Is my hrt dosage too low to start with?

[Valorie]

Hi everyone!

 

I'm only three days in on this journey, so please forgive me if I just seem impatient. I'm somebody that likes to take on challenges and I've heard the beginning of hrt can be quite shocking. Emotions all over the place, possible nausea and headaches, things like that. Three days in, no such symptoms. And I know, 3 days is nothing and I'm probably just impatient haha

 

I do have a friend who has been on hrt for a couple months now and is starting to see some results, but she's on ----of estradiol. I'm on <dosage>of estradiol and <dosage>  of spironalactone. I just wanted to see if others have had results within the first three months on such low dosage?

 

I guess I just don't want my first three months to essentially be for nothing if my dosage is, in fact, too low. Insights from those much farther along would be so appreciated!

 

Thanks again!

Vaela Kay

 

 

[ValerieRun]

The point of low dose is to figure out how your body would react, and to ease you into the changes. The best part, changes happen even if they seem completely imperceptible at first. Also, it gives you time to figure out if it is truly what you wish for before anything major starts taking place.

The effects, side effects, and anything in between are also very personal. It might take time before emotions are more "forth-coming", there is nothing wrong with that (over a year in and I still haven't experienced any emotional overload for any reason).

So concentrate on what other things you want to change and let the time and pharmacology do its slow-paced but inevitable "job" ?

[VickySGV]

I had to remove your dosage numbers per our rule 13 and its justification but I hope this answer I will give will calm your impatience. .

 

Your dosage is what your doctor has determined will be the best for you based on your entire medical record and current health, and we do NOT question the doctors judgment in your case, since your dosage, which you describe as "LOW" may in fact be too much for someone else and hurt them.

 

The WPATH Standards Of Care say that the onset of noticeable changes is pretty much 3 to 6 months and will complete in 3 to 6 years.  This is what I have experienced from a dosage that many of my Trans siblings consider to be "ineffective" by their idea that you get better results with a higher dosage, which is not true at all.  Yes we get impatient, but it does happen.  My own Cis gender daughters took nearly 8 years from their onset of puberty until full maturity (they are now in their 40's)  I have been on HRT for 12 years and am happy with my body as it has become from my friends concept of an "ineffective dosage".  I was followed by my HMO for their research purposes for results, and as a result of I and others have decided that it does not take as much as they had initially thought when they first began prescribing HRT 15 years ago. 

[Valorie]

Thank you both for your replies! This does help a great deal