Estrogen Blockers - safe?

[Lknight87]

Ever since I was a kid i always felt like I was in the wrong body. I've struggled, had my ups and downs and now 25 years later I can say that I'm pretty comfortable with my body. But there will always be that struggle and nagging in the back of my mind about my body mind, mentality and wanting to feel more like a man.

I would like to look more into transitioning and I've read about and watched youtube videos of people's experience. I heard about the estrogen blockers and how you can start on that first as well as make everyday life style changes and eating habit changes to lessen the estrogen in your body.

The reason why I'm hesitant and looking at a "healthy/safe" way is because I have a heart condition and am on medication. I'm not very educated on what the side effects may be with T or estrogen blockers but figured the estrogen supplements would probably be a better safer way to start.

Anyone have suggestions on which estrogen blocker and if it would be safe for me considering my heart condition?

Thanks,

[spacial]

Depending on your heart failure, I think you may have a problem. I speak for personal experience, I have stage two (of four) heart failure. It's a medical matter for anyone of course, but for you and I, medical supervision is particularly important.

But there's loads you can do. You've started by coming here.

I'm Jill. I'm a member here. There are a load of mods who are without exception total sweeties and keep things in order. One of them will emerge in a few to give you the welcome chat.

[Cindy]

One emerges from the slime!
Hic

Hi Lknight,'

Welcome" you are most welcome and there is lots of stuff here and there is no reason to be lonely ever again.

Other Mods will join in and talk about rules and stuff.

There are major risks in all interventions, since you have a heart condition that requires medication you need really good professional advice.

No one on this site is qualified to give it.

Firstly I would talk to your treating doctors.

There is a great fear in people in telling their doctors about being or maybe being or maybe thinking they may be being TG.

It doesn't matter.
It is your life and Doctors have to live to a professional standard.  Your treating doc probably knows you well? Discuss it. Tell them.

Don't take no.

It is your life.

Ask.

And let me know what the answers are .

I'm here for you

Cindy

[spacial]

Apologies for my response where I said, 'You May Have a Problem'.

That isn't my place to say.

On the basis of the information supplied, you may have a problem, but it is a matter for someone properly qualified.

Deeply sorry.

[Lknight87]

Please don't apologize, I was not offended at all. I completely understood what you meant.

I looked into going to a therapist/ support group at the center in orange county to get more information about estrogen blockers.

Believe me it's not that I'm scared to tell people about who i am or how i feel, i come from a middle eastern muslim background and it's still taking my parents time to accept that i'm gay and i love and respect them and respect that they grew up in a culture where they didnt talk about these kinds of things they don't really understand, and it's going to take them some time to grasp. I feel like I'm making progress with them about my sexuality and i just dont want to push it too much about the gender issue. i've briefly talked to them about that before but i know it's hard for them to grasp.

The reason why i say this is because we all share the same dr and due to my heart condition i have given 100% consent for my parents to know what goes on with me health wise.

I dont want them to think im going behind their back, i want to get more information about the whole thing first before i take that next step and i want to talk to them properly about it.

That's the only reason why i thought i'd post here hoping maybe someone had some information for me on how estrogen blockers work, their side effects etc.

thank you both for responding i truly appreciate it.

[Cindy]

Unfortunately any advice given on the site is not medically qualified even if it comes from a qualified medic.

No one knows your history, profile, bloods, heart physiology etc. So any comments are quite dangerous.

In the USA the major anti androgen prescribed to GID people is Cyproterone acetate, the common market name being Androcur. It blocks testosterone binding to its receptors and is commonly used in prostate disease.

It has many side effects as do all AAs, it can among lots, cause liver problems and muscle weakness. One of the major side effects for GID people in particular is that it can produce profound depression very quickly with little warning. GID people commonly suffer depression and on Androcur they can feel suicidal quite quickly. There are several threads on the site in relation to that.

It may also interact with a variety of other medications and its use needs careful observation.

The other common AA is Spironolactone, I have been told that it isn't available in the USA. This works by a different route on testosterone production, it has different side effects it is a diuretic and affects heart physiology, it may reduce blood pressure and is often used in Europe and Australia as a cardiac medication at a lower dose than used as an AA. It does not seem to produce depression. It can cause renal  dysfunction.

Both drugs are dangerous to healthy people, with people with existing conditions they are not something to be messed with at all.

I do realise your problem and I have deep sympathy.

Please find a medic who you can talk to, if you google orange county transgender services you will find groups to help.

Hugs

Cindy

[spacial]

I have also done that. I wrote out a statement giving my wife Enduring Power of Attorney.

But if necessary I can still go to them with something and ask for it to be confidential. 

You may wish to check, just to be sure that the laws in your area are the same. But I'd be surprised if they are not.