Every year I get at least one hormone levels test done. 2012 was overall not a great year for me. There was a ton of stress and then a week before Christmas I ended up getting that really nasty flu (the one that's hospitalizing a lot of people ... luckily I managed to stay out of the hospital but it still wrecked me). I'm still not 100% and I feel like crap compared to how I normally feel. So the other day I get the rest results back and my cortisol is off the charts. Let me just put out there that if you're stressed out all the time or if you have an illness or inflammation (basically anything physical that stresses your body out) your cortisol will go up and guess what goes down when that happens? Testosterone. So I'm currently at T levels 50% less than I normally have. Consequently, levels of other hormones I have have also gone down (estrogen, progesterone and DHEA). I had a long talk with my doctor yesterday about it and she wants to put my on a "bio identical", compounded hormone cream that has all 3 (E, P and T) in it. First, I've not had a very good track record with any sort of hormones and after doing my own research into "bio identical" it sounds like a lot of b.s. People are saying it has no side effects, but that isn't true. Apparently the stuff also doesn't have to be labeled like regular hormones do as well and when samples have been tested by labs it's very questionable if you're getting the right dose.
Bottom line is I don't feel good about it. The conversation yesterday ended with her wanting to send along this prescription for me. It would take 3 months before I could do another test and see what the levels were and she's already said that once you start taking HRT like this you pretty much stay on it indefinitely. I've been trying to dig up information on HRT with multiple hormones and there's a lot of conflicting stuff. Some of what I'm seeing is that your body basically gets "lazy" and will stop producing its own hormones. Side effects are of course another issue. And in my particular case where I've had lots of side effects with every hormone I've ever taken combined with the fact that these "bio identical" creams are sketchy on the dosage makes me even less likely to want to move forward with this particular treatment plan.
This particular doctor knows my situation. She also knows I'm trans, but she won't just give me T cream. She insists on bringing levels of all my hormones "up to normal". I need to clarify that she doesn't mean "normal female". I told her that my T has always been higher than a normal female person. I also really am not fond of "experimenting" with dosages ... especially when it comes to hormones. Hormones are one of the most powerful substances in the body and especially since I've had issues in the past with them I just don't want to take the risk. I sent her an email saying I don't want to do the proposed treatment that I'd rather just try to naturally sort things out.
One other thing I'll mention is that we did talk about DHEA. I know DHEA has come up on the boards before and it's one thing that's readily available out there via health markets and the internet, but it can have some serious side effects. If anyone's considering self medicating with this, I urge you to reconsider and get with a doctor about it. It's also something you should only take short term and only if you currently have a deficiency. That means you need to get your levels checked first. I saw another current thread on "natural transition" and I'm pretty sure DHEA is one of those things that the NT folks might be into. All I'm saying is just because something is natural, doesn't mean it's good for you. I may actually go on DHEA (either in pill or cream form) for a short time because the action it has is to decrease cortisol and increase E and T and my current levels are low, but it would be under the supervision of this doctor and for a short time.
Anyway, I'm just a bit frustrated at this point and feeling crappy on top of that. The hormone therapy thing has always been a quandary for me and every new time it gets offered to me (in whatever form), I still always think in the back of my head that it may work but it's never on my terms and it's never worked in the past and the side effects and negatives always seem to outweigh any positives for me.
Has anyone out there used any form of "bio identical" or compounded cream before? Just curious if anyone else has experience with it.
