So it begins =O

[Silvrnite]

Well, tomorrow i finally am starting estrogen. =O mostly excited, lil anxious, and alil nervous. nervous mostly because im trying the injectable form first, and getting over my fear of needles is still to be worked on. still havent quite kicked smoking.. tho i am down to a couple a day, all at work. stopped smoking completely at home. but its being worked tho, seeing as how a week ago i was prolly near 1/2 pk a day'ish.

but, anything important other than the obvious risks and physical changes that have been endlessly overstated, that one should know, or expect? jw.

~Jaime

[Alainaluvsu]

Just remember to learn how to do the shots. Your doctor or nurse should be able to teach you that.

[A]

Uhm, don't do injectables.

Injections cause more fluctuations in blood levels, and are therefore not advised by part of the medical community (it does give faster results, but some believe that those results are also sub-optimal). They're also pretty easy to forget.

But most importantly, injectables are for very courageous individuals who are very comfortable with needles. And it requires skill. And you're STARTING. Don't START with injectables. You can think of switching to them eventually if pills or patches are too slow for you according to your doctor, or something, after a few months. And that's only if you are comfortable with it then.

Whatever you do in the end, I really don't think starting with injections is a good idea, especially if you're scared of needles.

[Silvrnite]

its not really a "Scared of needles" as much as it probably is me just not used to them. over the past month Ive kinda gotten used to being stuck, w/ blood work and all. so i dont think it will be that bad honestly.

as far as using injections. liver problems are a concern for me, mother died early to liver failure, my sister's doctors have raised issues w/ her about her liver tests being elevated, and shes younger than i am. so my choice in taking the injectable route was more liver health over long term. its gona be quite a while before i ever have money for any surgeries of any kind. so id really hate to overwork the liver early, and, money is was an issue as well 3month supply of e vs. once a month bottle was cheaper. if i need to, i can always switch, but i would like to try and save money too instead of spending all the extra money i have on hormones and spiro, not leaving anything for anything else, like electrolysis and eventually surgery funds. really am trying to think long term here, and my doctor didn't object.

i highly doubt ill miss a dose, i just dont see that happening. and i will definitely make sure i know what im doing as far as the injections go before i leave.

[luna nyan]

Injectables sound like they make sense for you in that case.
As far as skill for giving an intramuscular injection is concerned, it's really not that difficult.  For self administration injectables, the sites chosen are pretty far away from anything major so they are pretty safe.  It's more a matter of whether or not you're comfortable with jabbing yourself.

The sooner you're done with smoking the more money you'll have for funding other things.  Good luck with it =)

[Alainaluvsu]

I thought I'd be okay with needles... and I got the hang of it after a few times. Just don't go slow! Think of that thing like a dart, not a pencil.

However if you're concerned with the liver, there's always 17b estradiol. Take it sublingually, it won't hit the liver until AFTER it's in the blood.

[Dale]

Keep a log of everything, how you feel, body change etc.

I'm sorry I did not

[Silvrnite]

Ok, so the actual shot, yeah i can handle that. yes, i will have to be fast. but i can do this! >.>

don't really feel any different, things have kinda slowed, like i noticed driving home on the highway, i normally do a good 80-85mph easy. i wasn't tho, and i realized this prolly 1/2 way home (1hr-1 1/2hr drive) idk why. just wasn't. but that's about the only difference.

shot was in my leg, and the only issue atm is pain from the injection site in the leg and to any real pressure on it. its been 24hrs since it, and on a scale of 1-10 pain is like a 7 sitting and 8-9 when i walk... hope this is just because the muscle isn't used to something being put in it yet. if it is, then next one in the other leg is gonna suck.

i work overnights at my store (Royal Farms a convenience store/gas station chain out by me) from 10p-6a, pain was fine most of the night, i decided to rub on it sometime about 1/2 way through my shift, and no more than few moments later, i was very sickish. clammy, sweating, nausea, couldnt stand up, light headed, everything seemed kinda fuzzy for a bit. went away after maybe 5-10mins or so. idk what that was from >.<

haven't taken anything for the pain, dont really like taking stuff if i can help it, as long as im not on the floor crying from the pain or sick from it i think i can bare it. trying to lay down and sleep is kinda sucky, still hurts in bed too.

[A]

Sigh. All I see is a screaming "injections were a bad idea". But it's your decision, in the end.

By the way... 85 mph... That's over 136 Km/h... Oh my, they allow such extreme speeds on your highways? o.O

[taraignota]

My (rather mild) anxiety about needles got much better after I got a couple of facial piercings. Of course, those don't necessarily fly at all places of employment . . .

[Silvrnite]

i think its too early to tell if injections were really a baaad idea, think i just didnt rub the spot enough. i rubbed it alil at the doctors office, but then kinda forgot about it while driving home. gona really really rub the next one in the other leg, and hope! >.<

55-65mph depending on the state your in, is the actual "limit", but people usually do more, esp when there are no cops around. >.>

[A]

Wow, there must be a lot of accidents over there. Over here, it's 100 km/h. o.o

[Silvrnite]

not as many as you'd think. were all used to it i guess. >.>

[Jamie D]

Ok, so the actual shot, yeah i can handle that. yes, i will have to be fast. but i can do this! >.>

don't really feel any different, things have kinda slowed, like i noticed driving home on the highway, i normally do a good 80-85mph easy. i wasn't tho, and i realized this prolly 1/2 way home (1hr-1 1/2hr drive) idk why. just wasn't. but that's about the only difference.

shot was in my leg, and the only issue atm is pain from the injection site in the leg and to any real pressure on it. its been 24hrs since it, and on a scale of 1-10 pain is like a 7 sitting and 8-9 when i walk... hope this is just because the muscle isn't used to something being put in it yet. if it is, then next one in the other leg is gonna suck.

i work overnights at my store (Royal Farms a convenience store/gas station chain out by me) from 10p-6a, pain was fine most of the night, i decided to rub on it sometime about 1/2 way through my shift, and no more than few moments later, i was very sickish. clammy, sweating, nausea, couldnt stand up, light headed, everything seemed kinda fuzzy for a bit. went away after maybe 5-10mins or so. idk what that was from >.<

haven't taken anything for the pain, dont really like taking stuff if i can help it, as long as im not on the floor crying from the pain or sick from it i think i can bare it. trying to lay down and sleep is kinda sucky, still hurts in bed too.

That is not an uncommon physical reaction to the introduction of estrogen the first time, from what I've read.