HRT side effects

[Bobbie]

I've been doing a lot of reading about HRT and the possible side effects it could have on my system.
One thing that worries me is that it can cause serious depression.
Having suffered depression for a time, especially after my marriage broke up, I know what a terrible thing it is.
Does this happen to everyone on HRT to a greater or lesser degree, or does it depend on the individual, and is there any way to control it or even  stop it happening?
Also how long is it likely to last?
I was prescribed anti-depressants in the past, but never felt happy about it. They didn't seem to get rid of it, but just sort of leveled it out so I didn't have that desperate feeling.
Fortunately Ive been fine for the last ten years, but I am bit wary of beginning something that makes it start all over again.
I just need some reassurance its all going to be worth before I jump in.

Thanks

Bobbie XX

[Kate]

I've been doing a lot of reading about HRT and the possible side effects it could have on my system.
One thing that worries me is that it can cause serious depression.

Does it? I was soooo incredibly *relieved* once I finally started HRT. I certainly had my ups and downs during the following months, but considering all the stress and turmoil a transition can bring, there's really no way to know if it was the drugs or simply transition issues.

Some DO say that estrogen makes you more emotional: the highs get higher, the lows get lower. I certainly experienced that, but again... no way to know if it was chemical or social causes. Or even both.

~Kate~

[tinkerbell]

Bobbie, you may also find this link in our wiki helpful:

https://www.susans.org/wiki/Hormone_replacement_therapy

tink

[LynnER]

Anti depressants and anti anxiety drugs never worked well for me so I simpley didnt take them LoL

HRT on the otherhand has taken care of both problems and then some *shrugs*  I think its a case of treating the symptoms vs treating the root cause of the issue...  I still get depressed at times but honestly Im far better off now than I ever was with out 

[Bobbie]

Thanks everyone

The article I read about side effects did point out the the extremes,  which I realize won't happen in most cases.
Reading your comments, I think its more a case of feeling positive about what you are doing.
If taking HRT is something you are sure about and have no doubts, then you will live with any emotional ups and downs that may occur.
At the moment I am trying form a clear picture of what to expect before I think about starting.
At the moment I'm about 99% sure, but I'm working on that last one percent and feeling better everyday. 

Bobbie XX

[Sara]

Think HRT think Natural, i.e. Natural Estrogen Patches, Natural Progesterone and Anti-Androgens. I dont know of anyone getting depression from these forms of HRT but SYNTHETIC, well that is all together different. You can suffer what some people think is depression from the drugs when first starting HRT but that is not the drugs doing it and is only because your body is adjusting your hormones and replacing them with new ones. Any fluctuation of hormones can cause mild depression.

Hope that helped,

Sara.

[seldom]

estrace is plant based. 
Taken sublingually there generally is not any problems. 
I would not worry about the depression side effects.   The one that has the highest risk of depression is progesterone, be it natural or synthetic, if you stick to estradiol, be it injectible, oral, or patches, you probably will avoid the risks. 

Generally speaking the depression does not hit to often, but if you are on anti-depressants you should not go off of them.

Also if you are TS you will probably will end up happier

[shanetastic]

Also if you are TS you will probably will end up happier

I think we can all vouch for that

[Bobbie]

Also if you are TS you will probably will end up happier

I think we can all vouch for that

You're all so right
I'm just a terrible worrier and tend to panic over everything, but now I have read all your positive comments about HRT and everything else, I cant wait to start.
Having suffered depression to the point of feeling suicidal has made me wary of going down that road again, but now, to be honest, I'm past caring.
I know in my heart I am going to be much happier. Just ending of years of denial has changed me so much already.
This may sound strange, but I'm looking forward to getting funny looks and s->-bleeped-<-s and everything else that comes with adjusting to being full time because it will mean that I'm finally living my life.
I have actually had a taste of how good it feels. A while back I was on my own so I put on some really nice everyday female clothes I'd bought and spent ages doing my make up and hair and went for a drive in the car. It felt so wonderful! I felt very self conscious at first but after a bunch of hairy builders whistled at me, I couldnt wipe the smile off my face. It was my first time out in public as a female, and I know I was hidden in my car, but it just felt so right.....I cried when I had to change back.
When I finally go full time I just know its going to blow me away, and I probably won't notice any problems with HRT or anything else....I'll be too busy being happy

Bobby XXX

[Ember Lewis]

I was a sad person before Hrt I still can get that way from time to time, but I am overall so much happier. Hrt won't cure depression but it can help you move forward and deal with life better. But everyone is different the only thing we can certain of is who we are.

