50 day anniversary..... and nothing from the magic pills

[Ltl89]

Today marks my 50th day of living as an estrogen dependent citizen.  40 days of low dose estradiol and 10 days of normal e with Spiro to be exact.  The magic pills still haven't done their magic.  So far I have only noticed slight development of my chest,  more defined sense of smell, and increased skin softness.  Other than that, I don't feel or look any different. I imagine this is common at day 50,  but it's a frustrating wait.  I just hope I'm not immune to estrogen or something.  Maybe 100 days will fare better for me.

P.S.  I know they are not magical pills.

[mrs izzy]

Today marks my 50th day of living as an estrogen dependent citizen.  40 days of low dose estradiol and 10 days of normal e with Spiro to be exact.  The magic pills still haven't done their magic.  So far I have only noticed slight development of my chest,  more defined sense of smell, and increased skin softness.  Other than that, I don't feel or look any different. I imagine this is common at day 50,  but it's a frustrating wait.  I just hope I'm not immune to estrogen or something.  Maybe 100 days will fare better for me.

P.S.  I know they are not magical pills.

I see this a lot, the Magic pill reference. Sorry to say there is no such thing. Look at your life going through puberty. Once you get the dose settled out that will bring on a whole new puberty in your new gender. It take months sometimes for things to really start to be noticed, even years out thing still can be not where you want but working on the process of change.
Take a deep breath, relax and take changes as they come, do not rush them and form un-realistic expectations. As in nature everyone goes through puerty in there own way, some huge changes others not so much

Hugs
Izzy

[Madison Leigh]

Now my dosages were started *very* low and have been increased every couple of months; but I really didn't notice much at all on my own.  As far as the body hair, I try and keep it shaved so I don't really see changes there; and I've always had some "Moobage" so I didn't see anything there either.  However, a couple of months ago my wife and roommate separately commented on the fact that I did in fact have some obvious breast growth and my wife did note a few weeks ago that there is definitely some skin softening and some changes to some body hair.

I guess my point is two-fold - first off it took some time - perhaps longer for me since my dosages were lower; and secondly since I see this stuff everyday the changes that have occurred weren't as obvious to me.

[vegie271]

Today marks my 50th day of living as an estrogen dependent citizen. 40 days of low dose estradiol and 10 days of normal e with Spiro to be exact.  The magic pills still haven't done their magic.  So far I have only noticed slight development of my chest,  more defined sense of smell, and increased skin softness.  Other than that, I don't feel or look any different. I imagine this is common at day 50,  but it's a frustrating wait.  I just hope I'm not immune to estrogen or something.  Maybe 100 days will fare better for me.

P.S.  I know they are not magical pills.

hey you are expecting a miracle here! it is LOW DOSE and only a little over a month. I had much higher dose and it was like three months  before I had any real effects,the first real dose I Had was subdural implants and after  that I had shots. (of course this was in the 80s and then the doses were double or quadruple what  they are now.

[Donna Elvira]

Today marks my 50th day of living as an estrogen dependent citizen.  40 days of low dose estradiol and 10 days of normal e with Spiro to be exact.  The magic pills still haven't done their magic.  So far I have only noticed slight development of my chest,  more defined sense of smell, and increased skin softness.  Other than that, I don't feel or look any different. I imagine this is common at day 50,  but it's a frustrating wait.  I just hope I'm not immune to estrogen or something.  Maybe 100 days will fare better for me.

P.S.  I know they are not magical pills.

One of my biggest suprises since joining this forum exactly 4 months ago is the almost overnight magic, if not to say miracles, that many people here expect from HRT. For FtM's there may be some grounds for these sort of expectations as the effects of T really are quite radical and also set in very quickly. However the effects of E are generally far more subtle and, for just about everyone except the very young, take far longer to to take effect.

I have been on HRT for the better part of 5 years and yes, the accumulated effects have been pretty noticeable but, apart from the first breast buds which are very visible and generally arrive quite quickly, all the other physical changes have been so slow as to be imperceptible even from one month to another.  I know quite a few other people in my situation, just 10 to 15 years younger,  who would say exactly the same thing and have personally never met anyone who had some sort of miracle transformation. That doesn't mean they don't exist but, from all that I have actually seen and read, I'm inclined to believe they are a very small minority. Also, remember what has been said over and over again, there is a huge amount of variance in the effects from one person to another, probably a bit more on average for those who have a fair amount of body fat and less for the skinnier people but genetics and age are also very much part of the equation.

