Early MtF HRT and General Spiro Questions

[Dearhart]

So, I've started HRT. Yay! And I've been on it for about a month. I have two questions i was hoping i could get help with because my next appointment isn't until August. 

1) I know breast tenderness is to be expected, but is it also fine that one side be more tender than the other? 

2) I've only just now started wondering why my spironolactone says to be taken at bedtime. I've called the clinic that prescribed, but they said to ask my pharmacy. (?) I keep calling my pharmacy, but can only leave messages that never get returned. I know we're not supposed to ask medical advice so if this breaks that rule, please forgive me. 

[VickySGV]

Question one about the breasts ---- YES they can be unequally tender, and can also switch off with each other almost without warning and keep you guessing for a while which side to be extra careful of.  It is part of the adventure which if one is getting tender at a month means you are getting an early start which is fine too. Learn how to do a self examination and call the doctor if something does not feel right after you learn the examination process.

 

Question two on the Spiro -- Spiro is a diuretic in its "On Label" life used for high blood pressure treatment and is going to have you making pee calls more often, but it does take several hours after taking it to kick into the fluid elimination mode, so hopefully you can get a full night's sleep without too many bathroom calls.  Be sure to drink plenty of clear water during the day since you need the extra while you are on the stuff.  Coffee and soft drinks need to be held back in exchange for the water, since they too have a diuretic effect on you.  It is possible that down the line you may have to adjust the pill taking time to your schedule, but that is why it is recommended to be taken at bedtime.

[KathyLauren]

A bit of breast asymmetry is normal.  I'd get one tingling then the other.  They will likely end up being different sizes, too.

 

My doctor told me to take my spiro in the morning, to reduce the number of bathroom wake-ups in the night.  I'm not sure it made much difference, though.  I had to drink so much water to stay hydrated that I'd have to pee 2 or 3 times a night anyway.  Keep trying both your doctor and the pharmacy to get an explanation.

[Dearhart]

Wow. I've always been bad about drinking enough water. No sodas or coffee, no real change there. But simply remembering to drink water is rough. Might need to set some alarms on my phone. 

 

Thanks for all the help, ladies!

[Siobhan]

On 6/26/2020 at 1:40 PM, Dearhart said:

Wow. I've always been bad about drinking enough water. No sodas or coffee, no real change there. But simply remembering to drink water is rough. Might need to set some alarms on my phone. 

 

Thanks for all the help, ladies!

 

Like you, I was always terrible about drinking plenty of water. What finally did the trick for me was purchasing a water bottle. Not just any water bottle, but one that was well made, pleasing to look at from a design perspective, was thermally efficient (I like my water cold), and that had a decent nozzle (the quality and comfort of the nozzle can make or break a water bottle). It may seem silly to choose something like that based partly on looks, but my reasoning was that I would then be more likely to remember it and keep it around me. It worked! I started taking it around the house with me and bring in my car as well, so whenever I got even a little thirsty, its right there. I still drink other things, of course. I'm a pop fiend and always have been, but I'm more reasonable about how much of that I consume since I regularly hydrate with water.