Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Youth talk => Topic started by: fleurgirl on February 07, 2018, 07:30:37 PM

Title: My Endo Has Kept Me on T-Blockers for FOUR Months?
Post by: fleurgirl on February 07, 2018, 07:30:37 PM
Hi, my endocrinologist is a great guy, but he's kept me on T-blockers for 4 months now with no mentions of estrogen. I'm on bicalutamide, so a little bit of estrogen has been naturally aromatized into my system, but it's nothing grand. Does anyone have any idea why he may be doing this? i wear female clothing and mostly present as female, so why is he holding back the 'girl juice'??? I know everyone is different, but my girlfriend was only on T-blockers for three WEEKS. What the freak?
Title: Re: My Endo Has Kept Me on T-Blockers for FOUR Months?
Post by: Dena on February 07, 2018, 08:01:46 PM
I can only guess that the reason you haven't received estrogen is because you haven't reached your 18th birthday. A normal policy is not to do anything irreversible or difficult to reverse until you are legally an adult. Sometimes there are exceptions such as if both parents agree but it comes down to the policy of the doctor or the program your being treated under.
Title: Re: My Endo Has Kept Me on T-Blockers for FOUR Months?
Post by: fleurgirl on February 07, 2018, 10:12:59 PM
Quote from: Dena on February 07, 2018, 08:01:46 PM
I can only guess that the reason you haven't received estrogen is because you haven't reached your 18th birthday. A normal policy is not to do anything irreversible or difficult to reverse until you are legally an adult. Sometimes there are exceptions such as if both parents agree but it comes down to the policy of the doctor or the program your being treated under.

In my state, I am allowed to make my medical decisions and such at 17. My parents are there for guidance and payment, but I pretty much talk mostly to the doctor about my needs and what we can work out. I love the sense of independence. The no-estrogen isn't from me not being 18, b/c there aren't any local laws against it. Perhaps there is some other finite reason, I guess I will just have to give him a call! Thanks, though!!
Title: Re: My Endo Has Kept Me on T-Blockers for FOUR Months?
Post by: Chloe on February 08, 2018, 04:50:50 AM
Quote from: fleurgirl on February 07, 2018, 07:30:37 PMI'm on bicalutamide, so a little bit of estrogen has been naturally aromatized into my system, but it's nothing grand.

fleurgirl RELAX! And consider yourself LUCKY! Casodex is TheBestTherapy but, according to what I've read here,  most docs are loath to prescibe it!

Keep Us Posted!

( ps edit: Am curious correct if wrong, without discussing specific dosing, but it's something you don't have to take everyday? )
Title: Re: My Endo Has Kept Me on T-Blockers for FOUR Months?
Post by: Julia1996 on February 08, 2018, 11:14:28 AM
I was 17 when I started hrt. It might be the Dr. Even though my dad made it clear I had his consent it was still hard for him to find a Dr willing to give hormones to someone under 18. The Dr he found required 2 letters from a therapist before she would give me hrt. She also required my dad to sign consent forms. When my dad mentioned that he heard of the letters for surgery but that he hadn't heard of needing 2 therapist notes for hrt she said it was her own requirement. I think some drs are afraid of giving hrt to people under 18 because if you're young the results of hrt are harder to reverse if someone changes their mind. So some drs only prescribe blockers until someone turns 18. The blockers prevent further damage from testosterone but the effects are easily reversed once you stop taking them. A lot of the drs my dad spoke to while trying to find a Dr for me said they would prescribe blockers but not estrogen until I was 18. And there is also the concern of being sued if someone changes their mind later. Drs have their own policies so it just depends on the Dr. Maybe you could try talking to your Dr about letting you start hrt.
Title: Re: My Endo Has Kept Me on T-Blockers for FOUR Months?
Post by: fleurgirl on February 08, 2018, 09:29:06 PM
Quote from: Kiera on February 08, 2018, 04:50:50 AM
fleurgirl RELAX! And consider yourself LUCKY! Casodex is TheBestTherapy but, according to what I've read here,  most docs are loath to prescibe it!

Keep Us Posted!

