Susan's Place Logo

News:

Visit our Discord server  and Wiki

Main Menu

My Journey with HRT

Started by xponentialshift, April 28, 2014, 11:33:28 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

xponentialshift

Well here is a picture of me on my first day of HRT! (Second dose)
Sadly allergy season struck 2 days ago so my eyes are all red and itchy.

  •  

xponentialshift

Had therapy today, and my therapist noted that I was noticeably calmer and more relaxed than any of our previous sessions. We figure the E must be doing something right!

I also booked my first laser session, but it isn't for three weeks :( but at least I won't have to miss work because it is an evening appointment!

I'm about to take my second E dose of the day, then I have 4 more before I stop friday afternoon.
The following weekend I drive home to visit family and I'll check my blood on the way to see if I am back to male range by then (hopefully) then go to the sperm bank the following week and finally get onto my full hrt regiment.

As for my mood I have continued to go through the day in what I used to consider my very happy mode, but I haven't had any "happy" moments yet to re-experience that wonderful feeling.
My allergies started to really kick in today so during my sneezing fits my mood went all the way back down to what I used to call "normal"

Here's to hoping that I get a few more happy experiences before I stop E for the 2 weeks...
  •  

xponentialshift

Wow... I took my last dose of E 25 hours ago, and I wish I could take another one right now.
The 4 days I was taking E, I felt happier than normal but I thought it might just be placebo or something. But about an hour ago I got into the car to grab dinner and all of a sudden everything in my mind just kind of slumped and it felt like I was just going through the motions and not wanting to do anything.
I guess I'm feeling really depressed. (Nothing near suicidal or anything like that) just really down and not wanting to do anything.
I'm guessing the half life for Estradiol is a little under a day. Or maybe a half day, then another half day for my body flood itself with T again...
Maybe I should go lock my meds up in my car so I'm not tempted until after I bank...
  •  

xponentialshift

Yuck, depression feels terrible. Maybe if I sleep till work on Monday the withdrawals will ease up. (Obviously I'll wake up to eat and stuff)
  •  

AnneB

Ok, four days later... How are you doing?  The depression is likely from stopping the E.. 'should get better when you restart your E.  Have you begun the Spiro yet?  The hormone balancing act.. Depending what your T level was before, you gave to lower the T, then bring your "total" hormone level back up to "full" with the E.

You've heard the full water glass analogy?  Your body is a glass, your normal hormone levels (T, before you began anything), filled the glass to the very top with clear water, with no room for anything else..  Add E (like a green dye), and it just runs off the side, onto the table.. But... reduce the T first (pour some water out) and you start making room for the E, slowly at first, the water becomes a very slight shade of green.. Pour out some more water (reduce the T even more (more Spiro) and you can add some more E (more green dye).. Soon, you'll have a nice, deep green color, reduce the T, add the E.. That's the way it was explained to me.. Unless your T is already pretty low, I think adding the E, won't do much, except start the calming feelings..  which you started feeling for those few days.  But for the days you stopped the E, your T began to rebound and try to cover over your E.

Once you begin both your Spiro, and E, things should start to feel better. 

Paula
  •  

xponentialshift

After about a day of depression I started to get better. By Monday afternoon I was back to where I was before I started taking any E. Hopefully I can get back on a full dose of HRT by the end of next week. I got all my paperwork in so I call tomorrow to schedule an appointment with the spermbank. I am thinking a Monday appointment and Friday deposit.

I never took any Spiro. My doctor recommended against taking it pre-deposit because it hits the reproductive system harder than E alone.

I am still surprised I reacted so strongly to stopping the E. I was only on it for 4 days before stopping and not taking any spiro... Perhaps my base T levels are on the low side of the spectrum?

I did learn from my therapist that I am on a "medium dose" of E, not a low dose like I thought.

Luckily I have plenty to keep my mind occupied at work for now. And I started a Borderlands 2 campaign with a coworker and old classmate on Sunday. (Hurray for video game distraction... A regular occurrence in my life, to which my closet full of games can attest)

So yeah. All back to the old normal. The pills on my shelf are still taunting me, but I know they will still be there in 2 weeks.
  •  

xponentialshift

I am going to officially start my HRT on Tuesday! My 4 day at the beginning of the month doesn't count.

I have my final deposit at the sperm bank that morning, and as soon as that is over I am taking my pills! This month long detour was only supposed to be 2 weeks max.. But in the end I should have about 10 vials stored for the future which I feel is enough.

In other news, I had my first laser treatment this morning. They said to get a really close shave before so I decided to use a regular razor... Which I've never used on my face before... That was a mistake... I didn't get a clean shave and should have stuck with my usual electric.
The extra hair made the laser a little more painful, but overall it was just mild discomfort... But I am glad they gave me the Novocaine cream. They estimate 7 more sessions and maybe a few touchups. At $125 per it seems pretty reasonable.

Also, I heard that my boss is supportive of my transition. My uncle told my grandmother who told me the story, but I guess my uncle and my boss were talking, and my boss asked if my "therapy" was working (he knew I was going to therapy but not why) because I seem happier and more social and actually making jokes and relaxing with coworkers. At that point my uncle told him my plans to transition and he said that he doesn't care if I want to be a girl or a boy as long as I do my work and am happy. And he said that if any coworkers had a problem with it he would set them straight.
Basically it was the best response I could hope for especially because he was the one person I was expecting to not accept this and I was worried I might need to find a new job.
Granted I haven't spoken with him in person about this yet, but it is still great news!

Oh and I managed to get an appointment with the head of the glaucoma division at UCSF! (I may have had my surgeon in Boston throw his name around to get him to accept me as a patient...) But that isn't until November.

That's all my updates for now. I am so excited for next week!
  •  

AnneB

That's really good news.. glad you got things going again, and boss has two thumbs up for you!
I'm certain you'll be back on track and feeling like your new self again in no time!
Hope you have a terrific weekend!
  •