Question for HRT users

[Jenna Marie]

Joanna : Glad it's not just me, at least.

I've been experimenting to find a moisturizer that actually works well for me (the Aveeno ones unfortunately didn't for me, which is annoying as heck), and I think so far this one from Avon might be doing the trick. I moisturize like 20 times a day, and winter is still killing my skin! Can't wait for spring...

(I got PMS at the end of every week when I was on a changed-weekly patch, too. Switched back to a new patch twice weekly b/c it was driving me and my wife both nuts that I was a raging bitch monster half the time.)

[noleen111]

I too turn into a bit of a bitch for a few days after my E shot.

I get this too.. I even get some cramping too.. but not every time..

[Catherine Sarah]

Might be due to salt cravings from Spiro or pregnancy style cravings.

WOW!!!! Did someone fall pregnant??   .   .   

HOW? WHEN? WHERE? WHY?  I need to know immediately.      


In response to the OP's question

Eye sight improved. Gross motor and minor motor skills improved markedly.

Huggs
Catherine

[Missy~rmdlm]

HT has been good for me. It has met my expectations of: quantifiable hair modification, skin appearance, adjustment of body odor, general appearance(fat distribution is slowly modifying,) lowering libido while not interrupting sexual relations/function, and no hampering mental clarity.
By mentally supporting myself with HT and therapy I have greatly expended social behavior over three years ago prior to my transition.

I have been on a robust prescription regimen of MtF hormone therapy for nineteen months. I am using cheap generic prescriptions from local pharmacies (Walmart/Walgreens/Sam's/ and I got a few through work mail order)

[victoria n]

 HRT pre-op w/out spiro was nice. good mood had energy.
hrt shots with spiro felt moody depressed tired wasn't as aggressive .
shots makes estrogen peak and valley too much. levels got way too high e of 600 pg/ml.
switched to premarin excellent breast growth. levels more stable.
did not take ethinyl estradiol.  seen a study that it can cause cardiac death.
POST OP  hrt felt weak tired, mood was  horrible,
developed a  Shocking effect. developed gallstone pancreatitis. organ is still OK.
5 acute attacks in 2 years post op. Many studies have proven estrogen, especially pills, cause gallstones. My doctor a U of Maryland Medical Center paper under risk factors for gallstones.
the 5th attack a complete blockage of bile duct  blocking the liver drainage  had to get an ERCP and had a stent  placed in the bile duct.
stopped HRT. HRT is supposed to be taken at the lowest dose possible for the shortest time
taking HRT  will not give a mtf ts the  entire endocrine system of a genetic female.   
Pre op real no problems with gallstone. felt OK in general.

[Missadventure]

HRT pre-op w/out spiro was nice. good mood had energy.
hrt shots with spiro felt moody depressed tired wasn't as aggressive .
shots makes estrogen peak and valley too much. levels got way too high e of 600 pg/ml.
switched to premarin excellent breast growth. levels more stable.
did not take ethinyl estradiol.  seen a study that it can cause cardiac death.
POST OP  hrt felt weak tired, mood was  horrible,
developed a  Shocking effect. developed gallstone pancreatitis. organ is still OK.
5 acute attacks in 2 years post op. Many studies have proven estrogen, especially pills, cause gallstones. My doctor a U of Maryland Medical Center paper under risk factors for gallstones.
the 5th attack a complete blockage of bile duct  blocking the liver drainage  had to get an ERCP and had a stent  placed in the bile duct.
stopped HRT. HRT is supposed to be taken at the lowest dose possible for the shortest time
taking HRT  will not give a mtf ts the  entire endocrine system of a genetic female.   
Pre op real no problems with gallstone. felt OK in general.

Gallstones are no joke. I dealt with incredibly frequent attacks for a year. My gallbladder was PACKED full of stones, but my stupid ass hospital felt I'd be just fine on antacids and vicodin. Took me 6 months of going to the ER weekly to convince them to cut that damn thing out, and it was only because one of the stones finally caused a complete blockage of the bileduct.

[misslyradawn]

My skin softened and cleared, which I wasn't expecting. I'd been battling moderate-severe acne since I was 10, and when I started hrt it all just vanished, only leaving behind some scarring. I was very very pleased.
Also, I started getting "butterflies" when I got aroused. Apparently its something most cis girls get but most cis guys dont. Not that I'm complaining, it's a wonderful feeling.
Also I became physically weaker, although that may be more from atrophy due to depression than the hrt itself, and I just never got the muscles back.

[Eva Marie]

One of the biggest things for me is discovering firsthand exactly why women do some of the things that they do. The light bulb comes on multiple times a day now.

Skin - softer now, but now dry all of the time. I get the needing to apply lotion all of the time.

I did not really suffer any PMS like symptoms until I started progesterone last month. I now understand a little better about what PMS is like.

Boobs!

I really crave salty foods now. I get why pregnant women want pickles and ice cream at 3am.

I now fully understand chocolate and why you want some. It is divine 

My sense of smell has greatly improved, and i've discovered that the world is a really stinky place.

Strangely, my sense of taste has dulled. I can eat hotter/spicier food now and not break a sweat.

I am getting weaker by the day. I just went to Costco and getting the heavy stuff in and out of my car was a chore. Getting lids off? Forget about it. I also realized that I can't defend myself in a fight with another guy now.

I now get up very early each morning and I am generally excited and happy about each day. I used to be able to sleep for 10 hours or more at a stretch but these days I'm lucky to make 6. I have a far more positive outlook, and small things don't bother me as much (unless it's progesterone week then look out!). I can't stay up late anymore either; I'm generally in bed by nine.

I have no tolerance for alcohol. A glass of wine and I'm done. I used to be able to knock back a 12 pack of beer at one sitting.

My fears and worrying about anything and everything is no more; my being antisocial and acting like a hermit like days are gone, hopefully forever. I want to get out and do new stuff now. My give-a-crap meter is broken too  I just don't care what other people think.

Weight has to be constantly monitored; the old carefree days of eating a burger or a steak are gone. I eat nothing now and I still gain weight. When I do eat I can't eat near as much as I used to, and i've had to learn that a small portion of food is just fine.

The biggest mental change for me at the moment is the social transition, which of course was partially helped along by HRT. I have no fear about jumping into social situations now; but it boggles my mind if I think too much about what I'm in the middle of. So i don't think about it and just do it