I actually came out very pleased with my new doctor and our first visit yesterday. Not only did I walk out with prescriptions, I apparently somewhat impressed my Doctor with how I have handled myself and my medication.
She asked me a few questions regarding my years of self medication.
How did I determine my increase schedule for my self medication? - I followed previous doctors plan when his practice closed and he laid it out for me, but without bloodwork. When I changed primary estrogen (Oestradiol Valerate to Estrofem, now back to Oestradiol with the Dr) I consulted the bio-availability of the Merck index for the substance and RoA, then did the math for conversion and picked a comparable dose.
How did I monitor myself for symptoms and what symptoms?- Night sweats let me know when my E drops too low (started under the care of my first Doc), once my E is too low, I night sweat like mad. Emotional response tells me if my T gets too high, I get angry easier, have a higher blood pressure, and mood swing easier. She was glad to hear I had been listening to my body. She asked about negative symptoms and I do not suffer from any of the ACHES symptoms. Thankfully.
She was impressed with how it had been handled and she put me back on a comparable E dose (actually a bit higher, and she asked if I wanted it), and a slightly lower spiro dose. We will add progesterone at a later visit once all my panels are in for a couple visits and we know where I am. I did go back to injections as I dislike the liver load of pills and she does not do pellets.
So it was a good visit.
I do not advocate self medication and this post is not meant to indicate self medication is safe or a good idea in any way, but it is good to know that a) I likely did not hurt myself and b) I was apparently decently intelligent about how I did it.
Happy to be back under care after a decade or so of self med. And glad to be on relatively familiar doses. The slightly lower spiro if it becomes a concern we can raise. The estrogen is actually higher by about double. So she is upping e lowering t blockers and I am guessing I will note too terrible a difference.
Have a happy Turkey Day! I am having a great one and tomorrow I get my Bowers date (Robin has been busy and apologized for the delay).
Love,
Kami
