C**p -- Wrong Direction

[lisarenee]

I just received my 6 month levels. After 3 months everything had gone substantially in the right direction (E +47%, T -45%). The only thing that went in the right direction this time was my Lipids (Total -3%, LDL -8%, HDL +10%, Triglycerides -7%). Everything else is going the wrong way (E -13%, T +36%  )

I had noticed that I wasn't feeling as emotional anymore, but had just assumed my body was getting used to being on E instead of T. It was developing a tolerance instead. Hopefully, my Endo will up my dose when I see her next week.

[Rachel]

Hi, can you provide the T + E values with units?

Sometimes getting HRT right takes a while.

[JLT1]

Hi,

That happens.  Now is a good time to figure out if your endo is a good one or not.  Your body adjusts and the dosages need to be adjusted as well.

Hang in there!

Hugs

Jen

[jenifer356]

Lots of things factor into the results - The method of intake (oral, injection, patch) can result in varying levels of drugs in the body and then time of day or number of days after intake has an effect based on half life of the particular drugs - patches do tend to have the lowest peaks and valleys so date/time of blood test is not as critical - oral (pills) does have the shortest half life and the difference from taking a blood test 2 hours after ingestion versus 8 hours after can have a greater effect - blood work for injections should be pretty close to the midpoint of time between injections as levels go very high at injection time and then decay continuously until the next injection

be well
jenifer

[lisarenee]

	Unit	Starting	3 Months	6 Months
Estrogen	(pg/mL)	163.2	239.3	207.3
Estradiol	(pg/mL)	31	31	36
Estrone	(pg/mL)	46	108	93
Testosterone	(ng/dL)	346	191	260
Free Testosterone	(pg/mL)	80.3	51.6	61.9

I'm taking pills (oral).

[iKate]

Yikes! I don't think I've ever had T levels that high... even pre transition.

[Rachel]

I recommend talking to your doctor about your T. I had no baseline T but 3months on 2/3 E transitioning dose of E pills and spiro and my T was 26 ng/dl. I am not a doctor; however, your T looks high to me.

[KarynMcD]

Are you taking an anti-androgen?

[lisarenee]

Are you taking an anti-androgen?

Spironolactone (Spiro) + Estradiol + Progesterone

[KayXo]

I find those (E) levels ridiculously low. I don't like pills as estrone levels go way up while estradiol doesn't to the same extent and can even be blocked by the weaker estrone. Thank goodness I switched to injections and you don't even need an anti-androgen anymore cause testosterone levels also plummet on injections.

[Serenation]

Your T is still with in male range (just). I'm sure your endo will sort it out, that's why we get the blood tests.

[Debra]

Wow yeah, maybe your body adjusted to the dose of spyro. Seems like more of an issue of spyro than estorgen.

[emma-f]

I had a similar pattern, and my doctor said it does happen surprisingly often. Something about the body overcompensating and making more T. At 3 and 6 months I was near female range(not quite all the way) but at 12 months it was creeping up. On triptorelin injections now which are pretty much a guarantee re T levels

[melissa_h]

I'm eager to see where mine wind up.  APN seemed really happy that my baseline T was only 150.   

Similar path, relatively low dose so far ... but I've definitely got a little bit of worry that as the body gets used to a dosage, it might be able to fight against the intended effects.  

[lisarenee]

My Endo semi-begrudgingly upped my Spiro and Estradiol. Hopefully, things will go back in the right direction.

[KayXo]

T levels fluctuate.