"The Estrogen Effect"

[Jennie]

Hi everyone, I was thinking about what my Doctor was telling me, about how me being a MTF has a female brain and a male body so my brain is being starved of estrogen, he said it does not get the amount estrogen it needs, it only gets the small amount produced by any normal male.
My brain needs a higher quantity of estrogen and it is not getting it so the brain tells my body there is something wrong in the form of dysphoria or GID.

He has over 20 years experience in dealing with gender dysphoria and he says that it is known that after taking estrogen the dysphoria will start to fade and get less intense, he said some Dr's have even used it as a tool to verify that there patients do or do not have gender dysphoria.
He has mentioned that many of his patients have told him of the great relief they got after starting the estrogen.

I am sure that many of you here might have had the same reaction to the estrogen, if so I would like to hear your thoughts on this matter, do you think it is the estrogen or a placeebo effect or a combo of both.
I am very in tune with my body and I have noticed the tension and the constant feeling of dysphoria, the same feeling that I used to be able to hide, I can not hide anymore, so that is what made me go and seek help and start therapy and eventually HRT. 
Well today I started HRT, I took my first estrogen tablet at 11:30 today and I have to say that I noticed a marked change after a few hrs.   I noticed that the tension and teh clenching of the teeth was gone, the feeling was great, I did not feel the dysphoria as being relentless, it was like I forgot how to relax and the Estrogen turned on the relax button or should I say it turned off the dysphoria button

So please tell me your thoughts on this "Estrogen Effect"  Did you notice this effect too?
This is the best feeling in the world, my brain is no longer being starved of what it was rightfully meant to have
Aloha

Jennie

[marelivki]

I don't know how much of it is actual brain-starvation (funny word), and our mental awareness that we do something to help ourselves. I remember when I started taking hormones I felt really relieved because I felt that there will be no more changes towards masculinity, that now it's only time for feminity, I am not frustrated, I am not furious, I can slowly breathe, and back then just wait for the effects. I can't say how much of it is the real estrogen effect, and our feeling of peace... So I would go with the "combo" one

[Rabbit]

Well, I definitely feel different... and I doubt it is psychosomatic (considering I went into hormones really relaxed and pretty much "well, lets see what happens"... so hadn't built it up in my head or anything).

I "think" the additional calmness might be from the spiro (lower blood pressure? that makes sense).. or maybe it is from lack of friskyness? Or it could just be the estrogen...who knows?

One huge difference is much less anxiety. I am still pretty awkward at times, but really don't feel this huge anxiety issue when out in public (even though at the moment, my body is actually WORSE than it was before I started... gained 5-10 pounds, hair looks horrible, my face looks strange a lot of the time...) but still, i feel pretty fine.

Again, is it from the spiro? Or the estrogen? I'm not too sure.

[versuchsanordnung]

I'll second that. Even on a low dose of e a huge amount of pressure was gone all of a sudden. I went from suicidally depressed and basically not able to deal with anything last fall to learning a new trade and making realistic plans for my future since this spring. On the way i worked on issues from my past that i shied away from for at least 15 years and made huge steps with them. It is a whole different quality of life.........

[JennX]

It's better than tacos, pizza, chocolate, ice cream or chinese food.

Better than pizza??? I dunno... I have had some really good pizza. 

[FairyGirl]

it's like my brain woke up and came alive... it's like my eyes woke up and were finally able to see colour... it made sense out of my life when nothing else could.

I like the concept that our female brains were estrogen starved; I know mine was certainly testosterone poisoned, so it makes sense.

[Medusa]

I feel kind of stoned, I have no worries, everything is good, but also one negative thing, I now just sit and enjoy it > laziness, no progress 
And I can look at my body with good expectation, no fear as before 

[AbraCadabra]

Though, there is a parallel.

Have you EVERY been on a zero-diet, just water? Say for a week?!

Once you come off, EVERYTHING just tastes incredible, raw veg, EVERYTHING!

This is the situation after deprivation --- alas it does NOT stay that way, and so be it.
Nature I assume knows best.

The same applies to E.
I have taken note of all these effects, close to walking on clouds, but we do come down to business as (almost) usual eventually.
And that is good so.
Lest we'd become just a bunch of E stoned-out trans-girls to our genetic sisters --- I'd rather feel these days being OK, and sharing some of there normal ups and downs.
Love some, bitch some, eh?

