HRT doctor

[Lorelei]

My wife is scheduling me with a gender doctor for hormone replacement therapy that she met at work. My wife is a nurse and knows a lot of doctors, and she happened to know a gender affirming doctor at a relatively local hospital. It is in New York City where she works. I had originally made an appointment at Planned Parenthood, but that was like 180 miles from me. There were no slots open locally. Personally I would have preferred the Planned Parenthood clinic 180 miles away in Massachusetts as I hate driving into the city, but my wife is more comfortable with me going to the doctor she knows. I am awful at procrastinating so I asked her to schedule me with him. She is going to do it today. I just can’t wait until I get the right hormones inside of me. My wife is amazingly supportive of me. 

[Charlize]

That sounds great Theresa.  You will probably not need to visit your endocrinologist very often after getting started.  Occasional blood tests are certainly important but otherwise no need to worry terribly about the city.

( As an aside...it's not my favorite place either)

My wife is a retired nurse and also has become quite supportive.  It's great to have that kind of relationship.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[Heather Shay]

Good news Theresa. Support from spouse and gender doctor. 

[Delcina B]

Wonderful news Theresa! I have been fortunate to have an amazing Endo & GT. Three hours round trip makes it a day trip I happily make.

 

Hugs!

Delcina 

[Lorelei]

On 7/17/2023 at 10:49 AM, Delcina B said:

Wonderful news Theresa! I have been fortunate to have an amazing Endo & GT. Three hours round trip makes it a day trip I happily make.

 

Hugs!

Delcina 

My wife had scheduled me for one me that is only 15 minutes from me. It is at a pride wellness center. I looked it up and it may not do informed consent hormones, but I know a therapist who would help me with that. 

[Charlize]

I'm glad that there is the possibility of informed consent but please do not hesitate to see a therapist.  I think many of us, i know i  occasionally do, have fears and doubts about our path over time.  Therapy has helped me to accept this journey which is certainly more involved than simply doing HRT or surgery.  

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[missyjo]

Theresa 

congratulations 

sounds like you have a wonderful spouse supporting you in this journey n looking out for your health too.

 

I like the idea of a doc we know, that way you're more than a file number, but it all assumes the doc does this n well or as well or better than the other choices. sounds good. good luck n keep us posted 

 

hugs

[Ashley0616]

That is wonderful Theresa! I'm a little jealous of your spouse. I'm glad you have someone. It's wonderful when you are on the hormones.

[Lorelei]

I finally got to go to a gender affirming health clinic yesterday. They took my blood to check my existing hormone levels (I asked so I have a baseline level). Going through my medical history took a long time, and the fact I have clotting issues (ischemic stroke) has the nurse practitioner consulting with specialists. Apparently having a massive stroke 11 years ago at 30 is not something that comes up often with gender affirming care. When I had the stroke, my fear during it wasn’t that I was dying. My fear was that I was dying in the wrong body. My neurologist said “no way” (he is very blunt). I am going to let the NP consult with her specialists. I have a follow up with the nurse practitioner next week regarding starting the hormones. I know the risks, and unlike my neurologist, I know first hand how devastating a clot can be. I know realistically that I will ultimately be able to start hormones, but I am very stressed about it. 

[Lorelei]

I started Dotti 0.1mg/day (estradiol patches) twice a week yesterday afternoon. My gender affirming NP put the prescription in Wednesday but they had to order them. I am so happy right now. The right hormones are being absorbed by my body right now. The NP wants me to talk to my psychiatrist about reducing or eliminating the lithium I take so she can start me on spiriolactone so I made an appointment for that in a few weeks. Things are finally coming together for my medical transition. I am also going to talk to my neurologist next month to figure out how to best to avoid strokes despite me taking estrogen against his advice. Maybe get a stronger blood thinner. 

[missyjo]

theresa, 

congrats honey.

I am looking into orchiectomy n 1 benefits is it will eliminate some drugstore I would otherwise need.

 

I wonder if that could help you dear

 

good luck

hugs

[Lorelei]

I am now officially on estradiol for two weeks, but haven’t felt anything from it other than the euphoria knowing that I am receiving the right hormones. I saw my psychiatrist yesterday, and he is weaning my off of lithium so that I can start spironolactone. Apparently lithium and spironolactone have dangerous interactions. It will take three months before I can start it. The wait will be rough, but at least the process has started. Next month I am seeing my neurologist and figuring out if I need a stronger blood thinner as I have a history of clotting. He told me not to start estrogen, but I decided that the benefits of hormone replacement therapy outweighs the risk of another stroke. 

