3 Month test results ?

[Guest NadineElaine]

Hey girls

So i had my 3 month ( and 1 week) test results sent to me, and i'm just curious if where i'm at is the norm for the short duration i've been on low dose hrt.

Serum T is at 239 ng/dl // Not tested initially

Estradiol is at 72.5 pg/ml // Was at 30.1 pg/ml on 11/29/2012

Now, i know they are heading in the right direction, and it's not like i haven't seen results...but i guess i'm asking because my endo asked if i wanted to up my dosages, but since i am seeing results, i declined (low dosages are always the safest if you're seeing results from what i've read)....but i really thought my levels would be a bit more positively shifted than they are. Should i call him and have my dosages increased? Maybe i'm just being impatient?

[VickySGV]

Your numbers are not dangerously high or you would have been contacted by your doctor and told to adjust or discontinue your medications. Also your estrogen level is too low for you to be pregnant but if you had ovaries they would be prepping to give you that risk in a week or less!!

Your levels are not going to determine your real progress, since those are the numbers in your blood stream on their way to your kidneys to get rid of the stuff you will not use in your tissues. At least that was how it was explained to me by a VERY patient Endocrinologist. Check the SOC7 charts on what to expect from HRT, they are on page 38 for MtF folks.

Congrats on having the juice flowing in your veins, it does feel good.

[Guest LizMarie]

The best answer is always ask your doctor. As a layman, your estradiol levels seem reasonable but your testosterone levels appear too high. My own T levels are about where yours are now and my doctor wants to change things up a bit to get them down lower.

[Guest NadineElaine]

I just left another(!) Message with my doctor to increase my dosages...it took since the day of my original post until today to find out he wants to wait longer...and this is AFTER he offered to increase it before I even had my labwork done (which is why I declined). I feel like things have stopped on a dime, such as downstairs is starting to work again randomly and that is not cool.

[VickySGV]

It sounds to me like things with the hormones are working to schedule, but your mind needs to slow down a bit. Your hormones are going to fluctuate, and some bodily functions will come back from time to time. This is normal as all get out. I have a 28 day cycle on non cyclic hormones, and have been able to calendar it since I was four months along. The SOC7 has a chart of what to expect and when. I pointed you to that reference in my first response to you, please look at it. One to three months is the minimum window for decreased libido and end of spontaneous reactions, with 6 months being the time for maximum effect of the reactions entirely. Three months is about the minimum time for ONSET of the desired results, some you will not finish for over two years or more and it will happen whether you get the hormones at microdrip or tank car load on the long schedule. Breathe normally and you will do fine.

[Guest NadineElaine]

Thanks Vicky, sometimes I just need to hear a voice of reason. I get really impatient about things (obviously), and I guess I just want my testosterone to tank already Lol.

[VickySGV]

[Guest LizMarie]

Vicky, I'm experiencing some of what Nadine describes and honestly, my 5 month T levels were higher than my 2 month T levels (still no anti-androgens since he doesn't like to introduce those until estradiol levels are where he wants). I'd already be on a higher dose but we are getting my blood pressure back down. And I am seeing some male hair regrowth on the legs and arms as well as activity down there that I'm not pleased about.

[Guest Kaylee234]

Interesting that you're waiting for your blood pressure to go down, when Spiro is sometimes used to treat high blood pressure.

(source: drug facts sheet I got with my prescription)

~ Kay

[Guest LizMarie]

Yes, but my endo is old school and has been treating MtFs since 1975. HIs first rule is always get the estrogen to where it needs to be, because estrogen itself is a minor t-blocker. He's had patients who never needed t-blockers and others who needed far less than what other endos prescribe. I'm not unhappy with him thus far and he is the expert so I am deferring to him for now, though I do ask questions and try to be an informed patient.

[Guest Kaylee234]

Well if you're happy with him, that's the most important thing

Apparently he's developed a system that works, so I'm sure you're in good hands

~ Kay