Switched from pills to shots

[VikingArchangel]

I was just wondering if any of you made the same switch and noticed the following differences.

1) Since going on the shots (Weekly IM, not listing dose obviously), feminization speed has shot through the roof! First male fail at a Wendy's after just under 13 weeks HRT! (Quickly changed her mind, but I was giddy all evening

2) However, while on the pills, I would get a euphoric sensation about an hour or so after taking my dose (sublingual, of course) that I have not noticed from the shots. At all.

3) The only things I can think of that could cause this are:
     A) I've added Dutasteride to my regimen for the effects on DHT.
     B) Started taking the entire daily Progesterone dose at bedtime.
     
This is confusing me a great deal, cause when I took one of my old E pills (still have a few), I felt fantastic again! Yet, I can't deny the physical effects of the shots, so I know it isn't fake...ugh, so confused!

[Beverly]

Maybe if you stop chopping and changing your meds and settled on one change every few months then you would know what the effects of making a single change is.

If you change several things before each one has time to settle down then, as you are finding, it is impossible to know what caused what.

Does your endo know that you are mixing pills and shots and altering dosage times?

[VikingArchangel]

Some of us don't have the luxury of one of those. Had one...came to find out she's a trainee, and I get to see the actual endo for about 45 seconds per visit, and don't get to ask questions of someone who has medical knowledge of this process.

[Beverly]

Trainee or not, her advice should be followed as she must have medical experience and understanding to even get to that position.

In any case what transition really needs is PATIENCE. It is a long term project. Give each change of medication at least three months and then get a blood test to measure it.

[Rachel]

IM is a lot different than pills.

Pills felt like more of a roller coaster for me. IM 14 day was too long for me and now I am 10 day, my PA allowed the reduced in duration. I get my blood checked in March so I will know the blood level differences then.

If I were to self med then I will not know the effect of the change in duration effect. HRT is a life time commitment and getting the dose and time optimized so I feel good is my main goal.

IM E has a half life of 8 days. Pills have a half life of 4 hours. So depending when you took the pills during your IM cycle will dictate how much of an impact it had. Anything over what your E receptors can use taxes your liver for no benefit.

I understand the desire to self med, I did it. Reason and discipline and honesty with your Doc is the way to go long term for your health. If you get a DVT you may never be able to get HRT again.

[galaxy]

I will get injections in a few days too.
Do you inject to yourself or go to a doctor?

[Mariah]

If you opt for self injections then you do it, but you do need to be trained so you know how to do it and are capable of succeeding at giving yourself IM self injections.
Mariah

I will get injections in a few days too.
Do you inject to yourself or go to a doctor?

[Rachel]

I self inject. I had to repeat the injection training because I fainted, after the injection and needle disposal, the first time. I have done it 8 times and now it is really nothing. I just do a time out before the injection to focus and go over the steps. I do it on my bed and give myself a few minutes prior to standing.

I am on a specialty Haze mat response team of 15 at work. In order to be considered for the volunteer team I had to answer a 250 question questionnaire. One item asked if you are on medications and if yes list them. I got an e-mail on a Sunday requesting I see the Occupational Nurse Practitioner at work that Monday. She asked what the meds were for and I explained. She had a lot of questions and towards the end she asked who gave me the IM injections. I said I self inject. She was surprised and said that it can be difficult. I said I do it and it really is nothing. She was surprised. I came to realize that if you want something you can overcome something that is scary. In the end I realized  I made myself upset and scared and I am also the one that concurred my fear. It is a great feeling to overcome something that you were once afraid of.

[VikingArchangel]

/cheer  Screw fear!  Happy you got through it