Hey everyone!
I decided to just sign up for the forums to find answers to my many, many questions.
Recently I have started my actual HRT with Estrace (yes, by prescription from a qualified endocrinologist, I will never self medicate just to clear the air) with a day in the morning with Spironolactone (very low dose)... Before hand, I was roughly 7-8 months on Spironolactone and I noticed effects within the first 3 days (skin and oil production and that sort -- and breast soreness/acute development within the first 1-2 months and I am not the type to exaggerate) but with my Estrace, I'm not noticing as much changes right-off-the bat as I did with my Spironolactone, though I don't expect changes to occur right away anyway...
I know that starting hormones this early is considered the "best time" for the "best" results, so I would've expected that SLIGHT changes would start to develop. (not physical changes, but emotional changes and that sort) When I started my Spironolactone, and I can honestly say within a few days I noticed a significant decrease in oil production in my skin -- waking up in the morning, I would feel less and less gross and hot. Then my chest began to be extremely sensitive within a few weeks and continued out through a few months. (which I'm told that should happen after 1-2 years on Spironolactone ALONE) and being on the lower end of dosages and having that much of an effect seemed to me like my endocrine system was more sensitive/responsive to my medications. But since these two weeks on Estrace, I haven't noticed anything, and most people notice that their moods are changing and they're a lot more emotional. I will admit that I have been irritable before Estrace, but it hasn't been increased or decreased since I started it.
What I want to know is if anyone else has started with estrace on the lowest dosage, and how long they were taking it, because my endocrinologist wants to see me in 3 months.
My second question is if my body reacted so quickly and so significantly with my Spironolactone, shouldn't my body react the same or a similar way to Estrace?
Thirdly, I wanted to know what changes should be apparent first hand just so I know what I can expect the first 6 months, and I've read several articles and posts and they're all different. I know that changes can be more significant and quick in teens and possibly even undergo even more changes than older MtFs can due to Puberty, so I wondered if that can be a factor? I wanted to know if anyone started around the same age as I did with HRT and what changes they've experienced and how long it took for it to start occurring just to give me an idea of what my timeline could look like. And yes I know that YMMV, because everyone is different and you don't know what will happen until you start HRT.
Thank You so much!
Edited for Dosages
