FINALLY! picked up courage, got hormones and took them today!

[swallow]

Hi everyone,

 

Just want to update and celebrate.? a BIG day today.

 

I finally got into the clinic today, it has been a month in the making...?

 

I thought it would be some blood work (which it was) followed by an extensive consult (which there was) but I did not expect to be put on HRT as well the very hour.?

 

Had a very pleasant young doctor (well younger than me)...she said everything checked out, I ticked all the boxes for her, I was in 'great shape' and a perfect candidate for HRT.?

 

So I whisked next door to the Pharmacy and got my pills.

 

As I am a bit of a coward with self administering needles, she recommended trying the pills (swallow kind haha)?

 

And we are starting gradual. She has me on two tablets of Estradiol <dosage redacted>

 

I was a bit trepidatious about Spiro having heard and read some negative things but she said I can start first <dosage redacted> and see if it agrees with me. We will review in a month.

 

Of course was warned about potential extra pee sessions with Spiro and to take it in the morning maybe so no need for the adult diaper.?

 

And Pharmacist warned me about weight gain potentially which made me worry since I thought I've lost weight (look like it) but seemed to have gained back up to 152ibs during the weigh in even when I seem to have lost an inch in height to 5'8 (Possibly age and gravity)?

 

Anyway mixed emotions back home.  At once somewhat happy but also slightly nervous.

 

I took the pills and endeavored to cut out my usually excessive tea drinking (since its a diuretic) and did not want to over labour my liver with the new chemicals swirling around (Ironically drank plenty of water)...then went for an extensive walk to the mall just to get ahead and curb the 'weight gain'.

 

So far  no changes. Still waiting.??

Edited November 6, 2021 by VickySGV
Dosages removed -- site rule

[Madelyn]

Yayyy, congrats!!! So happy for you ?

[swallow]

Thanks Madelyn...

 

LOL having heard all their warnings...I told them great is been my life aspiration to have a great chance of ending up as a Fat Grumpy Menopausal woman...

 

?

[Kylie]

Exciting times!

 

Congratulations on beginning your journey, praying for the best! 

[swallow]

Thank you Kylie

 

Another friend just asked me if it meant I was going to get all bitchy...I told her nonsense, I'm watching Downton Abbey and Dame Maggie Smith on how to comport myself properly...?

 

I wonder if anyone has been on <dosage removed>  I skipped the Progesterone for now since having sizeable breast is not a top priority of mine...at least that's what  I told the doctor.

Edited November 6, 2021 by VickySGV
Rule on dosage discussion

[Kylie]

Well on here we don’t discuss dosage on the actual forum discussions, but in private conversations we can discuss dosages and such. 
 

Everyone responds differently to estrogen, progesterone however isn’t always part of hormone treatment plans. It really just depends on the provider and their experience as well as the individual person. 
 

I myself took progesterone for about 6

months but didn’t experience any noticeable changes so I quit taking it. 

[VickySGV]

2 hours ago, Kylie said:

on here we don’t discuss dosage on the actual forum discussions

 

@swallowKylie is right about Community Rule 13 forbidding discussion of dosages, and she is also right about all of our HRT being very personally directed by your doctor and backed up by a pharmacist.  I had what many of my friends thought would be a totally ineffective low dose but I have done fine, I did however get a blood clot at 6.5 years and was off HRT for 6 months as a result.  You are doing fine and I can feel your happiness for getting started.

 

The WPATH Standards Of Care (V7) has some charts that say when you can expect changes to start, and generally for all of them it is 3 to 6 months to get going, and then take 3 to 6 years to finish the job.  Keep breathing normally and do not fret if the good stuff starts later than you were hoping for.  Higher dosages do not produce bigger and faster results, that is up to your genetics from the usual places.

[swallow]

Oops sorry...apologies. I did not know about rule 13. My bad!?

 

Vicky...good to know about your low dosage experience. Slow and steady, I don't need to get ready for any forthcoming beauty contests...?

 

And yes, I have had a mood swing I suppose, been quite heady today laughing at everything.

 

Might be balling my eyes out by tomorrow. My friend the Irish fella reminded me that nothing gets mood swings with men then sporting results....then again maybe not.

