First Endo - don't hate me!

[Dee Marshall]

Had my first appointment. He asked some "gatekeeper" questions. I started getting nervous.

Then he felt me up, tits and naughtybits. Didn't even buy me dinner first!

Talked about expectations. Gave me scripts for low dose estradiol and spirolactone. Told me to see the lab for baseline T levels and to be back in 3 months.

Best of all, my insurance covered the scripts. I wasn't sure it would.

[alabamagirl]

Had my first appointment. He asked some "gatekeeper" questions. I started getting nervous.

Then he felt me up, tits and naughtybits. Didn't even buy me dinner first!

Talked about expectations. Gave me scripts for low dose estradiol and spirolactone. Told me to see the lab for baseline T levels and to be back in 3 months.

Best of all, my insurance covered the scripts. I wasn't sure it would.

Eek! They do that? Why?

[Danielle79]

Then he felt me up, tits and naughtybits. Didn't even buy me dinner first!

Yeah, mine didn't do that. But she did take a look at my chest and exclaim, "Boy, you're hairy!" Thanks Doc, really appreciated that.

[Dee Marshall]

I shaved yesterday so no hair comments. I think the other is because I told him I had gynecomastia at 11 and symptoms of low testosterone for the last ten years. Hope this comes out OK. I took my first spiro and E doses 15 minutes ago.

I feel like I do when I accidentally drink  soy milk, without the itching and sneezing. Wonder how long this will last?

[Dee Marshall]

Sorry, Tapatalk stuttered.

[Jessica Merriman]

Eek! They do that? Why?

It is just part of the medical exam to see if there are any problems such as masses in the breast or testicular areas. It is also a baseline of sorts to record physical development once you are on HRT. 

[Danielle79]

That's interesting, because I had gynecomastia as a teenager, too, and still have it to a certain degree (I guess it's not technically gynecomastia at this point). She did comment on that, but she didn't feel for masses. As for my other parts, I don't think she checked because I am already under the care of a urologist because of infertility (well, almost infertility, still had barely enough to do IVF) and testicular microlithiasis. My testosterone has always been in the normal male range, however (hopefully the spiro will change that soon). My body doesn't make sense.

[Newgirl Dani]

Told me to see the lab for baseline T levels

Gotta ask:  Does this mean your Dr. did not do a complete blood workup prior to writting the script?  This would have given the baseline T level.  Dani

[Dee Marshall]

Told me to see the lab for baseline T levels

Gotta ask:  Does this mean your Dr. did not do a complete blood workup prior to writting the script?  This would have given the baseline T level.  Dani

Exactly so. This doctor has been working with trans people for a good long time. I imagine he thought that a dose or two of Spiro would do no harm in the unlikely possibility that my T is already way low.

I feel great today, BTW, after two doses of spiro and one of estradiol. 15 hours after E I redeveloped some tension in my jaw, but I'm still feeling calm, relaxed and competent. Even my body dysphoria issues aren't a big deal today. I have to say he was probably right. Correction, BTW, I looked it up. I'm on low to moderate E.

[Shantel]

I have my annual endocrine visit next month. The doc will ask me if I've changed my mind and will actually become a woman since I have some of those physical attributes. He can't seem to wrap his mind around the concept "non-binary." Then one of his sweet little female associates going through her internship will want to do a breast exam on me, I don't submit to that and usually say, "I get to do yours first," that puts a crimp in that idea rather abruptly. After that I'll be prescribed another years worth of Climera patches. Bada bing and I'm good to go.

[Brenda E]

Then he felt me up, tits and naughtybits. Didn't even buy me dinner first!

This had me giggling.

Mine took the liberty of a prostate exam too, so you got off lightly with just the groping.

[Shantel]

This had me giggling.

Mine took the liberty of a prostate exam too, so you got off lightly with just the groping.

Ugh the finger wave, I hate that! My healthcare provider is a pretty female doctor too, I feel so embarrassed and actually apologize to her for having to do that. She says, "No biggie, it's part of the program honey."

[Ltl89]

Just wanted to note that breast exams are important to have.  Breast cancer is a very serious illness that effect many women (my aunt was just diagnosed with it and my grand mother died cause of it).  While it's irritating to show my chest to doctors, I realize it's important.  Ever since I started hrt, breast cancer has been one of my biggest concerns and something I'm very aware of.

Anyway, glad to hear you got your start op, especially since you got insurance to cover it, lol.  That helps a lot. 

[Dee Marshall]

This was the third evening taking E. Each has been different.

First night I was giddy for 1/2 an hour.

Second night dysphoria came crashing back an hour before the dose

Third night, a little dizziness, also ate a Godiva truffle. Damn that is good in the first flush of E.

Tonight I was dizzy for an hour. I think because I take the spiro with it and I was a bit dehydrated.

Wonder what tomorrow will be like?

[Brenda E]

Wonder what tomorrow will be like?

No idea, but I can guarantee it'll get better and better and better...

[Ms Grace]

Eek! They do that? Why?

It is just part of the medical exam to see if there are any problems such as masses in the breast or testicular areas. It is also a baseline of sorts to record physical development once you are on HRT. 

They also want to see how big the testes are. My endo had something that kind of looked like crazy rosary beads (an orcidometer) to compare against. Presumably the bigger the testes the  greater the testosterone factory? Haven't got a clue about that one.

[Dee Marshall]

Agree about the testes measurement. Oh, and I got the results of the baseline back, 203. All the stress T was causing me and my level was so low I was practically sterile. I also wanted to comment about Wednesday night, when the dysphoria crashed back I felt like my heart would explode. I'm sure it was no worse than it had been, but it's like when you have a body pain. Aspirin or whatever takes it away, but when it wears off the pain comes back the same. but feeling worse than before. I think I could only stand it before because I didn't know there was an alternative. I had forgotten it was there. Never going back!

Are these reports useful or am I just setting people up to expect what I felt? I'm sure this is different for everybody.

[Ltl89]

Agree about the testes measurement. Oh, and I got the results of the baseline back, 203. All the stress T was causing me and my level was so low I was practically sterile. I also wanted to comment about Wednesday night, when the dysphoria crashed back I felt like my heart would explode. I'm sure it was no worse than it had been, but it's like when you have a body pain. Aspirin or whatever takes it away, but when it wears off the pain comes back the same. but feeling worse than before. I think I could only stand it before because I didn't know there was an alternative. I had forgotten it was there. Never going back!

Are these reports useful or am I just setting people up to expect what I felt? I'm sure this is different for everybody.

While it's different for everybody, I think it's important to share your experience if you want to.  Sometimes we need to talk about this stuff and it also does help other people out there that are about to start.  It gives an idea about the potential experience .  I know I definitely read threads ike this before I started. Share what you want and feel comfortable to share.

[Rachel]

Dee, I think the posts are important too and congratulations!

Dysphoria is hell. Wait till the calm hits. I never experienced calm till hrt.

[Dee Marshall]

Dee, I think the posts are important too and congratulations!

Dysphoria is hell. Wait till the calm hits. I never experienced calm till hrt.

Nope, not gonna wait. The calm hit a half hour after the first dose. Mostly had it since. Finding it difficult to be sure when I'm stressed now, but I'm learning. That's one sensation that's subtle, thank goodness!