Started HRT Last Night

[Heather Shay]

@RhondaS congrats. I am an old fart and started HRT a little over 5 months ago at 68 and from a mother with A cup and finally a few weeks ago my young ladies started showing. I know it is soon that your younger body will show more and more.

Hugs

Michelle

[Ivy]

One thing I have noticed for me (low dose E for about a year and a half) is much less chest hair.  I used to compulsively shave that stuff, it was major dysphoric for me.  Now I seldom need to which like.  I wonder if it will eventually just go away.  The boobettes are happier with out.

[Astrid]

17 hours ago, HollyNoel said:

3 months! Doesn't seem like 3 months.

 

And 1 year has flown by for me!  But I'm happy to report that the mental benefits are very much still paying dividends in how much happier I continue to be.  

 

Happy Dance time ? ?

 

Astrid

[MirandaB]

@Gabriel Yes, people seem to be thinking mostly about my bodily changes but so far it's the mental change that's been amazing

 

@Audrey Hope we both get the OMG mirror moment as soon as we can

 

@HollyNoel It seems like less than 3 or more? To me, the answer to that is yes

 

@Shay Hope so, and thanks for calling this old fart 'younger'

 

@Jandi Thanks for the hope about the dang chest hair

 

@Astrid Yay! More happiness? Sign me up

[Michelle_Anne]

On 11/3/2020 at 4:53 PM, RhondaS said:

Yeah, I'm in my late 50s so thought it would take longer than it has.

 

I came out to my wife a couple months before starting hormones, but she's still working on accepting that her marriage will now will not match the traditionally gendered version we started out with. 

 

 

Wow so awesome to hear. I’m 47 and just starting out.  Always makes me happy that things go well in our age group.  Give me more hope.

[MirandaB]

Four month anniversary today!

 

Breasts haven't done as much growing as they did in a first spurt. Skin being softer still is this month's euphoria I suppose. And mentally it's easier to deal with being impatient about progress than it was when it was hard to come around to dealing with this need to do it. 

 

Kids still very supportive, Mrs better at hiding her dismay at least when I'm around. 

[Elizabeth Star]

@RhondaSYour girls may still surprise you, give them more time. Softer skin feels so amazing and it just keeps getting better.

[Audrey]

Rhonda, our HRT re-birthdays are only about a week apart! Congrats to four months. I'm happy to hear that your children are continuing to support you, and I hope your spouse will grow more supportive too with time.

 

I totally relate to the wish that changes would come more quickly than they do, but they're quite noticeable at this point especially compared to the beginning. Still hard to tell in my photo journal, but subjectively I know things are different than they were in September. The skin softness was the very first thing I noticed and it's a wonderful feeling, though I do find I have to be more careful about accidentally cutting myself shaving. Right now if anything so much as touches my nipples, even water in the shower, it hurts like crazy. Hoping that fades away soon.

 

Love,

~Audrey.

[Elizabeth Star]

It is definitely a lot easier to get cut but I'm instinctively more careful these days. In the kitchen, grabbing that that hot pan off the stove is a whole different experience now. I had to invest in some good pot holders. Also, I suggest some work or better yet cute gardening gloves if doing any labor. They really help protect your nails and reduce the chances of getting calluses.

 

This is my take on boob growth.

If you still get the ouchies a lot then maybe the initial growth spurt isn't over yet. Over-all boobs become less sensitive as they get bigger, due to the nerves being spread out more. So even when nipple sensitivity return to a relatively normal state the contrast between the two may make you nipples seem hypersensitive. Softer skin may also compound the effect.

[Jackie C.]

Breast growth happens in fits and starts, trending eventually to whatever it is that nature has in store. I think we all hope that we're that one girl who came back from summer vacation in 7th grade with double-D's. Unfortunately, we're much more likely to fall into that, "The rest of the girls" or even "late bloomer" category. Patience. What comes will come.

On the bright side, no stretch marks from breast growth so that's a plus!

 

So yeah, you're only four months in. You've got a lot of good things coming your way!

 

Hugs!

[MirandaB]

@ElizabethStar and @Jackie C.  yes, I do hope (know?) that the boobs aren't done yet, it's just for me they did a big enough spurt that I felt I had to go tell my elder kid what was going on because they seemed to be saying they'd tell her first! The online sources saying it would take 3 months at least were off by maybe a month for me. 

 

@Audrey "Re-birthday", like it! I put it in my calendar as E Day, even though it's also S Day. For me I guess the skin softness started getting really noticeable after some other things popped up. 

 

 

[Jamie68]

I've been doing the herbal MTF transitioning route for 4-1/2 months now. I have "A" cup breasts now. Wondering how long it takes to get "B" cups. Still get erections. Sex drive is less than it used to be. Thank goodness. Like you, porn just isn't near as interesting anymore. Would like my "junk" to disappear. Don't know if I will ever be able to afford vaginoplasty. I may have to settle for just getting orchiectomy and let it all shrink to prepubescent size. At least it wouldn't be hard to hide. I was doing cardio exercise and lost some weight, then I read when doing cardio you loose breast size also. That's just not fair! This transitioning seems like a slow process. I guess anything worthwhile takes time. But it's so exciting, feels like forever.

[VickySGV]

1 hour ago, Jamie68 said:

I've been doing the herbal MTF transitioning route for 4-1/2 months now.

