Patches vs Injections vs Oral estrogen

[DanaDane]

FREE TESTOSTERONE

                     ng/dl          pg/ml
    Females  0.3-1.9      0.6 - 6.8
    Males       9-30         47.0-244.0

Conversion factor: 1 ng/ml = 3.47 nmol/l

Do you know the unit ?

hugs

My E is pg/mL
My T is ng/mL 

Doctor said that my T levels at the onset would "make her job easy".. So that means that they were on the low side..   She was quite happy at how much they dropped..

[TG CLare]

they are a pain and a half to keep on. Doc has got me on two at the same time a week, and by midweek one is usually being held on with duct tape.
[/quote]

I change mine twice a week per doctor's instructions, but I can certainly identify with the tape aspect!! A real PITA!

Love,
Clare

[Laura_7]

they are a pain and a half to keep on. Doc has got me on two at the same time a week, and by midweek one is usually being held on with duct tape.


I change mine twice a week per doctor's instructions, but I can certainly identify with the tape aspect!! A real PITA!

Love,
Clare

Some seem to stick better...

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,189624.msg1688205.html#msg1688205


hugs

[DanaDane]

Some seem to stick better...

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,189624.msg1688205.html#msg1688205


hugs

Look on Amazon for TAGADERM.  They're like patches for your patches.  I won't leave home without them covering my patches.

[Brooke33]

Ooh, will check that out

Sent from my SM-G925W8 using Tapatalk

[Cynobyte]

Ebay 2" transpore surgical tape.  Make sure it goes 1/4 past the patch.  Tegaderm builds up sweat and will fail. Transpore has holes for sweat and lasts a week:)  Trust me, I'm a surgical nightmare and have a pharmacy and surgical supply to research from:)

Postcards from the other side:)

[Cindy]

I must be the only girl going the other way. I have been on implants for ages and loved them but I always had an allergic reaction to the anaesthetic. I've been advised that the allergy is getting worse with an increase risk of anaphylaxis, so I'm on patches.

They have been fine!

[Laura_7]

Ebay 2" transpore surgical tape.  Make sure it goes 1/4 past the patch.  Tegaderm builds up sweat and will fail. Transpore has holes for sweat and lasts a week:)  Trust me, I'm a surgical nightmare and have a pharmacy and surgical supply to research from:)

Postcards from the other side:)

You might consider using estradot / vivelle for a try...
they are supposed to stick well, and are quite small.


hugs

[KayXo]

while the numbers look good, I am worried why I am not seeing changes that I assumed I would.

Because we all vary in how we respond. Some need higher levels, some not. Individuals are not identical. I personally didn't respond to levels between 200-300.

Levels measured are also not indicative of what's going on in general and more likely, your levels will go up and down somewhat in time.

It also takes some time to see changes BUT some should come up sooner than later. If you are skinny, don't expect much in the way of fat distribution, breasts, etc.

My T is ng/mL

Are you sure it wasn't ng/DL? I'm assuming it was total testosterone and not free testosterone.

[DanaDane]

Because we all vary in how we respond. Some need higher levels, some not. Individuals are not identical. I personally didn't respond to levels between 200-300.

Levels measured are also not indicative of what's going on in general and more likely, your levels will go up and down somewhat in time.

It also takes some time to see changes BUT some should come up sooner than later. If you are skinny, don't expect much in the way of fat distribution, breasts, etc.

Are you sure it wasn't ng/DL? I'm assuming it was total testosterone and not free testosterone.

it was total T.... 

[KayXo]

Total T but measured in what units?

[Mariah]

I have been on both patches and injections. I have to say I prefer the injections. The patches caused a skin rash and just didn't stay on. I have had really good results from the injections though. I asked to switch at the 6 week point. I was given options too. Good luck and Hugs
Mariah

[DanaDane]

Total T but measured in what units?

I finally found them.. I'm sorry..

9.2 ng/dl

I had confused myself.  I went back to older posts and found this. 

[KayXo]

Makes more sense. About the same as me. My levels are 8 ng/dl.

[DanaDane]

Makes more sense. About the same as me. My levels are 8 ng/dl.

It's just frustrating that after 8 months I hardly see anything in the realm of changes.

[KayXo]

At those levels, I wasn't getting much either. I needed higher doses, higher E levels despite my low T to get things moving. Progesterone also helped. So, go see your doctor and discuss your options at this point.

[Joi]

I don't think I've seen anyone on the site that has decided to change her name to "Patience"  Ummmm.  There must be a reason for this.

One thing that I have learned and will continue to learn on this journey is that once we have committed to transition,  most of us (not all mind you) want to experience the changes like "yesterday."  I know I'm in that boat.  We all have plausible reasons to want results to occur rapidly and for some of us this happens.  Most of us though will find that the results are somewhat predictable, but the timing is less so.

I did patches for 9 mos. with very subtle results at best.  They didn't work for me.  E level of 75.  Now my Endo has prescribed injections.  Will the dose prescribed for injections be the right one? I'll likely have to wait for 90 days to be tested again to find out. Unfortunately, the VA hospital where my injectable E. was prescribed doesn't keep it on hand.  Thus I am having to wait for it to be delivered by "Santa" hopefully B4 the end of the year.  I get one shot and then have to stop in preparation for GCS in late Jan.  Then no more E until mid Feb.

Oh "Patience" where are you when I need you!

Hugz!

Joi

[DanaDane]

At those levels, I wasn't getting much either. I needed higher doses, higher E levels despite my low T to get things moving. Progesterone also helped. So, go see your doctor and discuss your options at this point.

My current doctor is being stubborn about prescribing me P.  I have been asking since the beginning.  Also they keep looking at the numbers (especially my E) and saying that I fall within some normal range.  I am moving to another doctor in February, so that means that I will have "wasted" almost 10 months.  I have no idea what this current doctor will suggest, but I am going to bring the suggestion of my new therapist who agrees that my E dosages might be too low and also ask for P.  *crosses fingers*

[Brooke33]

I got my patches today   On a half dose for first month @ estradot <Not Permitted> swapped 2x a week and prometrium <Not Permitted> daily (will likely cycle)... I am soooooo excited


Mod Edit:Dosage

[Laura_7]

I got my patches today   On a half dose for first month @ estradot <Not Permitted> swapped 2x a week and prometrium <Not Permitted> daily (will likely cycle)... I am soooooo excited


Mod Edit:Dosage

Congratulations 

Those patches are said to stick pretty well.
Most effective seem to be upper buttocks, depending on skin 


*hugs*