( ps edit: Am curious correct if wrong, without discussing specific dosing, but it's something you don't have to take everyday? )


Okay, I'll relax, lol! I think Casodex/bicalutamide has a half life of 2-3 days, but I still take it everyday. Why do doctors hate prescribing it? My endo recommended it first!
Title: Re: My Endo Has Kept Me on T-Blockers for FOUR Months?
Post by: fleurgirl on February 08, 2018, 09:30:59 PM
Quote from: Julia1996 on February 08, 2018, 11:14:28 AM
I was 17 when I started hrt. It might be the Dr. Even though my dad made it clear I had his consent it was still hard for him to find a Dr willing to give hormones to someone under 18. The Dr he found required 2 letters from a therapist before she would give me hrt. She also required my dad to sign consent forms. When my dad mentioned that he heard of the letters for surgery but that he hadn't heard of needing 2 therapist notes for hrt she said it was her own requirement. I think some drs are afraid of giving hrt to people under 18 because if you're young the results of hrt are harder to reverse if someone changes their mind. So some drs only prescribe blockers until someone turns 18. The blockers prevent further damage from testosterone but the effects are easily reversed once you stop taking them. A lot of the drs my dad spoke to while trying to find a Dr for me said they would prescribe blockers but not estrogen until I was 18. And there is also the concern of being sued if someone changes their mind later. Drs have their own policies so it just depends on the Dr. Maybe you could try talking to your Dr about letting you start hrt.

Makes sense, thank you.
Title: Re: My Endo Has Kept Me on T-Blockers for FOUR Months?
Post by: Chloe on February 09, 2018, 04:40:53 AM
Quote from: fleurgirl on February 08, 2018, 09:29:06 PM
. . . a half life of 2-3 days . . . Why do doctors hate prescribing it?

lol More like 5-6 days and always thought it'd be nice if "they" could make an estrogen tab more resilient, less "dissoluble? As to "why" unsure perhaps because it's anti-antigen effect is more permanent? It's also a treatment for Hirsutism in women expect to lose body hair if you have any now.

Suppose your endo is just being cautious (as usual?) ensuring no bad reactions occur, which is rare, before prescribing 'E'? I took Casodex for years but not every day.

Wish they had it when I was your age ( but, then again, one can't get "white cross" anymore either! )
Title: Re: My Endo Has Kept Me on T-Blockers for FOUR Months?
Post by: virtualverny on February 09, 2018, 01:41:32 PM
i've heard of people being on blockers for months so their bodies are completely free of testosterone, because apparently it makes the oestrogen works quicker. i have no idea if this is true or just an urban legend, though!
Title: Re: My Endo Has Kept Me on T-Blockers for FOUR Months?
Post by: fleurgirl on February 09, 2018, 03:22:43 PM
Quote from: virtualverny on February 09, 2018, 01:41:32 PM
i've heard of people being on blockers for months so their bodies are completely free of testosterone, because apparently it makes the oestrogen works quicker. i have no idea if this is true or just an urban legend, though!

Well, I hope it's true!
Title: Re: My Endo Has Kept Me on T-Blockers for FOUR Months?
Post by: Janes Groove on February 09, 2018, 03:37:48 PM
Get a second opinion. There's no harm in that.
Title: Re: My Endo Has Kept Me on T-Blockers for FOUR Months?
Post by: fleurgirl on February 10, 2018, 09:22:58 PM
Quote from: Kiera on February 09, 2018, 04:40:53 AM
lol More like 5-6 days and always thought it'd be nice if "they" could make an estrogen tab more resilient, less "dissoluble? As to "why" unsure perhaps because it's anti-antigen effect is more permanent? It's also a treatment for Hirsutism in women expect to lose body hair if you have any now.

Suppose your endo is just being cautious (as usual?) ensuring no bad reactions occur, which is rare, before prescribing 'E'? I took Casodex for years but not every day.

