It's a GO for the Girl Juice!

[Violet Bloom]

  So I just had another checkup with my doctor after completing eight weeks on Spiro.  Since I was still showing signs of perfect health and mental fitness they surprised me by deciding to add the starting dose of Estrogen now rather than wait for the full ramp-up of Spiro.  (That will still happen later.)  I wasn't expecting it so soon but I'm super-excited!  I had to wait a year and a half since coming out to myself to get to this point in the process.

  The form is oral Estrace and I'm lucky to be having this 100% covered by my employer's health plan as I was with the Spiro already.  Even with the minimum dosage format this must be some kinda powerful substance given the diminutive size of the tablet!  I've gotta be really careful not to drop these things.  Contrary to some past comments from others the tablets don't taste very good, although not strongly.

  Two doses in, the only thing that seems to have happened is a mild headache (a known possible side effect).  Hopefully that won't continue.  Thankfully it hasn't caused any stomach upset.  I was extremely worried about that.

  I know that many of you have had your HRT drugs administered in a different order and wildly varying dosages from my doctor's plan, but I would like to know what you experienced at the very beginning of you Estrogen prescription.  Some of you have had very strong reactions and others have experienced very little.  I'd just like to get a statistical sense of what I might be in for and how quickly.  Unfortunately it will be difficult to judge context since we're not allowed to post dosage figures but I will do my best to interpret the comments.

[Eva Marie]

First off - congrats on the girl juice! Enjoy the ride 

To answer your question - for me it was calmness and serenity. My brain was finally running on the right fuel.

[TerriT]

Muscle cramps, sore boobs, dried up libido, an obsession with examining every inch of my face in the mirror to see if I look any different, poking my boobs, counting if there are any visible hairs on my chest/arms (0), feeling better, feeling moody, feeling frustrated, discovering my boobs are the new key to my libido, wondering if people notice anything, wondering what's next, wondering how big my boobs could get, wondering if I'll be able to have sex with my SO, realizing that there's a lot of work to do and there's not really a finish line, and some other things I can't really think of right now.

Congrats on your scrip!

[Lauren5]

Congrats, gal! I'm hoping for a similar result tomorrow *hopes*
Best of luck on the results for you.

[JillSter]

Woo Violet! Congrats!

realizing that there's a lot of work to do and there's not really a finish line

I have to keep reminding myself of exactly this! I always feel like time is my enemy, but then I remember I have the rest of my life to be free to be me!

It's a good thing to keep in mind when everything starts feeling so far away.

[sam79]

Congratulations Violet!

E takes a while to change anything physical, but mental changes are much much quicker. And as you probably know, there's so much variety in effects of E, and very much YMMV.

Sit back and enjoy the ride

[Ashey]

Muscle cramps, sore boobs, dried up libido, an obsession with examining every inch of my face in the mirror to see if I look any different, poking my boobs, counting if there are any visible hairs on my chest/arms (0), feeling better, feeling moody, feeling frustrated, discovering my boobs are the new key to my libido, wondering if people notice anything, wondering what's next, wondering how big my boobs could get, wondering if I'll be able to have sex with my SO, realizing that there's a lot of work to do and there's not really a finish line, and some other things I can't really think of right now.

Pretty much the same for me. xD

Grats on joining the E club.

[SandraB]

Congrats! I haven't really had any I'll effects from E at all but I've only been three weeks now. Any changes are positive through. From the time I left my doctor's office, my mental attitude was permanently changed.

[KabitTarah]

Congrats!! I'm waiting on Spiro... but that will be soon. My biggest question with the endo is whether long-term (approx 6 mo) spiro is best for me, or if low dose E will affect me little enough (physically) to be beneficial. (I don't want big changes during the summer).

[Violet Bloom]

Muscle cramps, sore boobs, dried up libido, an obsession with examining every inch of my face in the mirror to see if I look any different, poking my boobs, counting if there are any visible hairs on my chest/arms (0), feeling better, feeling moody, feeling frustrated, discovering my boobs are the new key to my libido, wondering if people notice anything, wondering what's next, wondering how big my boobs could get, wondering if I'll be able to have sex with my SO, realizing that there's a lot of work to do and there's not really a finish line, and some other things I can't really think of right now.

Congrats on your scrip!

  If I poke at my chest or my face any more than I have already I'm going to leave permanent marks!

  I've had leg cramps for the first three days.  I can't be sure if it is the E though because on the first day I did a huge amount of walking in a pair of shoes I rarely wear followed by playing an evening ice hockey game.  I did achieve a new milestone with that marathon walk - I desperately needed a female winter jacket, particularly one with any kind of proper shape and flattering body fit to it.  That was the first day I dealt with sales people while en-femme and used the womens' fitting rooms.  There were absolutely no problems or strange looks from anyone.  One cashier said "sir" at one point although clearly by accident.  In the store I finally found what I was looking for the girls there were totally friendly and professional.  Freely browsing in the busiest mall in the city was a true delight!  Oddly, unlike many members of Susan's, I have near-zero self-consciousness around strangers and in busy environments.  Good thing because the subway was packed like sardines on the way home.  Work and some family members remain as my major mental hang-ups to being fully out.

  Thanks for everyone's support and I hope I'm encouraging those pre-HRT to tough-out the wait even if it seems like an eternity.  It's a marathon you only have to complete once.

[evecrook]

congrats . For me a life long dream began. Going on my third week and I feel. my body being healed. I've already experienced a mini growth spurt in my breasts Pain then itching. My mental out look is much more positive. But it gets pretty frustrating waiting for the changes to start.  good luck

[Violet Bloom]

congrats . For me a life long dream began.

  When I look back at the rest of my life prior to figuring out I am transgender and how much it explained for me and then realize that it took 35 years just to get to that point, a year and a half wait to start estrogen therapy doesn't seem so bad.  Anyone struggling with the medical system for approval should keep that in mind - the marathon you may think you're suffering through is actually in the final mile (or kilometre for us Canadians ).