However, don't despair as with enough time, E really does make a difference, even for someone my age and probably a bit on the skinny side.  My biggest suprise based on what I had been lead to expect is the amount of breast growth I had and even today, quarter by quarter, I have the impression they continue to fill out.

LtL, you and others need to get used to the idea that from every point of view,  transitioning is a long distance race, not a sprint...
Take care.
Donna

[Cindy Stephens]

The one thing that did "magically" occur almost overnight was this.  My depression and dysphoria from not doing anything about being who I am disappeared.  The rest took years.

[Beth Andrea]

"A watched pot never boils."

Try not to track "xyz days"...think in terms of 6 months, 1 year, 18 months, etc. Urge your doc to increase the E dose as soon as you get blood tests back saying you're tolerating the current dose well...there's no reason to accept a low Rx if your body says you're tolerating it well.

Remember, there are no hard and fast rules on HRT, just guidelines, and your doctor, if s/he's up to speed on current thinking, uses your input to help determine what is best for you, contradicting your wishes only if there is a significant chance of harm.

[vegie271]

and obviously at some point you levels need to be checked then your dose can be increased to up the hormones to where it needs to be

[Joanna Dark]

If you're on a low dose of E I wouldn't expect very many changes for awhile. I experienced some very fast changes on a not-to-high dose but I also have a hormonal imbalance as I never fully masculinized even after taking T supplememnts and have had boobs since puberty and a pretty round, fat rear end for a male complete with stretch marks all over my hips and thighs.

But for most I wouldn't expect much after 50 days, no matter your age, unless you are under 17. Contrary to believe, most of the major changes from puberty are done by 18 or so and bones don't grow after 18 and at the lastest 21. The whole bones grow into your thirties or you have to start before 25 is hogwash perpetuated by trans women who want to feel special and be exclusionary. Age is not as important as genetics.

That being said you will change but visible changes won't really start until about six months in for most. Breast growth should start around two months. Mine started to feel itchy at a month and by two months they were tender and the buds I had naturally grew considerably. I'd just give it time. Though I know how hard it can be.

Before you start changing, your T must be suppressed. Your young that will take a lot longer. The advantage of youth is that once you suppress T, your body will change quicker as young people's bodies are more efficient.

[Heather]

"A watched pot never boils."

Ain't that the truth! Waiting for changes is like watching grass grow. My suggestion is to relax your going to be on these pills the rest of your life. No use in counting the days. I remember I counted the weeks up to about twelve and just stopped caring to keep track. I couldn't even tell you when my fiftieth day was I really don't know. Right now I count the months but to be honest that's getting to be not that big of a deal. I'll probably stop counting them after a year. I guess once I go full time I'll celebrate that every month till I get bored and just start counting the years. Anyways the point is stop counting days you'll drive yourself nuts. Just sit back and enjoy where life takes you from now on the changes will happen your still in your infant stages better get used to it. 

[Ltl89]

The magic pills was just a joke statement.  I know they aren't really going to work magic or miracles.  Though, in a way they sort of do.  When you sit back and think, it's pretty incredible  that we have advanced so far in medicine. 

I just wanted to share my frustration and small progress.  I feel the more info out there is better for all the girls who want to know what its like.  I can remember my days of scouring the internet for any piece of information about the effects of hormones.  Hopefully, this will reach some other girl looking to start and are curious about their possible hrt timeline.

Ain't that the truth! Waiting for changes is like watching grass grow. My suggestion is to relax your going to be on these pills the rest of your life. No use in counting the days. I remember I counted the weeks up to about twelve and just stopped caring to keep track. I couldn't even tell you when my fiftieth day was I really don't know. Right now I count the months but to be honest that's getting to be not that big of a deal. I'll probably stop counting them after a year. I guess once I go full time I'll celebrate that every month till I get bored and just start counting the years. Anyways the point is stop counting days you'll drive yourself nuts. Just sit back and enjoy where life takes you from now on the changes will happen your still in your infant stages better get used to it. 

