I'm back on my journey

[Denisenj]

My new doctor that deals with the LBGTQ community started me on Spiro about 3 weeks ago and today she started me on the estradiol patches feeling they were safer. It's a lower dose than I started on before but in two months they're going to do blood work and maybe consider injections.. do the patches really work?

[Mmindy]

That's good news. Life's a journey and sometimes we have to lift up on the gas pedal, to change lanes. 

 

Hugs, 

 

Mindy???

[Jackie C.]

Congratulations!

 

Yes, the patches work fine. It's a delivery method, nothing else. I don't like them, but I've had trouble getting the darn things to stay attached. We've had suggestions of tapes to use to keep them in place though, so other girls are apparently more clever than I am about it.

 

Hugs!

[MiraM]

The patches work for some people.  I started on injections and then went to the patch.  The first brand would not adhere properly and the adhesive cause blistering and open sores on my skin.  The second brand my Dr. put me on adhered well and with a Tegaderm dressing on top stayed in place just fine.  My estrogen levels were fine for a while but something happened and I was no longer absorbing the estradiol from the patch and my estrogen levels went down to pre HRT levels again.  My Dr. put me back on injections and my levels went back to where he wants them.  The patch is convenient, but for me they were a no go.

[Maid In Bedlam]

Im still a Vestal Virgin to Injections.

 

 

Patches here for the past 6 years. Only once did my skin break out in the patch area and once i had a patch unattach mid flow. If anything the patch is kinder to your body than the injection as it puts less strain on your liver and dare i say other interal organs.

 

Much also depends on age and medical history. For instance if you was a smoker or ever have liver damage due to alcohol or obesity then the patch is your only option. It also has a lot to do with age. They prefer to give patches to those who have been around for a few years. Is here anyway. Thats why patches were my only option also.

 

After 7 years of patches i can safely say. They do work. Would they give better end results to an injection? That I suppose i will never know. Its a matter of personal interpretation. Im happy with my results. Thats all that matters is it not?

 

Whatever the delivery method it doesnt make you any less or more  trans than anyone else supplementing there estrogen levels.. What counts is what you feel and if your happy with the reults then all is well in the world. Its been said so many times you dont go to bed at 10pm and wake up at 6am with a new body. I Still suspect every so often sometihg changes a little or this looks respectly bigger or smaller.

 

[ValerieRun]

Injections, as well as patches or any other topical application are not processed by liver, so their impact on the body is absolutely identical. Don't want to scare people away from injections  One major benefit is that with the potency of injections one might not need anti-androgens which is a huge health saver (unless you need it for other reasons).

[Jani]

I use patches and I like the consistent way it releases estrogen in to the body.  

[Mickey]

8 hours ago, Maid In Bedlam said:

 

 

 

Patches here for the past 6 years. Only once did my skin break out in the patch area and once i had a patch unattach mid flow. If anything the patch is kinder to your body than the injection as it puts less strain on your liver and dare i say other interal organs.

 

 

 

Sorry, you're wrong about that. Injections are just as kind to your body as patches are. And injections are much better for feminization and proper hormone levels.

 

[Maid In Bedlam]

8 hours ago, ValerieRun said:

Injections, as well as patches or any other topical application are not processed by liver,

 

I do beg to differ.

 

When any drug is administered regardless of how it will eventually find its way into the liver. In the case of patches or injections  via the hepatic artery. It may not go round the fast way as in being absorbed by the stomach or intestines but it WILL find its way to the liver. I will give the point of it not directly but still be absorbed and it will still put a strain on the liver in some way. This is why epidermal patches are considered the safer alternative as the stress is minimal due to the slower release..

 

I would like to add im not a doctor.  If you are then I bow to your expreiance. As this is what i was taught when studying the flow and the adminstration of drugs and effects on the system.

 

 

[Maid In Bedlam]

13 hours ago, Mickey said:

 And injections are much better for feminization and proper hormone levels.

 

 

Please could you show me the evidence of this statement? As in published medical findings that injections are better for feminisation and hromone level balance as it would turn the world of trans medicine upsidedown if it were true.

 

I would have considered patches to be better as with them you do not get the large spike in hormones levels which would tail off slowly  until the next injection As opposed to patches which give a more balanced delivery. Again im no doctor but this is quite ground shaking theory as far as hormone delivery is concerned.

 

 

[Charlize]

Injections are dangerous at best for me.  I had trouble with patches so i am now using a spray.  As another topical application it avoids the liver and has less chance of leading to clotting and other issues.  Topical applications have produced good results for me.  

In all cases please get the best medical advice you can find.  Some have opinions which are certainly not backed up by studies.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[Denisenj]

Great responses and I value everybody's opinion. The first Doctor who starred me on estradiol starred me on a higher dose which was probably wrong.this doctor and hospital ,I now deal with the trans community and she researched my best options due to the fact that I don't drink hardly any water my hemoglobin levels were elevated a kind of went off my diet so my a1c's went up a little bit.we all want to be as feminine and look as female as possible as quickly as possible that's how I feel anyway. I try to represent well as a female but right now I live a life of in between. I love the fact that now I wear different earrings I wear eye makeup on a daily basis and when I really want to look like a woman and dress up it just makes me feel so much better. First patch on my upper thigh it's not lifting and it's still there and tonight will be 72 hours. I guess we're all different but I know I'm more woman than man or I was meant to be more of a woman than a man. Feels right it just feels right. Almost 2 months ago I joined planet fitness. That will more feminized my bodies when it comes to the machines. I'm not there the bulk up I'm there to drop some pounds make me feel better about myself. I feel comfortable I was never ridiculed I'm always wearing women's exercise pants that are very form-fitting earrings and a little bit of .eye makeup. Yes when I do go to restaurant as Denise I always use the ladies room and was never challenged or looked at funny. Many cisgendered females don't even know and that makes me happy.

[Maid In Bedlam]

3 hours ago, Denisenj said:

 Yes when I do go to restaurant as Denise I always use the ladies room and was never challenged or looked at funny. Many cisgendered females don't even know and that makes me happy.

 

 

 

Denisen. Looking at the picture and what you have experianced I would say you dont have to much to be concerned about. We all need to lose a few pounds. Especially after all these lockdowns. Im in the same boat. You keep doing what your doing and theres no reason why you will ever get challenged. One thing you cant tell from a picture is voice and voice is one of the most important parts of the journey. You get the voice right and anything is possible.

 

Keep it up and good luck.

[Denisenj]

Yes I'm going to get voice lessons and train my voice to be more feminine