 

Please stop doing that and find an LGBTQ center or Planned Parenthood location where they can get you prescribed HRT for little or no cost to you.  Herbal hormones only work if you have roots and are green with chlorophyll instead of red with blood. The herbal remedies will cost you many times what you will spend on safely monitored medicines.  I know, I tried myself.  Our Community Rules specifically say we cannot discuss those things in our Forums.  A prior owner of this site had massive heart and brain damage as the result of them which is why she gave up the site when the damage progressed beyond control.  On our main page we have a list of organizations that can help you will funds for proper care in a transition.  Local LGBTQ centers have referral for medical offices that will do your work on a sliding scale, and legitimate prescription can be as low as $15.00 for 90 days. 

[Jamie68]

Sorry. I won't mention it again. I do have my first appointment with Planned Parenthood early Feb. Will go from there.

[Ivy]

I start with  Planned Parenthood.  I liked them.

[Jamie68]

Yeah, the moon will cause us ladies to do some wild stuff. Do they do the complete change, or just HRT ?

[Ivy]

I don't think PP does surgeries, if that's what you're asking.  But they probably would know who does.  

I am with the VA now myself.

[Jamie68]

I called my insurance company today and asked about coverage. If I go to an "in network" place they cover pretty well. It sounds like they go by the Harry Benjamin standards. They told me to check out WPATH and GLAAD. With insurance paying, I should be able to get it all done. YAY !!!!! I have Humana choice PPO  insur. I'm really excited now. 

It's odd that PP of Illinois, 30 miles from me isn't in their network, but PP of Indiana is. It's in Hammond, Indiana. Probably a 2 hr. drive for me. I'll have to check, there may be someone closer. On the plus side, going on HRT that is monitored by a doctor instead of what I'm currently doing will be safer. I can't imagine what hell people went through before forums and insurance coverage. Thanks for letting me in here. It feels good to have people to talk to about this.

[Elizabeth Star]

@Jamie68If your not that far from Chicago maybe check out Howard Brown. It's who I'm going through.

[Jamie68]

I'm guessing Howard Brown is about 1-1/2 hrs. away. I sent them a message once to get an appointment, they didn't respond. It's worth another try. I live about an hour south of the intersection of I-80 and I-55. Thanks

[Elizabeth Star]

I always just call but sometime I have to call a couple of times to get through. My last few appointments have been done tele-health and I was able to get blood work done out by me. They're over an hour from me so I do understand the drive to get there. When I made my first appointment they did ask if I had a preferred name, that's when the name Elizabeth chose me. They're good people there. No one has ever questioned or looked at me strange. Just made me feel normal.

[Jackie C.]

Yeah, I'm in a similar situation with my endo. I get my blood work close to home about two weeks before my appointment, then we tele-health and talk about it. My endo isn't THAT far away (20-30 minutes), but it's a college town and the traffic is miserable.

 

Hugs!

[Audrey]

8 hours ago, ElizabethStar said:

I always just call but sometime I have to call a couple of times to get through. My last few appointments have been done tele-health and I was able to get blood work done out by me. They're over an hour from me so I do understand the drive to get there. When I made my first appointment they did ask if I had a preferred name, that's when the name Elizabeth chose me. They're good people there. No one has ever questioned or looked at me strange. Just made me feel normal.

 

2 hours ago, Jackie C. said:

Yeah, I'm in a similar situation with my endo. I get my blood work close to home about two weeks before my appointment, then we tele-health and talk about it. My endo isn't THAT far away (20-30 minutes), but it's a college town and the traffic is miserable.

 

@Jamie68

Because of the pandemic, basically every provider I've heard of has made changes to accommodate tele-health in their practices. I began my medical transition during COVID-19 and have had no trouble doing everything I need and feeling connected to and supported by my providers. That said, I would expect a new patient first appointment would be in person (mine was). Also, as Elizabeth says, the right provider will welcome you and accept you, and certainly anyone experienced with working with transgender clients will know to create and maintain an atmosphere that does this. That's something you'll get the best sense of in-person too. Glad to hear that your insurance offers coverage, and I'm hopeful your first appointments go well!

 

Love,

~Audrey.

[Bri2020]

1 hour ago, Audrey said:

 

 

@Jamie68

Because of the pandemic, basically every provider I've heard of has made changes to accommodate tele-health in their practices. I began my medical transition during COVID-19 and have had no trouble doing everything I need and feeling connected to and supported by my providers. That said, I would expect a new patient first appointment would be in person (mine was). Also, as Elizabeth says, the right provider will welcome you and accept you, and certainly anyone experienced with working with transgender clients will know to create and maintain an atmosphere that does this. That's something you'll get the best sense of in-person too. Glad to hear that your insurance offers coverage, and I'm hopeful your first appointments go well!

 

Love,

~Audrey.

I've never met any of my trans care providers in person. It's all been Tele/video health. Endo, Pysch, Case manager etc.  Only people I've seen in person were a dermatologist who numbs my lip for electrolysis.

[Jamie68]

That's encouraging. I just Google mapped the facility on North Sheridan rd.. It said 1hr. and 51 min. 

Knowing Chicago traffic, it's probably longer. 

Elizabeth, is the N. Sheridan branch the right one? Being a retired construction worker, I've been all around Chicagoland over the past 35 years. I cringe when thinking about driving up there now. For a while I was putting about 55,000 miles a year on my car. I average about 10,000 a yr. now, and loving it.