[MaybeRob]

Hi Theresa

 

I've hit 5 weeks on gel - started feeling a 'presence' in my chest the last 2 weeks. Mentally felt a change in the last week, not sure how to describe the feeling.

 

My GP wouldn't prescribe an AA (eg Spiro) till after 3 months of estradiol, and after blood works are done. Guess everyone is different.

 

Hugs

 

MaybeRob

[AllieJ]

54 minutes ago, Theresa said:

I am now officially on estradiol for two weeks, but haven’t felt anything from it other than the euphoria knowing that I am receiving the right hormones. I saw my psychiatrist yesterday, and he is weaning my off of lithium so that I can start spironolactone. Apparently lithium and spironolactone have dangerous interactions. It will take three months before I can start it. The wait will be rough, but at least the process has started. Next month I am seeing my neurologist and figuring out if I need a stronger blood thinner as I have a history of clotting. He told me not to start estrogen, but I decided that the benefits of hormone replacement therapy outweighs the risk of another stroke. 

Hi Theresa, there is a deal of misinformation getting around about hormone therapy asn risks, mostly from an old report on synthetic hormones which are rarely used today as they have elevated risks. Spiro seems to be the 'go to' medication for many doctors, but it comes with its own problems. You are lucky having a medically trained spouse, so I suggest you get her to read through this paper from the University of California SanFrancisco as it has recent findings about the risks for clotting. 

https://transcare.ucsf.edu/guidelines/feminizing-hormone-therapy?fbclid=IwAR0WqsWfbG-7ZKCWsOUzL-Nl3tYjxewEepCT3Yq0pjvYEVfNi6yvizv_MKU

 

Hugs,

 

Allie

[Lorelei]

48 minutes ago, AllieJ said:

Hi Theresa, there is a deal of misinformation getting around about hormone therapy asn risks, mostly from an old report on synthetic hormones which are rarely used today as they have elevated risks. Spiro seems to be the 'go to' medication for many doctors, but it comes with its own problems. You are lucky having a medically trained spouse, so I suggest you get her to read through this paper from the University of California SanFrancisco as it has recent findings about the risks for clotting. 

https://transcare.ucsf.edu/guidelines/feminizing-hormone-therapy?fbclid=IwAR0WqsWfbG-7ZKCWsOUzL-Nl3tYjxewEepCT3Yq0pjvYEVfNi6yvizv_MKU

 

Hugs,

 

Allie

Thank you for that link. It was very informative. 

[Charlize]

Thank you for posting that link Allie.  

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[missyjo]

watching it all n hoping for good things fir my sisters n friends..n waiting l'y turn

 

hugs

[Ashley0616]

@Theresa I have been on it for five months and was finally able to feel the effects at around three and a half months. Everyone will have different effects when it takes place. Good luck!

[KayC]

Hi @Theresa!  I have been following your thread from the beginning, and I am very happy for you that you're finally able to start on your HRT journey with estradiol. 

 

I just started on the 'Big E' a couple of months ago, but my journey is a little bit different.  My Dr started me on anti-androgens first - spironolactone - because he knew I wasn't ready to socially transition yet (issues with my wife) and I also needed blood pressure meds anyway.  The spiro has worked great for both.  The first couple of months on anti-androgen I felt a bit 'empty'(?) it's the only way I can describe it.  Now I realize that I had just never felt what is was like to not have the Big T running rampant in my body (maybe since puberty anyway). 

 

I really liked the 'new me'.  But I knew it wasn't enough.

Then I told my Dr I was ready to start estradiol, and he had no problems with getting me started.  He has been ramping me up and watching my lab results.  Almost there.  I can say even over that short time I have felt the physical/biological changes.  My breast seemed to get a jump start (I was actually worried they might grow too fast, but I don't think so anymore).  I think maybe because I was already on the spiro, that maybe my body (and my 'girls') were just waiting for the estradiol to show up.

 

I think I am still undergoing some more emotional changes, but nothing big, and mostly positive.

 

Anyway, I hope you get the physical and (more importantly) emotional results you have been waiting so long for.  Please keep us updated.

and @AllieJ thank you for that article link.  That was great info!