Wow, is hrt supposed to make you this irritable?

[Autumnleaf]

So I've been on spiro for almost 2 months and this is my 10th day on oral sublingual E.  And omg, I am extremely irritable.  I've noticed that yesterday, I could feel myself getting irritated and a bit moody and today, I blew up on a co-worker/s. I was just in a very irritable mood today.  (currently on half dose, with my dosage increasing every week until I'm on a full dose by the 4th week.)

I'm kinda worried because I've read so many posts about how everyone who started E felt "right" and full of happiness, sunshine and butterflies.  I feel like I want to punch someone in the face.  (well, more so than usual anyway.)  I know it's one of those ymmv thing but just wondering if anyone else had gone through this.

[KittyKat]

I've had certain times where I get kinda moody about pretty much any and everything honestly. I've been on oral E for over a year. Like you said it can be very much ymmv though.

[Sydney_NYC]

Since you are on half dose, your hormones are out of wack for either male or female. The human body's endocrine systems needs to be either testosterone based of estrogen base to be balanced. Since your on half does, your T is dropping, but your estrogen is still to low so basically you are experience PMS (welcome to womanhood, LOL) Once you E goes up, you'll balance out better. When I was doing injections every two weeks, a few days prior to my next injection my E would drop to low and I experienced PMS like symptoms. (On pills this didn't happen.) I switched to weekly injections at half the dosage and now I don't get those symptoms.

[luna nyan]

Autumnleaf,

It's early days yet for you as your levels aren't consistent yet.  Once your body adjusts you should feel a lot better, it's usually the fluctuations that are the cause.  I was on a low (half) dose for 2 years and wasn't snappy.

If higher levels of either t or e were critical to being serene, then all the children out there would be psychotic.

Regardless, if you're transitioning, your endo will most likely build your dosage up with time as how your body responds to the medications becomes clear.

[katrinaw]

Hi Autumnleaf...

It does depend on the person, however I must admit Sydney's comment seems a very reasonable cause, never thought of it that way. I have never been on a "high dose" always minimal but certainly T is very low and E is in the very acceptable female levels, but I do not recall being any more tense or quick to snap...

Maybe a discussion with your Endo/Dr ?

L Katy 

[Ms Grace]

It's not uncommon for it to take a while for it to settle down while your hormone system is in flux. I remember getting a bit snappy and emotional in my first few months. Yes, some people feel at "blissful peace" almost instantly but many don't.

[KristinaM]

If higher levels of either t or e were critical to being serene, then all the children out there would be psychotic.

And you think they aren't?!   

[Dee Marshall]

And you think they aren't?!   

This!

Here's a thought experiment. Watch a child for a day then imagine those behaviors being performed by a 200 pound man...

or watch a Will Farrell movie.

My first six weeks on hormones were all bunnies and butterflies, but I was under no stress. The next several months were horrible! Now one of my two stressors is resolved and the bunnies and butterflies are back. This morning I was laughing at the antics of two groundhogs stealing from a garden. They really like dill!

[Laurette Mohr]

 For the first 3 days I was a convulsive irritable mess. My brain hurt my heart was trying to make a hasty retreat out of my chest and EVERYTHING else hurt as well. The morning of the 4th day was the most serine ever and almost 6 months later hasn't stopped being serine. Yes I get weepy at times but that's dandy as far as I am concerned.

[Oliviah]

I just past 3 months on HRT.  I am irritable, cry at stuff way more.  I get my feelings hurt easier.  I obsess over comments I used to think meant nothing. 

However, I think as things even out.  From time to time I get a gimps of happy, and I am assured I am doing the right thing. 

[angiegurl]

I find I get a little testy a day or two before my next weekly injection. I could not do bi-weekly injections.

[KayXo]

Too low E when T levels are low could cause this OR with sublingual, there tends to be fluctuation in levels of E that is quite significant from high peaks to low lows in a matter of hours. Orally, levels are more stable. That could be it as well.

[Dee Marshall]

I started sublingual due to fear for my liver. I haven't noticed large swings but I suspect that's because my dosage and length of time on HRT has allowed my body to build up a reserve. I tried researching (on the internet, not in a lab) the half-life of serum estrodiol, but couldn't find anything definitive.