 

Was on the way back from school pick up and Terrence Stamp was being interviewed, had a lengthy segment of course o his days in Priscilla and went on about how he elected not to attempt to pitch his voice up at all but work on inflections.

 

So was a great time to open up to my son about my visit to the clinic and some possible impending 'voice experiments' of my own.?

 

I'm going to make less excuses now to not work on voice.

 

OTOH there's still a can of worms since I'm not out to my parents (and quite a number of others).

 

Perhaps this is another shove I need.?...

 

 

[MirandaB]

I'll post again what my endo said when she gave me the OK to begin, "LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!"

 

Having said that, it does take a real long time for the party to really kick in, but the good vibes started for me almost immediately, hope you get some of that!

[Kylie]

@swallow No worries, we help one another out on here! I’ve been on this forum for a little over 3 years and I’ve learned so much as well as gained some online friendships that have been of a lot of benefit to me! 

[Charlize]

Slow and easy has won the race for me.  I've managed that wonderful state you mentioned Swallow

12 hours ago, swallow said:

Grumpy Menopausal woman

Actually i'm happier than ever.  One thing that helped me gain patience was remembering how it takes cis girls years to develop. That time has actually allowed time to adjust to me.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[swallow]

Thanks Charlize and Rhonda,

 

Yah mood change so far has been Great mood. So good I even disclosed it to an ex-Army buddy (well, really he was Navy Special forces) and his banker wife, both fairly religious Christians. The wife has not got much experience about Transgenders so I was happy to oblige filling in the blanks for her. They made an effort to ask about pronouns too bless them!☺️

 

Certainly have the feeling people are far less judgmental on this issue when they actually encounter someone close to them with real actual issues and is level headed enough to dispel some of the crazy caricature parts of the media prefer to portray.

 

Kylie,

 

Its kinda crazy (without disclosing the dose and falling foul of rule 13 again), how small the pills are. I mean they are certainly far off the Biotin pills I use to take.

 

I was joking to my son that maybe I was in a 'placebo group' and the pills were sugar...at least psychologically if they help with my voice issue.?

 

Hope I have something to report to my doctor after the month is up. Expectations modified and scaled down from good experience shared by all of you. Not expecting much now, not even sewing thimble sized nipples.?

 

 

[Aggie1]

1 hour ago, swallow said:

 

Its kinda crazy (without disclosing the dose and falling foul of rule 13 again), how small the pills are. I mean they are certainly far off the Biotin pills I use to take.

Love your enthusiasm! It’s quite contagious!

 

I take the patches myself and I had the same doubts. How can such a tiny substrate almost invisible to the eye cause such a difference. It amazes me, but it’s really a dream come true. Before I knew HRT was a thing, as a wee lad growing up in Wales in the sixties with no internet, tv , radio or newspaper, I dreamt of taking a tablet that would transform me into a girl. And here I am today. Sometimes wishes do come true!

[Kylie]

I took pills for about 3 years, tried patches and they didn’t work then switched back to pills. About two months ago my endocrinologist convinced me to try injections. After about 2 months we finally got the correct dose, I will say, it is nice only taking one shot every two weeks versus two pills a day. Plus - added benefit of less risk! 

[Vidanjali]

Good on you, @swallow .  I'm happy for you. I hope all goes well for you. I think that may be a good insight for you about working on voice inflection. I know you've felt very challenged about publicly using the femme voice you've been practicing. Inflection may be the perfect gateway for you. Much love. 

[swallow]

Hi Vindajali,

 

Yes I've been as is, attempting to use 'the voice' more. It really is the shove I've needed maybe. I mean opening up to such conservative friends must say something. I guess if I'm starting to push on voice, I have to prepare them as well for change of voice to come.?

 

Funny thing today one my my Gay friends who has hitherto been somewhat oblivious to my 'changes' picked up that my facebook page mentions she on the timeline...I certainly don't recall switching my pronouns there but maybe I did it subconsciously and age is catching up on my memory (or the pills maybe making me absent minded)?

 

Kylie,

 

Injections are still on the table for me. 

 

I just did not think I'd be good at self administering the needle. All that feeding tubes etc which I had to help my partner with when she was going thru the horrid cancer just brings bad memories with syringes.?

 

Risk factor is an issue though I should follow up with my doc in a month.