[Wing Walker]

Quote from: Bobbie on September 27, 2007, 02:19:54 PM
I've been doing a lot of reading about HRT and the possible side effects it could have on my system.
One thing that worries me is that it can cause serious depression.

Does it? I was soooo incredibly *relieved* once I finally started HRT. I certainly had my ups and downs during the following months, but considering all the stress and turmoil a transition can bring, there's really no way to know if it was the drugs or simply transition issues.

Some DO say that estrogen makes you more emotional: the highs get higher, the lows get lower. I certainly experienced that, but again... no way to know if it was chemical or social causes. Or even both.

~Kate~

Hi, Bobbie,

Concerning depression as a side effect of HRT, for me it was a relief from depression to be taking estrogen.  After 46 years of wishing and hoping and figuring and praying (do I feel an oldie coming on???), the conflict was over.  I surrendered to my inner self and embraced her with all of my heart.  It felt wonderful to be on my way.

I started with oral estrogen and it had some effects but after some spirited conversations with my HRT doctor and his research, I started on injectables and the effects were marvellous!  Far from depression, it was.  BTW, I started when I was 51 years old.

Wing Walker
Enjoying the Flight

[gothique11]

I agree with everyone else here, that HRT has helped me be happier over all. I'm much more happier than I used to be. I went through years and years of major depression. Although HRT won't cure clinical depression, it can help. I'm bipolar, but it has improved a lot with the HRT.

[Ell]

Fortunately Ive been fine for the last ten years, but I am bit wary of beginning something that makes it start all over again.
I just need some reassurance its all going to be worth before I jump in.
Bobbie XX

of course, going on female hormones is a huge step. it's probably normal for you to feel apprehensive. i know i was. but now i feel that my overall outlook on life has improved drastically since starting HRT. i mean, i'm still on my antidepressants. and i still get depressed. but somehow, everything's changed. before HRT, i felt like i was living in Hell. now, at least, i feel that i am back on the planet.

[Berliegh]

Some of the side effects I experienced from HRT were breaking nails, brittle teeth............

[Wing Walker]

Some of the side effects I experienced from HRT were breaking nails, brittle teeth............

Yeppers, I'm familiar with those side effects.  I don't know how it happened or why but my nails are strong on their own.  They're not claws but they hold their own.  I also get my nails done twice a month with acrylic fill/backfill.  The underlying nails are good.

Someone once gave me what I believe is an overly-simplistic treatment for brittle nails:  add dietary calcium and supplements.  I say that this is overly-simplistic because I'm sure that Berliegh has done this.  If brittle nails were not the norm for women there would be no market for nail strengtheners.

As for brittle teeth, I can't say that has happened to me.  Most of my teeth are crowned as a result of premature wear.

It's a mixed bag being on Mother Estrogen.

Wing Walker

[gothique11]

HRT turned my hair purple! Looksees! OMG!

________________________


Took picture out.

________________________



Okay, I'm in a really, really weird mood right now. No, HRT didn't turn my hair purple, although I noticed that my hair is growing out lighter than I remember it. My hair also started to go curly in some parts, and it wasn't like that before. Strangeness.

My skin is pretty soft, everyone loves to feel it. But, because it's so soft, it's also delicate and I'm constantly getting cuts on my arms (I'm a bit of a klutz, and I run into things all of the time).

