Made an appointment with a clinic in DC. Finally accepting myself has been a huge weight lifted.
As an aside, prior to starting on HRT are there any herbal supplements that I can take that may give me a head start on transitioning?
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Yeh for the first step of just knowing you need to deal with it all. :)
We are not really supposed to go into herbal stuff much here but I can tell you what dietary things I did.
First a warning, my T was pretty low and the dietary changes drove it so low I was living what PMS feels like for a while. That I cannot recommend.
Here's what I did:
added a couple of tablespoons of whole ground flax seed to my cereal each morning. Flax contains Ligands which can lower the bodies production of T in studies. Otherwise flax is very healthful in general.
Drank peppermint tea instead of or in addition to my regular coffee. Both spearmint and peppermint can low T production.
Took saw palmetto capsules. Another warning here. Although saw palmetto is sold as just a regular dietary supplement is has activity in the body similar to finasteride and duteraside. For some it may be an issue. For me it did not have any depressive feelings although at first I was gassy from taking it.
I lost a ton of muscle mass quickly using these but like I said, my hormones must have bottomed out. Every little thing seemed like the end of the world to me emotionally. I started adding a menapause supplement and that seemed to level me out some. That supplement was full of plant phytoestrogens. I can say it was nothing like the feeling I got from the first estradiol tablet I had dissolve in my mouth once I got on HRT. During this time my slight gynocamastia kicked in big time and I began experiencing breast tissue growth. I wasn't sure what it was at first but the aching increased for some time. I had slight gynocamastia before, so I suppose I had already been in the "prepubescent budding stage" before I ever started diet or HRT.
I waited three months plus for my therapist to write my HRT recommendation letter and to get an appointment with an endocrinologist in St Louis. It was a difficult wait full of hope and disappointment. Eventually I got there. With my T so low, even that first low dose of estradiol that dissolved in my cheek made a difference. I was driving home from the pharmacy and about 30 min after putting that tablet in my mouth I felt this lifting of my sense of wellbeing. It was this background anxiety that I didn't even realize was there just lifting off of my mind. I noticed I was smiling and did not have a reason why. To me that was profound.
I had great results from Thai herbals, and I think they're a great option for someone who isn't going to use the medical route. But you are, so I wouldn't bother at this point. :)
Hugs, Devlyn
Diet, Herbals, and certain teas (easily found on the internet and not supposed to be discussed here easy to find though). Do they work? For me they did. Now I have the real thing. I would recommend waiting for HRT and doing other things -removing facial hair to calm your mind. A simple step you can take that won't help much with transitioning physically. but may mentally is simply to add chopped flax seed to your food. Effective or not it is a really good supplement for a range of things your body needs anyway.
My apologies- no more talk of herbals.
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I took flax seed oil capsules before hrt because I heard a health guru on TV say men shouldn't eat flax because it lowers their T. So of course I took it :D It made my skin softer but that was about it.
Quote from: Pisces228 on December 12, 2017, 11:34:33 AM
I took flax seed oil capsules before hrt because I heard a health guru on TV say men shouldn't eat flax because it lowers their T. So of course I took it :D It made my skin softer but that was about it.
Flax oil looses its active Ligands(spelling?) during the cooking/extraction process. To affect T production in the body it has to whole ground seed.
Quote from: josie76 on December 12, 2017, 12:18:41 PM
Flax oil looses its active Ligands(spelling?) during the cooking/extraction process. To affect T production in the body it has to whole ground seed.
Like I said, it only made my skin softer. That very well could have been from the fatty acids in it and not T dropping.
Personally, if I was determined to get a head start in the beginning, and I knew the journey was long, I'd experiment and try products like this:
https://www.vitacost.com/life-flo-estrocare-natural-phytoestrogens?csrc=GPF-PA-Beauty%20%26%20Personal%20Care-645951840024&ci_gpa=pla&ci_kw=&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=645951840024&csrc=GPF-PA&mtp=sNBxhvA3F-dc|pcrid|97670542093|product|645951840024&gclid=CjwKCAiAmb7RBRATEiwA7kS8VMIEWSXEK8Z7Yw89ppdhYG4TbKTFAV4dV_p9uvgPfv-r5BWdBOcUKxoCYrIQAvD_BwE (https://www.vitacost.com/life-flo-estrocare-natural-phytoestrogens?csrc=GPF-PA-Beauty%20%26%20Personal%20Care-645951840024&ci_gpa=pla&ci_kw=&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=645951840024&csrc=GPF-PA&mtp=sNBxhvA3F-dc%7Cpcrid%7C97670542093%7Cproduct%7C645951840024&gclid=CjwKCAiAmb7RBRATEiwA7kS8VMIEWSXEK8Z7Yw89ppdhYG4TbKTFAV4dV_p9uvgPfv-r5BWdBOcUKxoCYrIQAvD_BwE)
It most likely won't bring serum estradiol levels up to female range, but it would do something! Maybe make your skin softer, and some slight feminization. Would definitely ease a little dysphoria leading up to getting put on a doctor prescribed strength of estradiol instead versus a natal female strength of phytoestrogen, which is no where near what a trans woman would need, and taking a product like this at that high of a dosage could lead to bad side effects. I'd take it as instructed, and not push my luck.
As with any "supplement", you take it at your own risk.
Quote from: Pisces228 on December 12, 2017, 12:53:55 PM
Like I said, it only made my skin softer. That very well could have been from the fatty acids in it and not T dropping.
It's the Omega 3 ALA, which the body converts using enzymes into DHA & EPA. That will definitely soften your skin some.
Here are some specifics:
DHA is a structural component of the skin.
It is responsible for the health of cell membranes, which make up a large part of skin.
A healthy cell membrane results in soft, moist, supple and wrinkle-free skin.
EPA also benefits the skin in several ways, including (101, 102):
Managing oil production in skin.
Managing hydration of the skin.
Preventing hyperkeratinization of hair follicles (the little red bumps often seen on upper arms).
Preventing premature ageing of the skin.
Preventing acne.
Omega-3s can also protect your skin from sun damage. EPA helps block the release of substances that eat away at the collagen in your skin after sun exposure (101).
So much good advice. Thank you all.
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You're welcome.
****UPDATE****
Just got my first appointment scheduled. 12/19. Yay!
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Quote from: Kc1058 on December 13, 2017, 03:19:53 PM
****UPDATE****
Just got my first appointment scheduled. 12/19. Yay!
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Clarification- Bloodwork for HRT. :-)
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Quote from: Kc1058 on December 13, 2017, 04:21:53 PM
Clarification- Bloodwork for HRT. :-)
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Meds follow bloodwork pretty fast. :)
Congrats! You're well on your way! :)
Quote from: Kc1058 on December 13, 2017, 03:19:53 PM
****UPDATE****
Just got my first appointment scheduled. 12/19. Yay!
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Omg so excited for you!! I just did mine a week ago, waiting for the bloodwork. See you on the other side ;)