My levels and concerns about them

[Alainaluvsu]

This may be a long post... sorry!

Also, if somebody could PM me so I can discuss dosages that would be great!

To date, my levels have been a bit difficult to get to that perfect spot. A brief history of me on HRT:

I started in August 2011 self medicating. When I went in for my first blood test in November, my levels were perfect.

E = 175
T = 25

My endo precribed me the dosage that I told her I was on (and I was being truthful with her on my dosage).

3 months later (February), my levels were way different.

E = 722
T = 9

As you can probably imagine, my results on HRT to that point were spectacular. Breast growth boomed, my facial structure changed (although not enough to pass yet), I was an emotional roller coaster and was experiencing morning sickness but I was very happy with how fast I was changing. I told her that I thought the sublingual administration was what I thought was causing the very high levels, and she ordered an estradiol test to be taken a week later on the new dose. The results came back E = 640.

I asked about injections and she prescribed them. I started to notice masculine features popping back up (such as oily skin and hair, increased sex drive, etc) so I immediately asked to switch back to pills, which I did. The pills started working and those symptoms went away.

3 months later (May), I was feeling those symptoms come back. My roommate even told me that I had BO like a man. Well I went to get my tests, my results were E= 90... T wasn't tested for because she felt they were consistently suppressed. She switched my E dose to a level between where I started and what I was taking at the time. She ordered me to take tests every 2 months and ordered a T test to be taken in 2 months.

Funny thing is, she prescribed me enough estradiol to last for a year (she usually prescribes enough for 6 months). So I took it upon myself to take the dose that I was taking when I started (the one that got me at 722), for about a month. My boobs started growing like crazy and those same symptoms as before started coming back. This is when I started passing with ease, too. After that, I backed off of the high dose and started taking what she prescribed for the remaining month. While I felt my sex drive completely gone, my fatigue was higher than ... ever.. my emotions were a bit calmer, my boobs stopped growing, my muscle mass diminished to a point I've not seen since I was like... 9, and my face doesn't seem to be changing as fast as it used to.

I took a blood test yesterday, and my results were:

E = 112
T = 7

She (the nurse) said she was "very happy" with those results and told me to keep on the dose I'd been taking. I didn't tell her what I did for a month, but I did ask her if my E levels should be higher as my doctor said she wouldn't let them fall below 150. Honestly I think she's out of ideas and she's just waiting until I get an orchiectomy to change my dose. But I want my levels a lil higher because I was getting GREAT results when I was on the dose that was causing high levels.

Posts here would be great, but I'd really love a PM. Thanks!

[Jamie D]

T is fine.  E needs to be a little higher, as your doctor suggests.

722 was too high for an extended period.

But you know your body best, and need to convey that information to the HCP.

[JennX]

My levels, like yours, have fluctuated over a 2 year period. Without mentioning dosages, my levels have evened off a bit more lately. My last test was E = 152 pg/ml and T = 23 ng/dl. My E all-time high was 352 pg/ml which occured like about 1 year ago +/-. I think this has most to do with our bodies physiology, of which each is unique. After a period I think our body becomes accustomed to the hormones and begins to metabolize and break them down faster and more efficiently. It's the same reason docs may switch patients from one type of high blood pressure med to another... in order to overcome the bodies building resistance to the drugs. As long as your E level stays between 150-200 pg/ml, and your T level below 40 ng/dl... you should be good. My doc has told me that even a lower, but constant steady level, of around 120 pg/ml is fine too. It has a lot to do with what your system thinks it ok.

[Alainaluvsu]

Honestly I am just grateful that my T is down. I am worried about my E levels because I do want to continue to feminize, but at least there's nothing in my body to cause more permanent "damage" due to testosterone. I've thought about sneaking a lil bit extra E to raise them occasionally (maybe x mg more a day every other week). I have a bit of insight on how my body is doing hormonally so I am thinking I'll be okay by doing that. I know when I see the endo in late September, I'm asking why she said she wouldn't let me fall below 150 but now she thinks I'm "perfect". I'll ask her that right after I ask about the orchiectomy rofl!