HRT: Levels Crazy and Make No Sense

[theadanielle]

My doctor was concerned a few months ago about my e-level, which was 808.  I had been on two estradiol pills a day for some time, and two spiro.  My t-level was still not suppressed enough, either, so he added one finasteride a day and reduced me to a pill and a half of estradiol.

Now, a few months later, my estrogen is up over a thousand, and my testosterone level actually when UP (to 495) despite the additional suppressant.  At least, according to the lab, this is what happened.

My doctor does not trust these results and has ordered another phlebotomy.  He says the results make no sense given what we did with my dosages.

Has anyone ever had this kind of thing happen?  I was wondering if e can simply build up in your system over time and if this could explain the higher levels.  Appreciate any feedback.

[mmmmm]

How long it was between you have taken a pill (i suspect sublingually) and your blood sample was taken?

In some cases, spiro has little or no anti-androgenic effects. You might want to speak with your doctor about this, if you have been taking spiro for months without any effect. There are other a lot more appropriate anti-androgens available. 

[Cindy]

I had very similar results when I was on pills. I went to 6000, my endo was equally as shocked as my DVT risk was high. I went off pills for a month, my E dropped and I was put on implants. Been fine ever since, although my steady E level is still higher than most girls have.

Spiro was effective, it was some sort of reaction to porgynova. My endo has 30 plus years of treating TG and had seen it a few times before. So it occurs but is uncommon.

But labs do make errors so get the repeat test.

[sam1234]

I think the answer lays in all the posts. People are individuals, and their bodies are going to react to the various hormones differently as well. Assuming that all the Dr.s are used to working with transgenders, they may adjust levels in part dependent on what the rest of the body is doing. What constitutes a high level to one Dr. may be of no concern to another. Just a theory.

sam1234

[Jasper93]

My doctor was concerned a few months ago about my e-level, which was 808.  I had been on two estradiol pills a day for some time, and two spiro.  My t-level was still not suppressed enough, either, so he added one finasteride a day and reduced me to a pill and a half of estradiol.

Now, a few months later, my estrogen is up over a thousand, and my testosterone level actually when UP (to 495) despite the additional suppressant.  At least, according to the lab, this is what happened.

My doctor does not trust these results and has ordered another phlebotomy.  He says the results make no sense given what we did with my dosages.

Has anyone ever had this kind of thing happen?  I was wondering if e can simply build up in your system over time and if this could explain the higher levels.  Appreciate any feedback.

I've never heard of that.  I take like the same exact dosage, and have from the start.  My estrogen levels sit at 180 ng/dl, and my testosterone levels have been at 14 ng/dl, so it's been working great. 

[Squircle]

My oestrogen levels came back at crazy levels on a couple of occasions. My endo explained that there are certain things that can interfere with the test and cause an inaccurate reading. I had my blood taken again but this time with a slightly different method of testing that my endo requested and it came back in the upper reaches of normal female range.

[theadanielle]

Thank you everyone!! Very helpful responses...I am less worried now.