My Timeline (w/photos)

[kathy bottoms]

Hugs and congrats.   

Kathy

[RedFox]

Of course they are.  We only eat chocolate on the dark side.  Git it.  Dark side = Chocolate. 

What if it's white chocolate?

[spx_1112]

Congratulations

[Jamiep]

Sarah,

Oh, "10"+ here you come! Congrats, so Happy for you.

Jamie

[Jenny07]

Sarah

Congratulations on the news, I am very happy for you. You must be so happy beyond words, but the cookies do look irresistible. I cant wait to taste them myself.
I think you will be amazed at how fast things will progress. Hope your ready for it.

Hugs Jen

[LizMarie]

Welcome to the dark side. And I have to agree with the others there. There is no "guy" in that guy photo. In fact, it looks like a woman trying to look like a guy and failing.

I'm 55 and stared HRT at the end of September and have a lot further to go than you but watching stories like yours unfold is inspirational and gives me hope that if I can transition half as well, I will be happy.

[Stephanie.Izann]

OMG!!!! ARE THOSE CHOCOLATE CHIP!?!?!?!?!?!?!? NO WAY!!!!!!!! They look like chocolate chip and had I known that, I'd have done this long ago!!!! ^_^


Thanx again everyone!
All my love...

You look amazing! I agree that your smile is infectious! You are an inspiration!

[Sarah Anne]

Hiya everyone! Today is the official 1 week HRT mark! I don't plan to update this weekly or anything...but week 1 is a pretty significant milestone for the beginner.

So any big Earth shaking changes!?! Nope! From reading others reports, I've read that some people do experience noticeable changes in a week. However I didn't expect any but I've been watching and observing like a hawk!   So far, oral pills have not bothered my digestive system which he told me some people have issues with. If I had to pick at least one difference, I'd have to go with skin texture. I wouldn't say it feels "soft" nor would I expect it to...but it does feel different and I'm not sure yet what it is. Perhaps a few passing headaches here and there, more than I would normally experience in a week.

Psychologically, I spent the week with pretty steep highs and dangerously sharp lows. The big "calming effect" that many report happens on about day 3 or 4, not really. At times I was giddy with excitement about starting the processes. This was followed by huge fears and anxiety that this was actually happening and at some point, I'll need to tell all my loved ones. Granted I've had a mood swing here and there but not like this past week. Yet every pill I take, I take with a happiness that may only be momentary...but I'm living for that moment!

Well I guess after looking at what I just wrote, I "did" experience some changes. I stay on my current dose for this coming week and next week, I add another pill to my daily intake. I've logged my measurements, snapped a few pics and had some pretty deep discussions with my wife. But of all things, I did not go out as Sarah at all over the past 7 days. In fact yesterday, we went for groceries and I "maled" myself more so than I had in months. I pulled out my old grey jacket, wore uncolored sneakers, a striped polo shirt and plain ole' jeans. My hair was pulled back and I had no makeup on at all. I was waiting at the deli counter for my number to come up and when it did, the lady came over and said "and how can I help you today ma'am?" As welcomed as it is to hear that, it totally freaks me out to hear it when I know I am looking as guy-like as I possibly can.

Chat with ya all L8r ^_^

[Jenny07]

Sarah

Hope all is going well for you now after 1 month.
Are you still attempting guy mode or have you given up? 

All the best

J

[HeatherR]

It's pretty crazy when you have to start hiding your female attributes!  I have to wear tight undershirts to go out as a guy.    Progress!

[Sarah Anne]

Hi all!! Wow it's hard to believe the first month is down! So I suppose it's time to reflect and update my experiences.

First off, I'm still hanging on to "guy mode." Yet I am getting ever closer to sharing with my family. The world is indeed a confusing place and still trying to present 2 different lives is a constant challenge. I'm to the point where I don't like going out anywhere in guy mode because it gets all weird when I get misgendered. It's been the main problem for quite some time and I don't see it getting any "better!" 

Anyway, how has this 40 year old been affected after a month of HRT? It's important to note that I am only on a high dose of E and no androgen blocker yet. I get bloodwork taken Dec 6 and that will tell if I need any adjustment/addition of a blocker. Hopefully all my vitals are still doing well. Overall I have not had any major side effects to the oral pill. The first two weeks I was on a "starting dose" and then it was bumped up starting week 3.

Of course I've been tracking and watching everything. And didn't expect much to happen because it's only been a month. My expectations were met! As far as body changes go, there haven't been any (nor did I think there would be). My breasts have been a bit itchy, but I haven't noticed any physical changes in that department. However my skin has noticeably softened and that feels awesome! I noticed it most on my face when I wash and apply moisturizer.

Mentally, I've been far more tired that normal. I got a lot of headaches the first two or three weeks but they have stopped. Emotion wise, my mood still swings between high and low a lot. I personally believe that has more to do with the fact that I'm in gender purgatory right now. My sex drive has noticeably dropped off and I do feel calmer in that arena. It all still works, but I'm starting to have less interest in it. No morning erections in the past 2 weeks.

