Weird feeling in arms and legs on a low dose of Estrogen

[dreameragi]

I am on a very low dose of Estrogen Valerate (without any AA). I identify as androgynous, so the intention is not to transition, but to feminize and get to a place where I feel comfortable about myself.

I can feel strange sensations in my arms and feel. A bit in the calves, but also the thighs, arms and shoulders. Sometimes they run along a line, sometimes they are more diffused. Sometimes I feel like my arms and legs 'go to sleep' faster, like feeling sluggish.

This happened almost on the 3rd day of starting. Has anyone else noticed such sensations ?

Thanks !

[alexis.j]

Yes, I had similar feeling after about  a month or two on estrodiol valerate tablets and spiro.  Went to see GP, he said nothing to worry about and it was a pinched nerve in my spine aparantly... poked around my back, and OUCH, hurt like hell by my spine/upper back :-/
Told him im concerned about DVT, but he said its not likely and I should watch out for swelling of calves and obvious pain.
Had ECG to confirm heart condition,  results perfect...

Few weeks later my endo also stated DVT unlikely and only to worry if there is swelling or severe pain...

So, I'm not exactly sure what it is, but stressing about it seems to make it worse, and I then start seeing things that are not there. ( to me it seems/feels like reduced blood flow, but then again,  certain things I think were like that before HRT... I think...)

Remember, your body goes through some serious changes when on HRT, I bet there are MANY things that change/feel different.

Unfortunately,  google is not always your best friend with medical advice.  Or let me rather re-phrase that "GOOGLE IS NEVER YOUR BEST FRIEND WITH MEDICAL ADVICE"
Google and minor aliment,  and I guarantee that you will find most links with state that you have cancer or some kind of heart issue. ..
I should have been dead before the age of 3 if google was right...

Unfortunately,  it is best to see a doctor about medical issues. 
But cross gender HRT is still relatively new, and there is not as much thorough research done on it so far ( compared to other medical treatments).

[Jo-is-amazing]

I had the exact same experience, I'm pretty sure it was the muscle breaking down and nothing serious XD

[KayXo]

Stress maybe...affecting blood flow.

[Ltl89]

I experienced that feeling in my leg.  At first I freaked out thinking I had dvt, but I got it checked out and it went away.  Just be careful because dvt is nothing to mess with, so it's okay to take things seriously even when it's likely nothing. 

[dreameragi]

Thanks to all of you for the supportive answers.

DVT is scary stuff, so it's very possible that the stress may be manifesting as symptoms. Also this started happening on day 3, so DVT seems unlikely.

I think it could be some sort of muscle tenderness also along with the stress.

[helen2010]

I think our bodies all react quite differently. My skin became itchy and I started to experience cramps.  Turned out to be relatively common.  Peace of mind is important.  Speak with your endo or doctor if you are concerned

[dreameragi]

Update:

I actually woke up with heavy throbbing in the neck and head and a little bit of sweat. Not quite sure what caused it, but I am off the Estrogen for now. Will do some more tests and then determine if I can get back on it.

[alexis.j]

To Dreamer:
Reading your opening post again,  where you state you have no intention to transion, and just to feminise you body. Could your reaction possibly be that your body does not want the change? As some others state"you will feel its not right for you and not be comfortable while on hrt, if you are not really ts"
Just an idea.
Others input on this also welcome?

[jennifer356]

The human mind can make the body do some strange things - Consciously or sub-consciously the mind can affect how our body functions - If taking hormones for the "wrong" reason the mind can cause anxiety and the body reacts - "Panic" or anxiety attacks can mimic life threatening cardiac events and need to be addressed seriously - Back in 1991 a series of life events and a stressful job with an insane boss caused me to have all the symptoms of a heart attack - Pains down the left arm, sweating, slight nausea - After a 2 day hospital stay and a dozen tests the verdict was tachycardia (fast heartbeat) due to an anxiety attack - Quit that job and have not had another incident since - You might just have to rethink your reasons for hrt and if you sincerely think they are what you need then try again

Jennifer

[Kaelin]

Talk with your doctor.

You may have other health problems that haven't been addressed yet, there could be drug interactions, the starting dose may be too high, or your body may simply have trouble dealing with E.

I don't know how often you are injecting, but I inject once a month (although once every two weeks seems more common).  If you are still on your first injection and you're supposed to do this once every ~two weeks, then you've still got a while to assess your symptoms before you are missing a dose anyway, and the effects of E will still hang around a bit for a while.  If you pay attention to how you body feels over time as your levels fade, you and your doctor may be able to make better attributions and find a better solution going forward.

[dreameragi]

To Dreamer:
Reading your opening post again,  where you state you have no intention to transion, and just to feminise you body. Could your reaction possibly be that your body does not want the change? As some others state"you will feel its not right for you and not be comfortable while on hrt, if you are not really ts"
Just an idea.
Others input on this also welcome?

Hey Alexis,

Labeling my gender has been a real tough one for me. I have closed my eyes and tried to think of myself as a woman and it feels right. Being a man does not feel quite as right, but if I can be 'me' in my body then I would not mind it. It's really confusing. I don't know if there is a sort of fluidity, but I can say safely that I may not be cis-male. The closest I can come to a label is 'androgynous'.

The emotional benefits of Estrogen were huge... but I am still thinking about what you said... you may be onto something.

However, I not sure if by body was resisting the changes, or it somehow did not react very well to Estrogen. I think there were a lot of cramps, but sometimes they were along a line, which felt like a vein. So it was very difficult to distinguish between a muscle cramp, or something going on in the veins.

The sweating and throbbing, could be anxiety, or some allergic reaction, or electrolyte imbalance ? I really don't know.

I stopped E about 36 hours back and feel like the cramps have reduced.

[dreameragi]

The human mind can make the body do some strange things - Consciously or sub-consciously the mind can affect how our body functions - If taking hormones for the "wrong" reason the mind can cause anxiety and the body reacts - "Panic" or anxiety attacks can mimic life threatening cardiac events and need to be addressed seriously
Jennifer

Panic and anxiety could be a possibility. I guess I am at a point where it is a bit hard to figure out. I think I will take it easy for a few days, after which I will consult some doctors and check out various possibilities.

Talk with your doctor.

You may have other health problems that haven't been addressed yet, there could be drug interactions, the starting dose may be too high, or your body may simply have trouble dealing with E.

I don't know how often you are injecting, but I inject once a month (although once every two weeks seems more common). 

I am taking Progynova pills. An unknown health problem can be a possibility. I will check it out. Thanks !

[Wynternight]

I've noticed my muscles tire out a lot more quickly than before. I can only think it's a side effect of the estrogen.