research and not depend on the opinion of any one source, even if the source is a trusted doctor.

Love and such, Svenna

[Guest Lacey Lynne]

My HRT doctor flatly refuses to prescription it for me or any of her T-girls. She says it adds no real benefits and is rife with risks. Finally, she says genetic females have it in their systems and genetics apropos to their oestrus cycles which, of course, is very true. Even with genetic women, once their in their 40s and beyond, it's moot for them too and many (more than you would imagine!) have had hysterectomies by then. I know, because I've typed a gazillion hysterectomies over the years.

See Dee Jay's post above? Believe it! She's right!

Peace Lacey

[Guest Risu]

Just an update...

I've been on Progesterone as prescribed by my doctor since saturday. I've noticed since Tuesday I've been very emotional. The mood swings weren't from happy to angry and constantly being irritable as I had originally thought. My experience so far has been that when I'm high and doing good on my emotions I am extraordinarily high, and when I am low I am dangerously low. Suicidally low. I haven't been that long in a while. It is also very easy to go from High to Low and there is definitely at times a greater level of patience, while at others a greater propensity for anger and being generally annoyed/irritated.

Now I think it's important to note that this is my first go round with Progesterone. My doctor told me that the first use of it can be the hardest with the most severe mood swings but it should get easier over time. I have a 5 month supply so we'll see. Here's hoping. My doctor also said, in his thoughts and experiences with using progesterone in his trans patients that it seems to kick start the changes and the effects of the HRT. He seems to think that generally physical changes happen faster with progesterone. Last night I went to my nearest Trans support group and when I asked about the ladies' experiences with it there all of them said that after they started progesterone is when they noticed the most prominent physical changes. One told me how her nipples really changed after using progesterone and the others there generally agreed it made a big difference with them.

So we'll see. I'll check back, probably after my third month of using Progesterone and I'll note any changes I see. By then I'll 7 months along into my HRT, so who is to say any changes experienced weren't simply the regular HRT as well? I think it's safe to say, your mileage may vary as with everything we go through in life.

*Hugs*

~Risu.