Everyone take care and thanx again for reading!! ^_^

Sarah

[spx_1112]

Sarah its Shannon. I had a similar start but with more tenderness in my breasts.  Hugs

[generous4]

...the first month is down!

Keep walking, Sarah.  Many miles ahead.  It's good.

[Sarah Anne]

Thanx! I've hit the "ouch my boobies are sore" phase. They've started puffing up and if I roll over on my stomach at night, they hurt!! It's been that way for about 2 weeks now. I'm surprised my face was the first real noticeable difference. The rest of the body is morphing slowly. Changes have started pickup up pace a bit over the past 2 weeks. Here's Before HRT to 1 month HRT facial comparison. This is E only...no T blockers.



Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday to all!!! ^_^

[natastic]

Welcome to the sore boobs club!

One of my fav jackets has a breast pocket where I like to keep my id and credit card and such, but I can't have anything in that pocket anymore because it hurts my poor, sore, fledgling left boob.

Yay boobies!

[NotThereYet]

Hi Sarah!! Merry Christmas and I am glad they are sore this soon! Mine took more than two months to get to that stage! Are they growing? Mine are still tiny but very noticeable, and bouncy when I move.

Take good care and enjoy such a supportive partner: I am about to either stop being myself or find myself alone.

Love you,
Andrea

[Dana_H]

The transition timeline photos in the original post really give me hope for what might be possible in my own case. My "before" is pretty comparable to what I see here; i.e. not extremely masculine but certainly unmistakably manly. In the latest photos, though, I see nothing but an attractive woman with a genuine smile that conveys a sense of inner happiness. Quite an amazing difference, really. If I can do even half as well, I'll be ecstatic.

Sarah Anne, sincerest congratulations on your success to date and best wishes on the road ahead.

[soulfairer]

Thanx! I've hit the "ouch my boobies are sore" phase. They've started puffing up and if I roll over on my stomach at night, they hurt!! It's been that way for about 2 weeks now. I'm surprised my face was the first real noticeable difference. The rest of the body is morphing slowly. Changes have started pickup up pace a bit over the past 2 weeks. Here's Before HRT to 1 month HRT facial comparison. This is E only...no T blockers.



Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday to all!!! ^_^

Hi, Sarah!

I've read your entire topic. It's amazing! I started upfront with HRT (after thinking for two years, deciding for months). I was thrilled that you could "morph" yourself a lot even without the therapy. Hope the rest of your journey is smooth! I am also beginning my tipping point, and I've been ma'amed several times, yet many of them were unconscious - aunt mistaking me for other niece, clerk speaking as if I am female, etc.

And I also work with IT (programming), and I am mostly working remotely, so I in fact could have been living full time for a while, but I just didn't look at the mirror and reached the point that I'd make THE decision yet.

Hope you are all right and wish you the best luck. And a PS: do you consider "remarrying" your wife as Sarah? Does she? I thought a lot about the "best girl friends" posts. Are "lesbians" (  ) well accepted in your area? If so...

[Sarah Anne]

@Natastic - Yay boobies indeed

@NotThereYet - Great to hear from ya!! I haven't had too much in the nipple department, but as far as the physical breasts, they are definitely growing. I thought it was still left over from my "moobs" but my wife said they really pushed out in the past few weeks. They do jiggle when I go up and down stairs. I am very sorry to hear that you are at a choice of being yourself of being alone My wife has her moments of "wow...this is really happening" where she gets depressed. I have more of them then she does because I soon have to come out. I will be thinking about you and I wish you the best in your choice. If you ever need to chat in PM, please feel free!

@Dana_H - Thanx for your wonderful comments!! ^_^ I wish you the best of luck too on your journey! It's really something isn't it!?

@Soulfairer - Thanx for reading my thread! I have to admit that I'm still in shock in what HRT has done. After the first month, it didn't seem like much. But then it kinda just took off. My days of getting "sired" ended about a month ago. Last week I went into the men's room at a KFC and I was standing at the sink washing my hands. A little boy came in, looked at me, turned around, opened the door and left. He then came back in and looked at the door to make sure it said MEN! LOL! He was maybe 8 to 10. I looked at him and smiled, he went back out and got his dad who then came in with him. They both looked at me and I just smiled and left. Awkward yes....I don't like that. The living between two worlds is brutal as I mentioned in my other posts.
I don't know about re-marrying my spouse as Sarah. My area is not very LGBT friendly and my state certainly hasn't legalized same sex marriage. When the day comes that we can, that might make me consider it more. But first I have to come out to my family and the public...that day is drawing ever closer. Good luck in your tipping point. I was a remote site IT person when I started all this and that helped make up my mind to transition...BUT as you read, plans have a way of changing on ya!!

[generous4]

...the "ouch my boobies are sore" phase.

Stay with it Sarah and let the hormonological topography keep developing and expanding.  All those milk ducts and glandular lobes have a purpose, though sensitivity and shooting pains come with it.  It is good.

And remember to supplement with chocolate.