HRT Is this normal?

[greezypizza]

New here so sorry if I do things wrong. But I have questions and don't really know who to ask since I don't know anyone else that's trans. I'm 20 mtf btw
Self prescribed
Be 20 years old and website were I get my supply got hacked
Panic and cry as I stare at my last 3 doses.
Freaking out and start looking for trans friendly gp's that offer hrt
Found a doctor who rarely does informed consent, but mostly requires letters, which I don't have.
A phone call and 12 hours later I walk out with a script for estradiol and spiro, without any letters.
Now that you know my past, heres my question about hrt.
A couple of days before I started HRT I noticed my left breast was bigger and there was a rubbery ball under the nipple, not sure if that was there before or if it was the androcur, regardless it didn't hurt at all.
Anyways on the third day of hrt I notice my left nipple ball thing started to feel sore and achey. Right one doesnt have a ball yet and is not sore.
I feel it alot when I sleep, since I sleep stomach down.
I heard that most people feel something in the nipples by the first month of hrt, but is it normal to already feel this only at 3 days?
Does this mean my body is responding to rapidly to E?
Has anyone felt this, this early from such a low dose?

*forgot to mention I started Androcur when I was 17*

[KristinaM]

I'm no expert here, but if you're self-prescribing, then maybe the dosage is higher than would be recommended for this early on in your treatment?  I also read somewhere that breasts don't necessarily have to be the same size, usually one is larger than the other, even if only slightly.  So maybe you're just growing unevenly and the other one will catch up soon enough.

[Ms Grace]

Hi, welcome to the forum, please note we do not allow the discussion of dosages. I'm glad you are off self medication as that is a very dangerous practice. You'll find that the effects you are describing are common, it's likely you are noticing them so soon because you were on Spiro for some time. If you are concerned you should speak with the doctor.

[ChloëAri]

This is normal. The «rubber ball» is part of the breast that leads to the nipple. It will grow over time. My left breast is larger than my right as well, as are the lactiferous ducts and lobes (rubber ball mass).

[Jenna Marie]

Yep, those are breast buds, and starting anti-androgens is sometimes enough to jump-start development. In people where that happens, it's probably not surprising if then adding estrogen really puts things into overdrive.

(I started on low-dose E only and had visible and tender breast growth by day 5. It happens, and it's normal.)

[greezypizza]

Sorry Grace, wont do it again. I would of asked my doctor, but she said it might take a while for her to respond since she is a part time doctor. Also shes not on hrt.... I figured I'd get a quicker more accurate response from people who are going through or went through what I am going through.
And thanks everyone who responded.

[DanaDane]

Yep, those are breast buds, and starting anti-androgens is sometimes enough to jump-start development. In people where that happens, it's probably not surprising if then adding estrogen really puts things into overdrive.

(I started on low-dose E only and had visible and tender breast growth by day 5. It happens, and it's normal.)

Day 5???  Really?  Wow.  I'm 36-48 hours in (Esteogen) and started Spiro today. 

[awilliams1701]

I think this is one of the reasons they recommend seeing a doctor and not self medicating. My doctor has checked my breasts both times I've been there. One was pre-HRT and the other one was 3 months HRT. I suspect she'll check them again when I get to 6 months HRT. It might be normal, but anything can happen. Its nice to have an expert tell you its normal.

[Jenna Marie]

Dana : Yes, although I had super low T and gynecomastia beforehand, both of which I'm sure helped. (The visible change was most likely just the new breast buds "perking up" what was already there.) I thought I was imagining things until I jogged down a flight of stairs.

[DanaDane]

Dana : Yes, although I had super low T and gynecomastia beforehand, both of which I'm sure helped. (The visible change was most likely just the new breast buds "perking up" what was already there.) I thought I was imagining things until I jogged down a flight of stairs.

That's amazing. 

My T was low but not at the bottom of normal.  200-900 and I was 4xx.   I'm in no rush but curious to mark progress. 

[iKate]

My T was in the 180s before I started. I have had problems through life with low T such as low fertility. It may have been exacerbated because I take a statin to control my cholesterol (my HDL or good cholesterol is too low).

[ChloëAri]

I've had gynecomastia since I was 12 (with a BMI of 18 so I was technically underweight) but I've had hormone issues in the past. When I started, my "T" was 15, and now is 0.19. I think my doctor uses a different measurement than yours, Kate.