Some Questions and Concerns after starting MtF transition

[Ashesashes]

Salutations everybody! I've referred to this site a lot in the past when I was curious, but I can't seem to find any direct answers to my question today.. so I decided to make an account and ask it myself!

I'm Ashes, and I just started my HRT on the fourth. So far I haven't noticed any outright changes, and I'm just wondering what I should do if I miss a dose! A couple days ago I started breaking my tablets in half, and I forgot to take the half I would normally take before bed- so what do? Do I just let it slide and go on until when I'd normally take another half? There have been just a couple times where I totally spaced despite myself and went a day without. I've only just started and I'm worried that it will have a drastically negative impact on my transition- I have a transitioning gf who says she missed a couple/few whole days, and hers is going swimmingly, I just want a broader pool of responses.

Also, it may be due to any number of variables, but I'm having mild chest pain/discomfort. It's nothing I couldn't shrug off, but with that sort of thing you probably shouldn't- is that a regular side effect? I'm pretty sure it's not just pain from tissue growth, but I may well be wrong. It could well be that my poor choice of diet is finally catching up with me, or that it's catching up faster now that I've started HRT. I just want to make sure that I'm not missing any warning signs which may indicate that I need to stop (despite that I really, reeeaaaally don't want to ;n;)

Thank you everybody in advance for your time, please feel free to share any thoughts and advice, have a lovely day!

[Jessica Merriman]

OK, first the Paramedic play book stuff. Chest pain is not a shrug off symptom at all. You will know the difference between chest pain and developing breast's. If your pain is ever associated with shortness of breathe, left OR right arm pain, jaw pain or profuse sweating you need to be seen ASAP (as in ambulance or E.R.)! Breast development pain will be fairly continuous while true chest pain will come and go depending on your physical activity level. It is hard to tell which you are having and it could also be Gastric Reflux as another diagnosis. You should probably make an appointment with your primary care provider either way.

Missing an occasional dose of HRT should not be a problem. However doing it routinely (missing) is not good. To be healthy you need to make sure you follow the schedule, eat healthy and exercise. If you miss a dose take it as soon as you can. HRT is very hard on the body so eat better, exercise and try not to get in the habit of missing doses. Yes, there is a reason I repeated eat healthy, exercise and follow your HRT schedule. Good luck. 

[Rachel]

Add, no smoking and very moderate alcohol.

My PA made me promise no drugs, alcohol or tobacco to be at the dose I am. Sleep is curtail and monitor your water intake. 

[Nevara]

If you're on Spiro, you might feel tightness and soreness in your chest or limbs and that's a sign of dehydration. Make sure you double or triple the amount of water you drink. I had the same problem the first week of HRT and even drinking around 12 cups of water throughout the day wasn't enough.

Sensation from growing breasts will start around your nipples. It's more of an increased sensitivity (you don't want to touch them!) at first before it spreads out as your breasts grow.

[Dee Marshall]

Another sign of dehydration is muscle cramping. Drink water all the time, not just when you're thirsty. If you're thirsty you're already getting dehydrated.

[Ashesashes]

Thank you for your responses folks!

Good call on the dehydration thing- I had trouble keeping up my H2O intake before starting, so that's something I really need to focus on.

I've sworn off tobacco products as well, and I was never much of a heavy drinker so at least that's not an issue.

[Jamie2.0]

Why is it so important to have NO smoking when starting H R T ??

Drinking isn't a problem with me either.

[chibiStephy]

on HTR is important to keep with a healthy life, that because your body is always working with the hormones and it's dangerous if you give your body more troubles, it could cause you problems on long term
the best thing you can do is keep up with the exercise, eat and sleep well and drink water always, that will help you a lot on the TRH

[Ms Grace]

Why is it so important to have NO smoking when starting H R T ??

Drinking isn't a problem with me either.

Smoking causes blood clotting. Estrogen HRT can cause clotting. Smoking while on estrogen HRT can increase the risks of blood clotting significantly. Blood clotting leads to heart attack or strokes.

[eliza2014]

As Ms Grace said, but include deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism - blood clots in the legs and in the lungs. Places they are not supposed to be!

[Jamie2.0]

Anybody have any ideas on how to quit smoking??

Have gone down from 3 packs a day to just 4 a day.
Still just can't quit all together.

Help with quitting please !!

Jamie