Next Week!

[Shawnster]

OMG!!!! Next week..... I meet with my Endo.... I can't believe it's almost here!!! My dysphoria is at an all-time high.... Anxiety is off the chart!!! I can't think about anything else.... I think I have all my ducks in a row.... I can't wait!!! It's been two and a half years in the works.... I see the light at the end of the tunnel.... and this time I don't think it's a train!!!! What to expect??? How soon before I start feeling any changes? A shift in thinking? I have read soooo much, sooo many different stories... I just don't know what to believe.... I know everyone's journey is different, and I know the changes won't be immediate, I know it's not magic.... But I am hoping for a mental switch soon.... the physical will come in time... I just have the Jitters wicked bad!! I could sure use some support and encouragement!!!

Luv, Shawn

[Jackie C.]

Congratulations!

 

Unfortunately, we're all unique and the changes are strange and subtle. They sneak up on you. The physical changes are easy to document. "Hey! My breasts are sore!" is easier to notice than, "I just bawled my eyes out at the end of, as a completely random example, WandaVision."

 

I noticed the mental static faded pretty quick. I can't say how much of that was my anxiety fading, how much of it was actual progress and how much of it was euphoria because I was going forward. I think the emotional changes started in the first three months, but, again, there were so many variables it's hard to pin down an exact moment where I started to feel like myself.

 

But, again, my dosage is not your dosage. My body is not your body. I won't even react to the same medications and dosages the same way you will. My advice to you is to do whatever the doctor says, be patient, lean back and enjoy the ride. You're in for an adventure!

 

Hugs!

[Shawnster]

Thank you Jackie! I'm just sooo excited... I can barely contain myself!!! Thanks for your input!!! 

Luv, Shawn

[Jackie C.]

You are very welcome. May your journey be everything you want it to be and may the boob fairy visit you swiftly and with great generosity.

 

Hugs!

[Shawnster]

I hope so too!!!! lol

[Confused1]

I am AMAB. I haven't experienced estrogen yet, but it took about a month to notice changes after getting a Lupron shot to shut down my hormones for cancer treatment. . I had heard nothing but complaining from the prostate cancer survivors, but I don't understand what they are talking about. I guess I was running on the wrong gas and they were not?

 

After a month I noticed changes in color perception, sense of smell, and softening of my skin. The most important thing was what happened in my head. It shut down most of the noise of dysphoria. I found out I started to cry much easier than before. In about 7 months I started getting boob growth on estrogen levels that were extremely low, even for a male. I NEVER want testosterone again. You should get growth much sooner than me. YMMV

 

Hugs Mike

[Shawnster]

Thank you Mike!! I'm really excited to experience the changes!!!!

[Confused1]

You are welcome. I made my urologist/oncologist VERY AWARE that I wanted estrogen, but he feels it is too soon after the radiation and could energize my cancer. My endocrinologist won't prescribe it without consent of the urologist. I have researched this to the ends of the earth and plan to have it by the end of the year if I have to change doctors or do informed consent. I think I have looked at more cancer research than my doctor has. After what the prostate surgery did to me, I leave Nothing to chance!

 

I believe you will enjoy the effects of HRT.

 

Hugs,

Mike

[JanePlain]

I had prostate cancer like my uncle and his wasn't removable and he was put on estrogen (No hormones just about drove me out of my mind) There is no danger with Estrogen unless you have something new. Its an accepted treatment for unremovable prostate cancer. See someone else and don't take no for an answer.  Testosterone grows prostate cancer like gasoline to a fire however.

 

[Confused1]

Hi JanePlain,

Thank you for your reply. For many years estrogen was used to treat prostate cancer. I had my prostate removed in 2018 and had radiation with Lupron shots early in 2020 for a recurrence. I have a very aggressive cancer and the SOP for it is to use ADT for 2 to 3 years. Research is inconclusive whether estrogen will feed it. Believe me, I have done my research. I don't think there is a PCa forum that speaks English I haven't been on.

 

This is my second urologist. I fired the last one. This urologist tried to quote a research paper to me I have already read. I told him I will have estrogen soon or get another doctor. According to the latest research, 18 months of hormone suppression is statistically equal to 36 months. At about 19 months I will have a prescription for estrogen or make good on my threat. I had my last Lupron shot about 2 months ago. Since I am getting GCS next month, I won't need another one.

 

Being hormone free has actually been an improvement for me. I didn't realize how much testosterone was bothering me until it was gone. However, I am ready to get on estrogen.

 

Sorry to hog your thread, Shawn. I'm happy you are getting HRT soon.

 

Hugs,

Mike

[DeeDee]

All the best for your upcoming appointment @Shawnster ? You have waited a while, but that just means when those jitters hit you already know what you're doing and why. Just keep being you!

[Jackie C.]

9 hours ago, Confused1 said:

Research is inconclusive whether estrogen will feed it.

 

Wouldn't that depend on the receptors they found when they biopsied the cancer? I know they tested the breast cancer my spouse had for estrogen receptors.

 

Hugs!

[Confused1]

2 hours ago, Jackie C. said:

 

Wouldn't that depend on the receptors they found when they biopsied the cancer? I know they tested the breast cancer my spouse had for estrogen receptors.

 

Hugs!

 

Hi Jackie,

 

It is prostate cancer and I don't think being tested for estrogen receptors is commonly done. I have been thinking about getting tested for BRCA genes to see what mutations I might have. I think I will have to pay for that out of pocket. I had a Gleason 9 T2c at surgery. That is considered intermediate/high risk, and the doubling time before radiation was 3 months. I am currently undetectable, but both my estrogen and testosterone are in the toilet. This is a balance between risk and getting on with my life.

 

The result of my prostate surgery was severe enough it made me re-access my life and wonder if I wanted to live. I have found only 2 others that are even close to what I endure. I leave nothing to chance anymore. I talk to people all over the world on PCa forums almost daily by email. I have found that some doctors don't appreciate patients that argue with them, but I do?

 

My upcoming vaginoplasty will fix my surgery issue. That is one thing my current urologist agreed on with me, and my GCS surgeon is aware. The details are probably too graphic for open forum.

 

Hugs,

Mike