[Mariah]

When I first started and was on patches I didn't think I was irritable, but others said I was. After switching to injections the moodiness would come on towards the last couple of days of the cycle especially. As he adjusted the dosage lower because he felt my numbers were to high I tanked at the bottom of one cycle. Since then I have been on at 10 day cycle and haven't had major issue with moodiness on the most part. The shorter cycle has helped with that.
Mariah

[Ashey]

Yeah I'd say your hormones just need to balance out. I was off my t-blocker recently and my levels started to slowly rise and I noticed I was getting more and more bitchy and moody and irritated, and definitely on edge. Now that I've been back on it a month, I've calmed down quite a bit and feel more normal again.

[amber roskamp]

So I've been on spiro for almost 2 months and this is my 10th day on oral sublingual E.  And omg, I am extremely irritable.  I've noticed that yesterday, I could feel myself getting irritated and a bit moody and today, I blew up on a co-worker/s. I was just in a very irritable mood today.  (currently on half dose, with my dosage increasing every week until I'm on a full dose by the 4th week.)

I'm kinda worried because I've read so many posts about how everyone who started E felt "right" and full of happiness, sunshine and butterflies.  I feel like I want to punch someone in the face.  (well, more so than usual anyway.)  I know it's one of those ymmv thing but just wondering if anyone else had gone through this.

I think that's ur brain reacting to a huge hormonal shift. I started out on an eighth  of the full dose then went up to a quarter after 3 months. Now I am finally at half after six months. Unfortunately might want to talk to ur endo about slowing down...

[Autumnleaf]

Thank you everyone for all the responses!  I'm glad this is just part of the process and isn't all that abnormal.  I think a combination of work stress, my up coming exam, and hrt kinda just made me super moody.  It seems the moods waver as well since today, after the morning, I was actually in a decent mood.  I definitely hope the moodiness isn't the norm, I don't think my co-workers will be able to stand my moodiness too much longer 

[KayXo]

I started sublingual due to fear for my liver.

Concern over liver is due to findings with other forms of estrogen and how they affect liver, coagulation, etc. Their effects are far stronger than bio-identical estradiol, and personally, I have yet to read a study showing that bio-identical estradiol harms the liver.

I tried researching (on the internet, not in a lab) the half-life of serum estrodiol, but couldn't find anything definitive.

When taken orally, half-life is usually 13-17 hours whereas when taken sublingually, it is MUCH less because it is quickly absorbed and then drops fast...so 2-3 hours.

[Dee Marshall]

Concern over liver is due to findings with other forms of estrogen and how they affect liver, coagulation, etc. Their effects are far stronger than bio-identical estradiol, and personally, I have yet to read a study showing that bio-identical estradiol harms the liver.

When taken orally, half-life is usually 13-17 hours whereas when taken sublingually, it is MUCH less because it is quickly absorbed and then drops fast...so 2-3 hours.

Really?! I'll switch back then, although I haven't noticed any significant drop off at all.

[Laura_7]

Concern over liver is due to findings with other forms of estrogen and how they affect liver, coagulation, etc. Their effects are far stronger than bio-identical estradiol, and personally, I have yet to read a study showing that bio-identical estradiol harms the liver.

When taken orally, half-life is usually 13-17 hours whereas when taken sublingually, it is MUCH less because it is quickly absorbed and then drops fast...so 2-3 hours.

Concerning serum levels measured a few hours after intake, orally and sublingual, you could have a look here:
transascity dot org/sublingual-versus-oral-estrogen/

According to their graph, blood levels were higher sublingually.
Well concerns are also concerning blood clotting factors. Sublingual there are supposed to be a bit less.
Some people take additinally a very low dose of i.e. aspirin when using oral.

Maybe its possible to use 4 small doses sublingual instead of 2 big ones.

Same for oral, some people say levels remain more steady than sublingual...
this would also concidence somewhat with what some people say about mood swings...
sublingual is supposed to be more efficient because less estro is converted or absorbed by the liver...
smaller doses spread throughout the day might help even out somewhat, both orally and sublingual.

talk it through with your doctor...

hugs