That's all true, but then whats that ticker on your profile counting, lol.  I think it's normal for us to want to know how long we have been on it.  It is, after all, a major milestone in our lives.  Nonetheless, you're right.  I need to take deep breaths and learn to relax while the changes slowly take place. 

[Beth Andrea]

I had a ticker until just after a year...after awhile (for me anyway) the newness and "woo-HOO!" excitement went away...Yeah, it's a milestone just getting on HRT, and it is worthy of celebrating.

We all go thru this process...one of my first posts (thread? Can't remember...) post-starting HRT was "It's been 4 hours and nothing!", as a funny response to the new "cookie-eaters"; so you're not the only one thinking this way. *hugs*

[Heather]

I had a ticker until just after a year...after awhile (for me anyway) the newness and "woo-HOO!" excitement went away...Yeah, it's a milestone just getting on HRT, and it is worthy of celebrating.

When I made that ticker I was about a month on hrt. I must admit now that I'm starting to get closer to a year the newness has wore off. After a year I'll probably change or drop mine too. But right now my mindset isn't on counting how many days I'm on hrt. My focus is on how I'm going to spend the rest of my life and where I'm at in transition that should be what I'm thinking about. 

[Joanna Dark]

I have not really counted and as a result I constantly think I have been on it longer than I have. I started on March 4. So I have been on it five months now. If you read my posts I hit the five month mark like two months ago lol

[Riley Skye]

To give you some perspective I have been on hormones since January 3rd, started on a low dose of E and on February 17th I started spiro. It is only now that my blood levels are finally normalizing and I'm beginning to see developments. Your key is to be patient and not even worry about anything other than taking those pills, the changes will come. Just sit back and enjoy the fact that you have finally are realizing the dream. Remember Rome wasn't built in a day!

[monica93304]

Be patient.  I've been on HRT for 19 months.  I couldn't have imagined looking and feeling the way I do today back then.  Coincidentally this Saturday I saw a friend at the club that hadn't seen me in over a year. His jaw dropped.  He couldn't believe the changes.  He told me: "you're definately a woman".  It validates my efforts.  I can't wait for another year to pass.  I can only imagine where I'll be.  I doubt I'll be able to continue my employment much longer without tons of questions to my employer from walk in customers (i'm an auto mechanic).  Actually, I can't wait to change careers.

Back to the main point, be patient girl. 

[Keira]

To my surprise I started to get breast buds after four + months of mid level dose Spiro.

I just noticed them growing last week, every day they get a little bit sore/bigger. My lady balls also ache a lot as well. I must be sensitive to e because my natural level is just barely within the lower female range and I'm getting breast development and skin changes.

Also...learningtolive. Have you noticed that your body odor has changed (same with urine smell o.O)? Because that was the first thing that happened to me, well that and my libido dropping like a rock.

[vegie271]

To my surprise I started to get breast buds after four + months of mid level dose Spiro.

I just noticed them growing last week, every day they get a little bit sore/bigger. My lady balls also ache a lot as well. I must be sensitive to e because my natural level is just barely within the lower female range and I'm getting breast development and skin changes.

Also...learningtolive. Have you noticed that your body odor has changed (same with urine smell o.O)? Because that was the first thing that happened to me, well that and my libido dropping like a rock.

I so wish wish would happen for me, 20 years and nothing, not a drop, and worst yet - no one will date me. (at least I can only find men who fetishise me) and I hate men I am attracted to womyn

[Keira]

I so wish wish would happen for me, 20 years and nothing, not a drop, and worst yet - no one will date me. (at least I can only find men who fetishise me) and I hate men I am attracted to womyn

The only problem is that when your libido drops, so does your energy level. :/

I'm waiting on my E, I need it so I don't feel tired most of the time and waiting sucks.

[vegie271]

Interesting - because I know my T level is low it gets tested regularly my doctor checks it, but I have plenty of energy  , I have a healthy diet, I ride a bike everywhere - up to 16 miles a day (55 miles one day on a bad day when I got locked out of my apartment and a lot of things were going on) but I still have a lot of interest (but sadly no one interested in me)