Wish they had it when I was your age ( but, then again, one can't get "white cross" anymore either! )

Kiera, girl, I WISH my hair would leave. My 'happy trail' is mostly gone but I still have quite a bit of hair on my thighs. When I try to shave it, it hurts like a b*tch! (excuse my French). How much longer would I have to wait for the Casodex to ride me of my thigh hair? Or is it different for everyone? Should I get it waxed?
Title: Re: My Endo Has Kept Me on T-Blockers for FOUR Months?
Post by: Northern Star Girl on February 10, 2018, 10:40:34 PM
Quote from: fleurgirl on February 07, 2018, 07:30:37 PM
Hi, my endocrinologist is a great guy, but he's kept me on T-blockers for 4 months now with no mentions of estrogen. I'm on bicalutamide, so a little bit of estrogen has been naturally aromatized into my system, but it's nothing grand. Does anyone have any idea why he may be doing this? i wear female clothing and mostly present as female, so why is he holding back the 'girl juice'??? I know everyone is different, but my girlfriend was only on T-blockers for three WEEKS. What the freak?

Yes fleurgirl, everyone and every body is different.  Your doctor might be looking at your blood test results and is making an informed decision to keep you on T-Blockers and not to start estrogen yet.  If you are not happy with what your doctor is saying perhaps you should question your doctor about it and/or find another doctor to give you a 2nd opinion.  IMHO, until the time that one has a orchidotomy, T-Blockers usually continue throughout HRT.... at least that is the way it happened with me.
Title: Re: My Endo Has Kept Me on T-Blockers for FOUR Months?
Post by: Chloe on February 11, 2018, 08:10:24 AM
Quote from: Aspiringperson on February 10, 2018, 10:40:34 PMIMHO, until the time that one has a orchidotomy, T-Blockers usually continue throughout HRT....

           I respectfully disagree. But then again I'm older still pre-everything and "T levels" drop with age. Since stopping Casodex 3 years ago (feel an invasive 'orchi' is foolish, totally unnecessary) am now only on low dose "E" and quite content, progressing  "au naturel"  ;) . . .
lol One definition: (https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=au%20naturel) (2) also used for European or hippie women that don't shave their arm pits or their legs.

I don't have to 'shave' anymore!

Quote from: fleurgirl on February 10, 2018, 09:22:58 PM
Kiera, girl, I WISH my hair would leave.
It will (a study) (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11915584)! I completely lost underarm, chest and leg hair never shaved arms it's very thin afraid won't come back AT ALL!

BY ALL MEANS
wax if fun / ya like PAIN!!
Title: Re: My Endo Has Kept Me on T-Blockers for FOUR Months?
Post by: fleurgirl on February 11, 2018, 11:41:41 AM
Quote from: Aspiringperson on February 10, 2018, 10:40:34 PM
Yes fleurgirl, everyone and every body is different.  Your doctor might be looking at your blood test results and is making an informed decision to keep you on T-Blockers and not to start estrogen yet.  If you are not happy with what your doctor is saying perhaps you should question your doctor about it and/or find another doctor to give you a 2nd opinion.  IMHO, until the time that one has a orchidotomy, T-Blockers usually continue throughout HRT.... at least that is the way it happened with me.

Thanks. Yeah, that kind of wants to make me find out what results my blood test brought back--and how much T was in my system before the start of Casodex. Anyways, thank you aspiringperson!!
Title: Re: My Endo Has Kept Me on T-Blockers for FOUR Months?
Post by: fleurgirl on February 11, 2018, 11:44:47 AM
Quote from: Kiera on February 11, 2018, 08:10:24 AM
           I respectfully disagree. But then again I'm older still pre-everything and "T levels" drop with age. Since stopping Casodex 3 years ago (feel an invasive 'orchi' is foolish, totally unnecessary) am now only on low dose "E" and quite content, progressing  "au naturel"  ;) . . .
lol One definition: (https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=au%20naturel) (2) also used for European or hippie women that don't shave their arm pits or their legs.

I don't have to 'shave' anymore!
It will (a study) (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11915584)! I completely lost underarm, chest and leg hair never shaved arms it's very thin afraid won't come back AT ALL!

BY ALL MEANS
wax if fun / ya like PAIN!!

Thanks, Kiera. You've been a lot of help and I'll definitely look into that study.