I found that my face got pretty sensitive to make up and I would break out from it if it was on too long or just was a crappy brand. But, I found a solution to that problem, and that's called Glycolic Acid (I use the NeoStrata 8% stuff). It's done way good for my skin, not only preventing breaks outs but making my skin look better than it did before (I have some of scars/marks from past acne, which has really started to fade).  *thinks to herself, "Wow, that sounds like a commercial!"*

But, yeah, other than that, and the typical stuff (body changes, breasts, a third arm, and muscle loss), I feel pretty good on HRT. I have my up and down days, but this is the first time I felt "normal" in my own skin. Things look better in my life than they once did. It's nice to feel that I have something to live for, for a change.

Socially, things have been great. I didn't have many troubles involving myself into a female social role. I feel that I can finally relate to people, and not feel like some sort of outsider. HRT won't instantly make you fit socially in the female world (that is learned), but HRT does affect your brain and the way you think. It's like my brain is a gas-powered motor, and Testosterone is diesel fuel. Put the diesel fuel (Testosterone) into my gas powered brain (Estrogen powered brain), and it just doesn't work -- something feels wrong, and things don't work like they should. But, put gas (Estrogen) into my brain, and -- wow! -- I can function again! It's kind of like that, your brain finally gets the hormone it was designed for, so it functions correctly and the way it was supposed to. So, yeah, that's how I think of it.

Anyway, yeah, that's all I can think of now.

--natalie

[Bobbie]

No, HRT didn't turn my hair purple

Would your hair be purple if you weren't on HRT though?

I cant wait to grow a third arm. Does everyone get one? 

Bobbie

[Lori]

I've been doing a lot of reading about HRT and the possible side effects it could have on my system.
One thing that worries me is that it can cause serious depression.
Having suffered depression for a time, especially after my marriage broke up, I know what a terrible thing it is.
Does this happen to everyone on HRT to a greater or lesser degree, or does it depend on the individual, and is there any way to control it or even  stop it happening?
Also how long is it likely to last?
I was prescribed anti-depressants in the past, but never felt happy about it. They didn't seem to get rid of it, but just sort of leveled it out so I didn't have that desperate feeling.
Fortunately Ive been fine for the last ten years, but I am bit wary of beginning something that makes it start all over again.
I just need some reassurance its all going to be worth before I jump in.

Thanks

Bobbie XX

Your regimine can have a lot to do with it. This is my second go around with transition. The first time..OMG. I was like a moody teenage girl. I slammed doors, cried, got depressed and went bonkers.

This time around I'm cool, calm, I feel good, and things seem to be doing ok. It may be because I am on estradiol valerate and progestersone this time. I do not know. If you start HRT pay attention to your feelings. You can adjust your meds or delivery. There are pills, patches, injections and you can even snort your way to womanhood with estrogen nasal spray. There are many types of estrogen, you just need to find what works for you. We are all different and what works for me is NOT going to work for my neighbor next door. Discuss your concerns and be open and honest with your Dr.

Anti depressants mask the real problem. They don't fix it.

Posted on: October 12, 2007, 07:46:12 AM

It's like my brain is a gas-powered motor, and Testosterone is diesel fuel. Put the diesel fuel (Testosterone) into my gas powered brain (Estrogen powered brain), and it just doesn't work -- something feels wrong, and things don't work like they should. But, put gas (Estrogen) into my brain, and -- wow! -- I can function again! It's kind of like that, your brain finally gets the hormone it was designed for, so it functions correctly and the way it was supposed to. So, yeah, that's how I think of it.

Anyway, yeah, that's all I can think of now.

--natalie

I love that and have used that very same analogy to try to explain to the few that know about me and how estrogen makes me feel!!

[Ember Lewis]

I'm very much like Natalie in the way I responded to HRT, So far the only bad things are I seem to get PMS symptoms every 28 days or so. I say bad, but I welcome these feelings as I feel it's part of me bieng a woman. I was diagnosed at 10years with manic deppression, I never took medication for it though. I have had no memorable incidents of depression since HRT, infact I usually feel like bouncing off the walls and dancing cuz I'm so happy all the time, unless you catch me at the end of the month then I can be a real "Bxxch"

[gothique11]

Ah, yes, PMS'ing. Those are days you avoid me. I seem to be doing it today, which is weird, because then my cycle is off for some reason and i don't know why.