I'm only 6+ month post-op and the question "would I need even more E than when I was pre-op" is an interesting one.
I also thought that I would need less than when I was pre-op, yet I'm right back at those pre-op E levels. I do not take any more AAs though. I had stopped pretty shortly after being post-op.
I'm also back with estradiol (valerate) oral after having tried, gel, patches, and then a mix of those.
In my case I get severe tinnitus when my E goes low... at least it gets better after I take more E...
Thyroid hormone levels have not been mentioned either – this can have QUITE some negative influence also on one's overall endocrinal balance!
Via this 'feedback' (tinnitus) I have found that more E seems required at times (can't give mg) and so I just take another pill – BTW always sublingual. I take mine in the morning and mostly another at about lunchtime. I often wake up at night with sever tinnitus... then I add some E gel and usually can go back to sleep.
Why do I mention this? ... It seem to me that possibly our endocrine system is jolly 'unstable' for some time post-op.
Mind you, there are enough natal females that suffer the same, when in surgical menopause. Normal menopause seems a bit less critical, as the body will then still have some E production.
In fact, and 'speaking under correction' even some forms of T or T pre-cursor(s) could have been available for E production, pre-op in the male endocrine system? Some guys get man-boobs etc. so this E was produced by...? The testes, or?
In the end it IS a lot of trial and error...
Lastly, some form of physical –REGULAR- exercise will help the body to balance at least some of those imbalances.
Take care,
Axélle
