i know its a marathon. but....

[Zoetrope]

I was totally skeptical about the 6-month breakthrough.

Boy was I wrong though. At 7-8 months for me, things began *accelerating* ... and haven't slowed down! :~o

[becoming gianna]

Each of our stories is very different. Denial as a young person took me down a very dark path and got me into legal trouble, and the debt that comes with it, that ive been dealing with for almost a decade (dont drive in new york if youve even been in the same room as alcohol. Seriously. Youd get less hassle for armed robbery). So between paying rent, trying to get my vehicle on the road, paying for one night 6 years ago, and keeping my job while i can, im happy to go slow. I lived the fast, self destructive life. Itd make a great book if i could rember half of it. Truth be told, ive just gotten back almost everything ive lost. Im willing to go slow. As for the dysphoria. Its pretty much dissappeared along with my marbles and sex drive.

[Alaia]

I didn't feel anything until about 5 1/2 months into it, and then it was only a slight puffiness/soreness to my nipples. As others have said, after 6 months things really started happening. I'm a 36 A currently at 1 year. My endo has been very conservative with my dosage increases though. At 6 months my dosage was comparable to what other girls I knew were on at 3 months. It's still pretty low too. I just went in for my 1 yr bloodwork and am hoping I can convince him to bump my spiro up a little and double my E dosage. If not, I may decide to change over to another doctor that is much more experienced with dealing with the trans community, but is unfortunately not on my insurance :/.

[JulieWeeks]

Threads like this help to keep me going.  2 months so far on a low dose of estrogen only and other than sore nipples from time to time, I feel and look the exact same.  It is re-assuring to hear from others that this is a process that takes time and is not overnight; even though it can be maddening at times.

[Eyie]

Almost at the 5 month mark myself and things have definitely kinda slowed down. I've been fairly happy with my physical effects till now and had been feeling amazing in general. Recently though the past week or two I've just been like so blah like emotionless almost and don't feel like really doing anything. Has anyone else experienced something like this? My doctor did up my dosage at the 3 month mark and my t levels were still super high like 650 so mayb it's just finally going down and that's why I've been feeling this way. Sure sick of it and hope I start feeling better that's for sure.

[ImagineKate]

I am in month 5 and things are kind of at a plateau. Breast pain is less, but they are at a nice 34B, face feminization is there but kind of at a plateau (but hair removal is helping) and everything else is progressing slowly. But there is progress nonetheless. I don't have issues passing as much as before though.

[ImagineKate]

Threads like this help to keep me going.  2 months so far on a low dose of estrogen only and other than sore nipples from time to time, I feel and look the exact same.  It is re-assuring to hear from others that this is a process that takes time and is not overnight; even though it can be maddening at times.

2 months on low dose E without an AA will only have minimal effects unless you had low T to begin with.

[Alaia]

And I've got my 1 yr test results back... It's no wonder I have only seen minimal growth. My E levels are still pretty low, only at 54.7 pg/ml. My T levels look great though, 12 ng/dl, so probably no need to ask the doc to increase my spiro. I've also learned that up through the first year your doctor should be requesting blood tests every 3 months (recommended by the Endocrine Society). Make sure they do this!

Seems my endo thought I was fine waiting 6 months between this and my last test and said he'd see me in a year. If he doesn't recommend an acceptable increase in E after seeing these latest results then I'm going to be giving him the boot.

[Mariah]

It's surprising that yours only did it twice in a year. I have been tested 3 times already and will be a fourth time in May. Sounds like a good plan, but you could try speaking up first if he doesn't increase it as to why he isn't bothering to adjust your hormones and see if that doesn't spur the doctor to make changes. You also need to let him know your not pleased with the minimal growth at this point due to those low levels. Good luck and Hugs
Mariah

And I've got my 1 yr test results back... It's no wonder I have only seen minimal growth. My E levels are still pretty low, only at 54.7 pg/ml. My T levels look great though, 12 ng/dl, so probably no need to ask the doc to increase my spiro. I've also learned that up through the first year your doctor should be requesting blood tests every 3 months (recommended by the Endocrine Society). Make sure they do this!

Seems my endo thought I was fine waiting 6 months between this and my last test and said he'd see me in a year. If he doesn't recommend an acceptable increase in E after seeing these latest results then I'm going to be giving him the boot.

[becoming gianna]

Ive already been tested 3 times. The initial, once at 3 months and again yesterday. Im already maxed on spiro, and the doc upped my E. As i said previously, the doc noticed changes more so than i do, but i still need to drop about 40 pounds before i can even consider dressing. Shes gonna call with my levels in a week or so. I can only guess, but id say T is nil. Im not out to anyone but my wife and close friends, but im happy. Aint that what counts?