The things no one tells us about hrt.

[Robin.C]

Found that the chest ouchies are a combination of nipple sensitivity and sore pectoral muscles having to suddenly carry extra mass. Morning when I get up is the worst, especially if I've been in the workshop theday before.

 

Hugs

Robyn

[Artpetal]

Robyn, I'm so sorry about it being a little painful. Look forward to positive changes to your body. I'm convinced for you that some of the pain MUST be psychosomatic. There are times that our brains have more control over our bodily health than we realize. I think it's important that doctors communicate with us how the procedures we undergo are less painful than we might think. When they give shots for a vaccine, they sometimes tell you to look away, or to imagine something else, and it's for our mental benefit because our brains can mislead us and make these things more painful...

[Robin.C]

@Artpetal don't get me wrong I love the changes.

This post reminded me to look back at my progress pictures and wow. Lots of little changes add up to quite a different look.

My pains and ouchies are definitely not psychosomatic. Door frames and short people that hug with their shoulder first are to be avoided at all costs 🤣

 

Hugs

Robyn

[Guest]

5 hours ago, Robin.C said:

@Artpetal don't get me wrong I love the changes.

This post reminded me to look back at my progress pictures and wow. Lots of little changes add up to quite a different look.

My pains and ouchies are definitely not psychosomatic. Door frames and short people that hug with their shoulder first are to be avoided at all costs 🤣

 

Hugs

Robyn

I have a short co-worker that hugs me every morning 😱

[Guest]

I love my girl juice! Well, having just taken my weekly injection of estradiol, I can say that not every gauge needle or vendor is the same. I have given a ton of injections, and there are differences in the supplies that can make an injection painful. As for the ouchies, I am envious. When I was 13 I wound up with a bilateral radical mastectomy for really bad gynecomastia. Silly me thought the teasing by the other kids would go away, and I would be magically better regarding my MTF desires. Silly me, less than a couple of weeks later, there I was trying on my mother's wedding dress wondering what the bleep I had done. Yeah, if I could have the ouchies, I would likely be thankful. Oh well, hopefully I will find a decent surgeon who can redesign my chest and restore me. 

-Katie

[Ivy]

1 hour ago, Katie23 said:

Silly me, less than a couple of weeks later, there I was trying on my mother's wedding dress wondering what the bleep I had done. Yeah, if I could have the ouchies, I would likely be thankful.

Yikes.  

Sorry how that went for you.

[Jamie68]

I wish you would get a comprehensive manual when you start HRT. I've had to ask my doctor about things before. The nurse you talk to on the phone won't answer those kind of questions. Have to go in for a consultation with doctor. 

[Astrid]

8 hours ago, Jamie68 said:

I wish you would get a comprehensive manual when you start HRT. I've had to ask my doctor about things before.

 

That's a good idea, although what constitutes "comprehensive" likely differs among people, and recommendations/statistics could change over time. One source of compact and concise information is the article on "Transgender Hormone Therapy" at Wikipedia. In particular, the chart there on "Effects of feminizing hormone therapy in transgender women" answers,  in 16 rows and 4 columns, a lot of prospective questions that people might have.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender_hormone_therapy

 

Astrid

[Guest]

As a family nurse practitioner, I would caution on believing everything on Wikipedia. Somethings are really good and somethings...You have to do your homework. There are more education programs coming out regarding primary care for the transgender patient. University of Utah actually provides continuing medical education program to do the program. I will be taking it this semester. I know the founders of this site do not want to have dosing information on the site, however, I believe that you should be able to see well referenced and accurate information regarding treatment options and side effects. I have posted some things on here for consideration. I have no patient to provider relationship, and I will not give advice to anybody here, but I am more than willing to find appropriate articles and legitimate peer reviewed journal information if I am permitted to do so. I actually have a chart of the effects from one of the universities. 

 

Otherwise, no matter what one reads, there is always the effect in the individual. Sometimes the oddball effects occur in an individual and we call they atypical. I too, am taking medication just like all of you. Honestly, I knew a good portion of this information, however, I am astounded at the effects that I am having. I only wish I had been able to experience these effects when I was 12-14 years old. 

 

If I can be of any help in any way, if the moderators see this post, let me know what I can do.

