Self Medding

[NB Adult]

Let me start out by saying that "Self Medding" is dangerous, don't do it. Since I know that advice may not be taken by everyone allow me to tell you about my negative experience.

Early into my transition I decided to skip the doctor's warnings and purchased a good supply of Ethinyl Estradiol. I was getting along just fine until one morning I awoke with one leg twice the size of the other. It was alarming, so I raced off to the hospital ER and it turned out that I had given myself an enormous life threatening blood clot that ran the entire length of my left leg. I had to stop the hormones and go on a blood thinner and be monitored for six months until it dissipated. It's called Deep Vein Thrombosis, had I not gone to the ER right away, I would be dead today. Ethinyl Estradiol it turns out is one of the most likely clot producers there is. Safest bet for anyone is the patch or a topical jel and to be monitored by a healthcare professional.

[VickySGV]

Thank you for this post. This is the reason for our community rules 12: 12 and 14 -----

Quote

Rule 12 You may not encourage others to engage in illegal activity. This includes encouraging the use of hormones obtained through means other than a legitimate prescription under the supervision of a physician.

 

Rule 13 You may not share the dose of any medication you are taking, including hormones. What works for you may well be fatal for someone else.

 

Rule 14 You may not recommend dangerous or harmful treatments. This includes both herbal and non-prescription hormones, "reparative" or "conversion" therapy, and any other medication or treatment that has been proven to be fraught with danger.

 

I too had a DVT and know what it can do.  Follow your doctor's orders as to what and how to take, it may be they consider it the least potentially harmful to you in their experience and professional judgment.

[NB Adult]

I can't preach this enough to our community, I've had two other former TG women friends die because of self medding. It's always a temptation for those who can't wait for the usual medical protocols prescribed by transgender specialists, and a little doesn't ever seem to be enough, when we know that a small amount over time will achieve much. Impatience and willfulness is a killer!

[Carolyn Marie]

Thank you for sharing your experience, NB.  We can stomp and yell and preach about the dangers of DIY hormones until our faces are blue, and no one listens.  It takes real world experience like yours to make a lasting impression.  We're glad you survived the experience.

 

Carolyn

[Lexi C]

I am sorry but what is Self Medding and DIY? curios ty

[VickySGV]

1 hour ago, Alex C said:

I am sorry but what is Self Medding and DIY? curios ty

 

Taking medications that you have bought on the street without a doctors prescription.  I worked on a drug enforcement detail for the State for about 10 years, and there were big problems with illegally made drugs, smuggled drugs from other countries and so on.  Very dangerous, but a very real problem when some people get desperate for Hormones.  The drug buyer has no guarantee of the drug dosage in a pill and they do not know what the proper dosage for them really is.  It is a mess.  DIY means Do It Yourself no doctor or medical team involved. 

[Charlize]

Thank you NB!  Self medication is extremely dangerous.  With the help of my doctors i've managed to have a safe regiment of HRT despite having heart disease.  I'd be dead if it did it myself!

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[Maid In Bedlam]

The moral of this story isr: YOU DON'T BUY ONLINE

Who knows what sort of rubbish can be put into those pills and potions. It doesnt matter what it says on the tin. I could buy pill bottles on ebay and stick mints in them and say they was Amazing cure everything pills that will give you huge Boobs and makes your penis turn inwald. But just useing mints is being nice. Someone else could just put drain unblocker in the same pill box and say the same thing.

Do yourself a favor and go to a doctor. At least you know you have a bit of assurance they are what they say they are. He or she wont bite your head off. In general they are not ghouls.


 if you pick the wrong seller. They do not care if you live or die. They just want a fast buck. None of what they sell is tested or regulated.

That is all i need to say on the subject i think

[ShawnaLeigh]

It was this posting that has made me think long and hard on not doing this too.  

I have already admitted in another post that I have self medicated on and off for years.  (Think of all that luckiness I wasted on not getting hurt I could of use on lottery tickets.)  

Awareness is key.  I was not.  Not knowledgeable and I see now very foolish to think it was ok.  Nothing bad will ever happen to me right?  It could of...  I was lucky.

I am not on anything now.  I have contacted a local therapist just this morning via email and we are making a plan to meet.  Starting to get things under control.  Maybe get things going in the direction I hope they will.

I am still unsure of a lot of things/feelings/ etc. so I am excited but still extremely scared.

 

[NB Adult]

I am so pleased for you making a smart decision. I knew two other MtF people personally who died from self-medding, had I not been so driven and bone-headed I never would have done that either given all the information I had. You are so right about how we fool ourselves thinking that we won't die, that it only happens to others. Be sure and tell your therapist that you had been using and what type they were, it will enable him/her to prescribe sooner knowing that you apparently are able to handle cross gender hormones without severe reactions. They'll probably want to do the usual bloodwork prior to that.

[Jani]

1 hour ago, Nivegnal said:

I am still unsure of a lot of things/feelings/ etc. so I am excited but still extremely scared.

This is normal and not to be feared.  I know that doesn't make sense but fear (hopefully) makes us think things out.  

 

57 minutes ago, NB Adult said:

Be sure and tell your therapist that you had been using and what type they were, it will enable him/her to prescribe sooner knowing that you apparently are able to handle cross gender hormones without severe reactions. They'll probably want to do the usual bloodwork prior to that.

I'm not sure a therapist will order blood work but coming clean with them about past activities will be good. 

[NB Adult]

48 minutes ago, Jani said:

I'm not sure a therapist will order blood work but coming clean with them about past activities will be good. 

 

You're right Jani, the therapist will give what amounts to a written head's up for hormone therapy and the GP or endocrinologist will order bloodwork before prescribing if they are responsible practitioners.

[ShawnaLeigh]

So I earlier admitted to self medding on and off for years in this posting.  Regardless of my reasoning or whatnot I am not any longer.  

I was wondering how long it takes, on average, to have these drugs leave your system?   I assume once I confess this to my therapist on Friday he will naturally suggest I stop and I happily plan to report I have thanks to the knowledgeable ladies here.  He was impressed I even reached out to you girls and sought out information.

I further assume I will get zero blood testing recommendations to check my baseline levels until these are our out of my system.  Hense the original question.

 

 

 

 

[NB Adult]

I think it's about 30 days!

[ShawnaLeigh]

Thank you.

[NB Adult]

Wish you well, you're doing the right thing!