Estrogen without anti-androgens

[Sammy]

It is better to be 3 months on E only, than being 3 months only on anti-androgens - that is another option for starters, so when E is added, it basically works on a clean slate (with very low level of T).

[Ltl89]

I wouldn't worry about the wait.  Patience is a virtue when it comes to transitioning.   3 months is such a short time.  It will go by like that.  In the meantime,  take comfort that your doctor seems competent and wants ro see your reaction before going full speed.  I think that is a good move on their part.  Though, having gone throufh it myself, I acknowledge the wait sucks.

[keira939]

So it has been 3 months and my doctor refused to prescribe me spiro, instead saying they wanted to try and up the dosage of estrogen slightly first, despite so far it having no effect on me whatsoever and me pretty much begging for anti-androgens of some sort. I have just started uni and spent hundreds on private appointments so I could actually have started physical transition properly now out of desperation, instead it has been wasted and my thoughts of self harm and suicide keep hitting me every time I think about my own body or look in the mirror or when other people make fun of me or stare in the street. I dont know whether its relevent to post this here but at the moment im just ranting and desperete and really dont know what to do, ->-bleeped-<-

[Cindy]

Hon,

I know it is tough but an endocrinologist tends to know a lot more about what they are doing than people on the site.

It takes a little time and then just takes off.

The side effects of bad reactions to hormonal re assignment are something not to have.

In the mean time try working on your feelings and how you relate.

Maybe post some stuff on the passing and acceptance problems you are having and maybe people can help with that aspect.

My before and after pics are on that thread, it takes time. There are many awesome transformations on that thread, they all took time.

You will get there Sis.

Hugs

Cindy

[Sammy]

And I started on AA only The first month was just medium dose of Spiro, with a view that it will clean the system a little bit. Then, one month later Estrogen was added. Spiro did clear my skin and slowed hair growth a tiny bit, but it was only after the E, my mood went into that calm and serene mode and my ever-present agression spiralled downwards .

[Joanna Dark]

My spiro dose was upped to the max because after more than six months my free T is at almost 200 but so far my facial hair growth has almost halted. I pass pretty well and I really don't know how given my still high T level. If this doesn't work I'll go on E injections but I have feminzed so much my Dr. Doesn't want to. 

[Violet Bloom]

  Standard procedure at my clinic is usually AA's first and then E later.  I gather from what they said that this is a smoother way to ease into HRT and allows them to isolate any side effects of the AA's.  This would help getting you into the dosing routine and keep things potentially more emotionally stable early on.  Once E comes along and starts more powerful and visible changes some people will end up excessively emotional or kinda shocked and not know how to handle it.  While I'm certainly interested in the physical changes I'm glad for a soft start because I'm less anxious about the whole thing that way.  I've started Spiro first that will be ramped up over three months before Estrace is thrown into the mix.  I basically am being given an easier second chance to back out at month three before any permanent changes take hold.

[Ltl89]

So it has been 3 months and my doctor refused to prescribe me spiro, instead saying they wanted to try and up the dosage of estrogen slightly first, despite so far it having no effect on me whatsoever and me pretty much begging for anti-androgens of some sort. I have just started uni and spent hundreds on private appointments so I could actually have started physical transition properly now out of desperation, instead it has been wasted and my thoughts of self harm and suicide keep hitting me every time I think about my own body or look in the mirror or when other people make fun of me or stare in the street. I dont know whether its relevent to post this here but at the moment im just ranting and desperete and really dont know what to do, <not allowed>

Is there a way for you to get an appointment with another endo?  Perhaps a second opinion?  Before I started hrt, I had very very low t levels, which caused my endo to question me about DIY even though I wasn't doing that.  Still, even she ended up putting me on an anti-androgen after the initial month.  Of course, everyone is different and there are various factors to take into account, but I would see if you could make an appointment with another endo to get a second opinion.  While everything is probably kosher, at least you will get the piece of mind you are hoping for. 

[stacey fisher]

I see my doctor last week  been on only estradiol for just 3 months have just had blood test and my T leave as come right down from the blood test before started and now had my dose of E increased  and told I wont need blockers for my T  Leave