[Jamie68]

28 minutes ago, Katie23 said:

As a family nurse practitioner, I would caution on believing everything on Wikipedia. Somethings are really good and somethings...You have to do your homework. There are more education programs coming out regarding primary care for the transgender patient. University of Utah actually provides continuing medical education program to do the program. I will be taking it this semester. I know the founders of this site do not want to have dosing information on the site, however, I believe that you should be able to see well referenced and accurate information regarding treatment options and side effects. I have posted some things on here for consideration. I have no patient to provider relationship, and I will not give advice to anybody here, but I am more than willing to find appropriate articles and legitimate peer reviewed journal information if I am permitted to do so. I actually have a chart of the effects from one of the universities. 

 

Otherwise, no matter what one reads, there is always the effect in the individual. Sometimes the oddball effects occur in an individual and we call they atypical. I too, am taking medication just like all of you. Honestly, I knew a good portion of this information, however, I am astounded at the effects that I am having. I only wish I had been able to experience these effects when I was 12-14 years old. 

 

If I can be of any help in any way, if the moderators see this post, let me know what I can do.

I know that there are a lot of professionals in the group. I think it's awesome. I got lucky that my Therapist and I are both Transwomen and have the same physician. She is a few years ahead of me. Nice to see someone who actually knows what I'm going through. I'm glad to see that you are keeping up with your training. We need more people like you. 

[Robin.C]

Something which has surprised me with HRT which I wasn't expecting was the increased sensitivity.

Now couple that with being on the Autism spectrum (high functioning), the what felt like instant flood of sensations was overwhelming. To the point of having to shut off from people. As I've slowly got a handle on how, touch, smell, sound and feelings literally feel I find myself slowly opening back up. Not sure if anyone else has experienced this, most probably quite a few.

I only just realised that intimacy in my relationship with my partner had almost disappeared due to shutting off. I am so thankful that she has understood and we can talk about it and slowly start to return to us.

I hope this helps someone else who might not be able to see what is happening, I certainly missed it.

 

Hugs

Robyn

[Guest]

13 hours ago, Robin.C said:

Something which has surprised me with HRT which I wasn't expecting was the increased sensitivity.

Now couple that with being on the Autism spectrum (high functioning), the what felt like instant flood of sensations was overwhelming. To the point of having to shut off from people. As I've slowly got a handle on how, touch, smell, sound and feelings literally feel I find myself slowly opening back up. Not sure if anyone else has experienced this, most probably quite a few.

I only just realised that intimacy in my relationship with my partner had almost disappeared due to shutting off. I am so thankful that she has understood and we can talk about it and slowly start to return to us.

I hope this helps someone else who might not be able to see what is happening, I certainly missed it.

 

Hugs

Robyn

I can see where it could be overwhelming at first. I know for me, I wondered for a long time if there was something wrong with me. I stayed within my four walls and interacted very little with people I have known for years. When I started the transition, I was still very cloistered and told few people, and wham, after about 3 months of estrogen, Spiro, and progesterone percolating in my blood, I just...It was like someone released me from prison. I have never felt so in touch with my emotions. I have had more meaningful conversations over the past month with the people that I known for over 20 years, than I did in the previous 20 years. I can never go back to living in the bunker. My brain finally feels like it is getting the essential elements that it needs to just be whole. I never knew life could be this good. I am not afraid to tell anybody I am trans MTF. Embrace the sensitivity. It beats being walled off. I am going to enjoy every little sensation that I can. 

 

I hope things keep going well for you Robin!

-Katie 

[Jackie C.]

15 hours ago, Robin.C said:

Now couple that with being on the Autism spectrum (high functioning), the what felt like instant flood of sensations was overwhelming. To the point of having to shut off from people.

 

There's actually a pretty strong correlation between autism and being trans. Most of us are on the spectrum.

 

Hugs!

[Red_Lauren.]

I have read that hormones can cause body hair to thin. I thought that was a old wives tale. Last week I couldn't remember the last time I shaved my chest, and that use to be a almost daily thing. Leg hair has also thinned out a lot. I guess I don't have to worry about laser on my chest. 

[Jamie68]

5 hours ago, Red_Lauren. said:

I have read that hormones can cause body hair to thin. I thought that was a old wives tale. Last week I couldn't remember the last time I shaved my chest, and that use to be a almost daily thing. Leg hair has also thinned out a lot. I guess I don't have to worry about laser on my chest. 