My 2 cents,
Axelle

[Karla]

E gave me a psychological boost for sure, but I suspect it's a combination of both factors. If you're configured to run on estrogen then your brain will demand it. From a less objective point of view I didn't start feeling the 'effect' until I was in the right place mentally, like I just kinda allowed it to work, but that may be caused by the physical effect in the first place.... ugh darn objectivity

[AbraCadabra]

* I was ->-bleeped-<-ing insane before HRT. *

Hells, bells, how much clearer can THAT be put! :-)

I'm happy it did the trick, and you came right.
Axelle

[mechakitty]

My doctor alluded to something like this himself, actually. It seems to be just a theory, since they don't have an exact mechanism for this effect, but it's backed by decades of anecdotal evidence. And, at least from personal experience, I can attest that the relaxing, calming, clarity-promoting effects of even the first week on estrogen were not placebo.

[melissa42013]

p.s. If there is ever a shortage of supply you can find me in that part of the world where it is.

Ha! I feel the same way about finally having the E in my system but also the supply. Even though I have a prescription for E and you can get it just about anywhere with that, I STILL feel the need to keep a backup supply should the world suddenly fall into chaos, aliens appear, etc. I don't know, seems crazy because I doubt I would do the same if I was on heart medicine!

-M

[Joelene9]

  I theorized that in the late 70's to my psychiatrist.  At that time, doctors and researchers though that male and female brains were the same and the hormones MAY program the brain accordingly.  He didn't believe me and convinced me that it was fable.  I believed that and thought that my experience with estrogen was a fluke after seeing the overwhelming anecdotal evidence here on Susan's to counter mine.  I see more M-Fs get more moody than before they started on HRT.  However, these same people say they are more at peace with themselves now. 
  My experience says different.  My mood swings from before HRT ceased for the longest time thus far.  I am no longer cursing at myself for the daily problems I encounter, I was heard cursing at the balky software over an astrometrical alignment function at an observing session two weeks ago and not at myself for a change!  To my relief, the owner of that software said that older software version I have has problems in that area!  I also experienced a calmness from thinking in a single train of thought instead of the 3 things going through my mind that has plagued me for as long as I remember!   And I thought that was normal! 
  When researchers finally came out and said that they found evidence of estrogen receptors in the brains of both males and females and said that men just had too few of them to be a non-issue for them.  However, some of those researchers hinted that transgender M-Fs do not have an increase of estrogen receptors because of the boys do have a higher testosterone levels during childhood than with the girls and this may be the cause.  That just put another roadblock in my efforts to transisition another 25 years or so.  There are always some killjoy Bozos in the research field!
  I've been cheated out of a better life.....And I knew the antidote for my problem!
  Joelene

[Korlee]

My doctor alluded to something like this himself, actually. It seems to be just a theory, since they don't have an exact mechanism for this effect, but it's backed by decades of anecdotal evidence. And, at least from personal experience, I can attest that the relaxing, calming, clarity-promoting effects of even the first week on estrogen were not placebo.

I really wish I could say the same as you peeps but as long as so much remains to be done?  I just don't feel this way but instead I feel like it's just another tease in a long series of tease.  I really don't see the end goal happening at all right now and I really don't care to live to be old to wait for it.

[MarinaM]

Estrogen briefly took out my major anxiety, but my craziness nudged it back up to the fore about a week ago. It turns out that I have to try to keep up with my super demanding drive for success and make intelligent decisions or I become a total nutcase. Can't rest. I'll go nuts.

[Lisbeth]

So please tell me your thoughts on this "Estrogen Effect"  Did you notice this effect too?

No, I don't believe in it. No psychological effects at all.

[Lily]

I've had a huge boost to confidence and I am far less shy after starting.

Maybe it is just a placebo effect, but feeling better is still feeling better. Every effect has been positive, and I can't say that about any other medications I've ever taken.

[VeryGnawty]

Better than pizza??? I dunno... I have had some really good pizza. 

For that matter, I've had some pretty good Chinese food.

[Lily]

For that matter, I've had some pretty good Chinese food.

I could eat a whole plate of eggrolls right now. There's nothing better than warm, crispy eggrolls dipped in sweet & sour.

[mechakitty]

Kay, so, given the wide range of replies, it probably only happens in some people, and it's probably highly dependent on your age, amongst other factors. I doubt it's just a placebo effect.

Just my two subjective cents here. 

I could eat a whole plate of eggrolls right now. There's nothing better than warm, crispy eggrolls dipped in sweet & sour.

Egg rolls plz.