Maybe. I pretty much stopped growing chest hairs towards the center of my chest, but started growing more hairs around my nipples. LOL

[KathyLauren]

8 hours ago, Red_Lauren. said:

I have read that hormones can cause body hair to thin. I thought that was a old wives tale. Last week I couldn't remember the last time I shaved my chest, and that use to be a almost daily thing. Leg hair has also thinned out a lot. I guess I don't have to worry about laser on my chest. 

 

That's how it was for me.  I only had about two dozen hairs on my chest anyway (Thanks, DES!), and they disappeared over several months.  The last hangers-on were a couple around my nipples, which disappeared after about a year.

 

Likewise, my leg hair thinned out dramatically.  My thighs are completely hairless.  My calves have a little bit of hair left, but nothing that looks out of place on a 67-year-old lesbian.

[Guest]

The hair on my palms thinned out considerably but it could be that I've been on HRT for a year and I've a major lack of libido and the accompanying "friction therapy"🤪.

[Guest]

One thing I discovered is that you can get charley horses smack dab in the middle of the night. Kind of a pain (no pun intended), but hey, I did not think it was going to be a pain-free experience. I am loving all of the other changes. I too, am seeing the hair changes on my chest, abdomen, and legs. The facial hair is beginning to thin. I would be thrilled if someone comes out with a laser that works reliably for lighter or gray hair.

 

 

[Ivy]

7 minutes ago, Katie23 said:

One thing I discovered is that you can get charley horses smack dab in the middle of the night.

Hmmm.  This started to happen to me also.  

I never thought to connect it to HRT though, but maybe…

[Jackie C.]

21 minutes ago, Erica Gabriel said:

The hair on my palms thinned out considerably but it could be that I've been on HRT for a year and I've a major lack of libido and the accompanying "friction therapy"🤪.

 

You got me on that one. My brain ticked for quite a few cycles just going, "Wait? Palms?" Ha!

 

Hugs!

[Guest]

30 minutes ago, Jandi said:

Hmmm.  This started to happen to me also.  

I never thought to connect it to HRT though, but maybe…

For me it was cramps in my feet with an occasional Charlie horse. My hands cramp at work too.

[DeeDee]

I just had to Google what a Charlie horse was.😁 Never heard that expression in my life! I haven't been on HRT long enough, but the NHS list of possible impacts for HRT before they let you start are pretty thorough. I did notice that in my recent med gap my ability to be optimistic took a real nose dive once I got to about 4 weeks without my E prescription, didn't think the difference would be that noticeable that quickly.

[Jackie C.]

1 minute ago, DeeDee said:

Never heard that expression in my life!

 

Must be a regional slang thing. I learned this back in the 70s in the American Midwest.

 

Also, med gap? I start getting hot flashes if I'm without HRT for about two weeks. I have nothing but sympathy.

 

Hugs!

[Billie75B]

4 hours ago, KathyLauren said:

 

That's how it was for me.  I only had about two dozen hairs on my chest anyway (Thanks, DES!), and they disappeared over several months.  The last hangers-on were a couple around my nipples, which disappeared after about a year.

 

Likewise, my leg hair thinned out dramatically.  My thighs are completely hairless.  My calves have a little bit of hair left, but nothing that looks out of place on a 67-year-old lesbian.

@KathyLauren Are you a DES girl? I have wondered about if I am a DES child as my mom was 35 when she got pregnate with me and back in the fifties from what I understand doctors handed that stuff out like candy, unfortunately she passed away 10 years ago so I never got to ask her( at that time I didnt know to ask) but like you hardly any chest hair arm hair or even that much leg hair. My doctor also noticed that I dindt have the typical male adams apple.

 

Hugs

Billie

[KathyLauren]

43 minutes ago, Billie75B said:

@KathyLauren Are you a DES girl?

 

Probably.  Like you, I never got the opportunity (nor had a reason while she was alive) to ask my mother.  But the circumstances make it a strong possibility. 

 

My older brother, as her executor, had access to her medical files, and discovered that she had had a miscarriage a few years before he was born.  With that history, and given the fashion at the time, it is highly probably that we were both gestated under the influence of DES.  He is gay, and I am trans.  Inconclusive, but it is a pattern.  (And, just to keep it a mystery, our younger brother is cis and straight.) 

 

We'll never know for sure.